Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
| Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps | |
|---|---|
|
Cap Badge of the QARANC | |
| Active | 1902 – present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Role | Medical support |
| Part of | Army Medical Services |
| Nickname(s) | The QAs |
| Motto |
Sub cruce candida (Under the White Cross) |
| March | Quick: Grey and Scarlet[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Matron-in-Chief (Army) | Colonel David Bates ARRC L/QARANC |
| Colonel-in-Chief | HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |
 |
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC; commonly known as the QAs) is the nursing branch of the British Army and part of the Army Medical Services.
History
Although an "official" nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage to Florence Nightingale, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support of female military nurses.[2] In March 1902, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established by Royal Warrant, and was named after Queen Alexandra, who became its President.[3] It replaced the Army Nursing Service, which had been established in 1881, and which from 1889 provided Sisters for all Army hospitals with at least 100 beds.[4] In 1949, the QAIMNS became a corps in the British Army and was renamed as the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Since 1950 the organisation has trained nurses, and in 1992 men were allowed to join.[4]
The associated Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association is a registered charity. Queen Alexandra was President from 1902 until her death in 1925. The following year she was succeeded by Queen Mary.
In 2009 Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) were entitled to commission.
Senior Corps Appointments
The Colonel In Chief is HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO. The Corps has two Colonels Commandant, Colonel Sue Bush RRC who was appointed in 2011 and Colonel Jane Davis OBE QVRM TD DL who was appointed in 2014. The current Director of Army Nursing Services (DANS) is Colonel David Bates ARRC QHN L/QARANC.
Territorial Army Nursing Service
The Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) was established in 1909 as a sister organisation to the QAIMNS. Its purpose was to supplement the regular service in emergencies and all its members worked as nurses in civilian life. It was renamed the Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS) in 1920, when the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army. It existed until 1949, when it became the Territorial Army branch of QARANC.
Ranks
The initial ranking system used by the QAIMNS was as follows.
| QAIMNS rank | Equivalent Army rank (from 1941) |
| Staff Nurse[5] | |
| Sister | Lieutenant |
| Senior Sister[6] | Captain |
| Matron | Major |
| Principal Matron | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Chief Principal Matron[7] | Colonel |
| Matron-in-Chief | Brigadier |
From 30 May 1941 QAIMNS personnel were granted emergency commissions and wore rank insignia corresponding to their equivalent Army rank.
The TFNS/TANS ranking system was identical.
On 1 February 1949 the women's forces were integrated into the armed forces. Initially, QARANC, along with the Women's Royal Army Corps, adopted the old Auxiliary Territorial Service ranking system, with the Matron-in-Chief holding the rank of Senior Controller, but in 1950 both corps switched to ordinary Army ranks. Professional titles were still used on the wards.
Other Ranks were introduced in 1956.
List of Matrons-in-Chief QAIMNS/QARANC
.jpg)
- Dame Sidney Browne, 1902 – 1906
- Caroline Keer, 1906 – 1910
- Dame Ethel Becher, 1910 – 1919 [8]
- Dame Maud McCarthy, 1914 – 1919 [8]
- Dame Sarah Oram, 1915 – 1919[8]
- Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith, 1919 – 1924
- Florence Hodgins, 1924 – 1928
- Rosabelle Osborne, 1928 – 1930
- Marguerite Medforth, 1930 – 1934
- Daisy Martin, 1934 – 1938
- Catherine Roy, 1938 – 1940
- Dame Katharine Jones, 1940 – 1944
- Dame Louisa Wilkinson, 1944 – 1946
- Lilian Hunnings, 1946 – 1948
- Brigadier Dame Anne Thomson, 1948 – 1952
- Brigadier Dame Helen Gillespie, 1952 – 1956
- Brigadier Dame Monica Golding, 1956 – 1960
- Brigadier Dame Barbara Cozens, 1960 – 1964
- Brigadier Dame Margot Turner, 1964 – 1968
- Brigadier Barbara Gordon, 1968 – 1973
- Brigadier Helen Cattanach, 1973 – 1977
- Brigadier Joan Moriarty, 1977 – 1981
- Brigadier Vera Rooke, 1981 – 1984
- Brigadier Rita Hennessy, 1985 – 1989
- Brigadier Jill Field, 1989 – 1992
- Brigadier Hilary Dixon-Nuttall, 1992 – 1995
- Brigadier Jane Arigho, 1995 – 1999
- Colonel Bridget McEvilly, 1999 – 2002
- Colonel Kathy George, 2002 – 2005
- Colonel John Quinn, 2005 – 2008
- Colonel Wendy Spencer, 2008 – 2011
- Colonel Pete Childerley, 2011 – 2013
- Colonel David Bates, 2013-
List of Matrons-in-Chief TFNS/TANS
- Dame Sidney Browne, 1909 – 1920
- Dame Maud McCarthy, 1920 – 1925
- Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith, 1925 – 1931
- Rosabelle Osborne, 1931 – 1936
- Agatha Phillips, 1936 – 1940
See also
Other Army medical services
- Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
- Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)
- Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC)
- Structure of the British Army — Other Services
Other Armed Forces nursing services
References
- ↑ Grey and Scarlet - The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Quick March
- ↑ QARANC - Our History
- ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence - Imperial Military Nursing Service" The Times (London). Friday, 28 March 1902. (36727), p. 8.
- 1 2 Gordon, Peter; Doughan, David (2001). Dictionary of British Women's Organisations, 1825-1960. p. 120.
- ↑ Phased out before 1944.
- ↑ Introduced at some time between 1902 and 1919 as Assistant Matron.
- ↑ Introduced in the 1920s.
- 1 2 3 Such was the expansion of QAIMNS during the First World War that there were three Matrons-in-Chief simultaneously (Becher, McCarthy & Oram).
Order of precedence
| Preceded by General Service Corps |
Order of Precedence | Succeeded by Corps of Army Music |
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. |