White Ship Red Crosses

Book excerpt: "As I toured the wards of that remarkable ship during my fl ying visit, I found all of my seriously wounded soldiers who had been helicoptered off the battlefi eld, some of whom I thought I would never see again, and saw for myself the inspirational care of the Naval medical and nursing staff that had saved lives and on which recovery was depending. It was hardly a mile offshore, but it felt a very long way from Mount Tumbledown." Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely KCB, MC, Company Commander in 2nd Battalion Scots Guards 1982 "These are the personal stories of the injured servicemen and the Naval Nurses and Doctors who fought the all-important battle to 'bring them back alive'." Brian Hanrahan BBC War Correspondent during The Falklands War 1982 "The story of dedication and courage on The Hospital Ship Uganda. Author Nicci Pugh honours all those who were treated and served on board Her Majesty's Hospital Ship Uganda during the Falklands War in 1982." Michael Nicholson CBE, ITN War Correspondent during the Falklands War 1982 "Nicci Pugh is to be congratulated on weaving together the threads of this hidden side of the Falklands confl ict. A success story emerges of inter-service co-operation, which shows what can be achieved when there is no precedent to follow. White Ship - Red Crosses explains why The Hospital Ship Uganda became such a reassuring presence to those fi ghting in the South Atlantic in 1982." Captain Grahame A. Burton RD* FNI In 1982 P&O Chief Officer SS Uganda and Lt Cdr RNR "Not before time, the story of the Naval nursing staff on board The Hospital Ship Uganda is being told. My own memories are vague regarding much of the early days after the bombing of the Sir Galahad, but nothing detracts from the comfort and security I felt as I was cared for and nursed on board The Hospital Ship at that time. Much has been written regarding the battles and the soldier's point of view during the Falklands War, but the perspective of the medical teams has often been overlooked and ignored. This is a story that needs to be told and listened to, not just because it is a great book and a very good read but because of its powerful message. White Ship - Red Crosses is a triumph for all injured servicemen but let's not forget the tributes deserved by those unrelentingly hard-working nurses and medical teams, without whom my survival would not have been possible. Author Nicci Pugh, who worked as an Operating Theatre Sister in the midst of the casualties as they arrived on board The Hospital Ship Uganda in 1982 has captured the whole essence of treating and caring for the casualties on a mass scale in a war zone." Simon Weston CBE Former patient on board Her Majesty's Hospital Ship Uganda, during The Falklands War 1982 "Not before time, the story of the Naval nursing staff on board The Hospital Ship Uganda. This is a story that needs to be told." Simon Weston CBE