Bibliography

Miss Annie Margaret O’LOUGHLIN was born on the 12th September 1916, in Avoca, County Wicklow, Ireland1. She trained at the City Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, 1935-382.

Nursing Service in WW2

Sister Annie O’Loughlin QAIMNS(R)

Sister Annie Margaret O’LOUGHLIN Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (Reserve) (QAIMNSR) was killed in action on the 13th September 1943, when HMHS Newfoundland was bombed off the Salerno beaches, in the Mediterranean3 4.

Her family have one letter from her service in the QAIMNS(R), which they have transcribed:

“Nurses Home”
Smithdown Road Hospital.
Liverpool, 15.

3.10.’40

Dear Daddy, I suppose you will say to yourself when you get this note “wonders will never cease”, but really and truly we don’t have time to look around us these days, never mind write. Well I hope you are all very well in spite of the terrible times we are having at present. Of course it is not so bad for you over there. I wish the war over and done with. I was unable to get to Eire this year so I had to spend my holidays in Blackpool. I had a very nice time but I’m sure it would have been much nicer had I been able to spend them in dear old Eire. How is dear little Eddie, I suppose he is busy at school now for Xmas exams. Tell him and put a note in when you are writing again. Tony seems to be getting on quite well at Baldonnel. He often writes. He was expecting to get home leave a short time ago. I wonder if he did get it. Well Daddy, I have no idea when I’ll be able to get home again it may be next year and it may not be for a long time. I was wondering if you could send me my little blue snap album it used to be on top of the piano. There were a few snaps of Eddie and very old one of you and mamma R.I.P. in it, perhaps its not there at [?] new but Joe or Eddie may know something about it. I meant to ask you for it when I was home in May last year but of course forgot all about it. I would like to have it as it was the only snap I had of mamma. I had a letter from G Carey some time ago she told me of all the people who have died recently R.I.P. there will be no Eire left by the time I get home again. I see it is almost tea time so I’ll have to make a dash. I almost forgot to thank you for sending Tony’s address. I received it quite safely. Please excuse mistakes etc. as I’ve had to write it about three minutes. Remember me to everyone. your fond child, Annie

Eddie and Tony were her younger brothers. Her mother had died in 1931.

References

      1. Birth Certificate for Annie Margaret O’Loughlin
      2. The UK & Ireland Nursing Registers, 1898-1968, 1940 p.3897
      3. The British Journal of Nursing, March 1944, p.29
      4. Cassino Memorial Plaques in the Cassino Cemetery, Italy