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The Freda Laycock Memorial Web Site |
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This site is dedicated to the memory of Freda Laycock
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Diary - February/March 1945 February 1st Last day of leave. February 2nd Mum came to Goole with me
and saw me off. Pat was in the train. Arrived London 8pm. Staying in
transit hotel. February 3rd Off to aerodrome early.
Did not fly as aeroplane out of order. Went round shops and bought
pyjamas. February 4th
Left for aerodrome early.
Left U.K. at 10.30. Arrived Belgium 12.00. By lorry to Brussels. Had lunch
saw Ryder, Ayers and Terry. Left Brussels 5.30pm arrived at unit at 2.30am
Grave Holland. February 5th On duty at 1, on medical
ward. Wet day. February 6th Working on medical and
surgical wards relieving. Off duty 5-8, washing etc. February 7th Half day went for a walk
across fields with Cameron and Paton. Raining and muddy. February 8th Relieving on minor
surgical ward. Ironing etc when off duty. February 9th On medical ward
relieving. A letter from Thornton (America) February 10th Still relieving. Went for
a walk with Kay into a small village with a church and a windmill. February 13th Medical ward and minor
surgical. Wards very busy. Buzz bombs over. February 14th Minor surgical ward. Bed
at 2pm to go on night duty. Both wards busy. Win is in Brussels on her way
back from leave. February 15th First night of duty over.
100 patients a busy night. Win still not back. February 16th Another busy night. 12
patients on surgical ward. February 17th Had a busy night. 120
patients. Win back from leave. Had an accident in Brussels and one on the
way up here. February 22nd Matron from No.8 General
Hospital in Brussels came to stay here for 4 days. February 23rd
Mum’s birthday February 24th Got up early. Went to the
baths and for a walk with Parker. February 25th Had a fur jerkin given,
not a very good one. February 27th Up at 5. Win and I went
for a short walk. Last night of night duty but still very busy. Rumours we
move in a few days. March 2nd Finished night duty.
Packing. Five French girls staying with us in transit. March 3rd Packing personal goods.
Win and I went for a walk through Grave – bought postcards back in time
for tea then went to baths. March 4th In ambulance by 10am.
Near Nimegan? Saw Monty and Churchill pass. Went for a short walk. Messing
with officers. We are in monastery. Service in Chapel in evening. March 5th Ready
by 7am to continue journey. Through Cleve and into Germany. All houses
down, no civilians. Arrived at 2 at the castle. Furniture still about,
glassware, fruit etc. I began opening church as a ward. March 6th Working. Finished wards.
No windows-very cold. Stoves in most wards. Patients began coming in 2pm. March 7th Ward full busy day. March 8th Busy on ward no off duty March 10th Kay, Esther and I went
for a walk through lanes and across a stream. Through a minefield, saw
unexploded bomb. Lots of German dugouts in the fields, camouflaged with
straw. Saw a few German civilians and kiddies whilst we were out. March 12th Kay and I had a walk in
the afternoon. A lovely Spring day. Found a bicycle but back wheel was
bent. Woods very devastated. Lots of used ammo lying around and empty
boxes. A few graves in the woods. March 14th Letter from Ma and Pa
Kennedy March 15th Packing to leave Wesse.
Handed over patients and the Schlosse to 28th Casualty Clearing
Station. Called Win at 4, had half hour for a walk with Iris and Kay. No
lights on using hurricane lamps. Bed early up at 5.30am March 16th Arrived at Bedburg, near
Cleve after a short journey. Took over from a Canadian F.D.S. and 9 of
their patients. I am on major medical ward. This is part of a mental home. March 17th Fairly busy day. Managed
to get water from mobile laundry for a bath. Had a letter from Rider. Not
allowed out of barracks. March 18th Not too busy, writing
letters. March 20th Parker, Kay and I went
out and saw a castle and horses herded in a field. Had a ride on a horse.
Packed in evening for leave to Brussels. March 21st Win and I left for 48
hours leave in Brussels. Arrived 6pm at Hotel Acania.
Had headaches so had dinner and went to bed early. March 22nd Stayed in bed til 10 then
changed money. Went to Waterloo in afternoon. To pictures at Garrison
Theatre in evening to see Old Aquantamen.
Parker rang us to say we had to return the following day. March 23rd Win and I returned from
48 hour leave in Brussels with Major Nicholson and 3 M.Os.
Had sandwiches on the way. Arrived back 6pm. Heard guns. First
barrage of new push going on. March 24th Admitting all day. No off
duty. First battle casualties arriving. On major surgical. March 25th Busy day no off duty March 31st Heard we are moving on
again and a general hospital is taking over.
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