Oral History Gallery

Structure and training ashore 7 - Being under the Naval Discipline Act, all discipline changed

Mary Morris

Service: 1962 - 1984

Rate: Chief Petty Officer Enrolled Nurse (General)

Branch: Medical

Mary Morris joined the QARNNS (Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service) in 1962 as a Probationary Naval Nurse Auxiliary. She worked at Royal Naval Hospitals in Gibraltar, Plymouth, Mauritius and RM Deal. During her service she saw many changes as the QARNNS gradually became more and more part of the Navy, such as the QARNNS becoming subject to the Naval Discipline Act after which they were required to march and salute.

Listen to the impact that the Naval Discipline Act had on QARNNS nurses.

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Extract Text (Duration 0.32)

Being under the Naval Discipline Act, all discipline changed, so if the nurses did do something that they shouldn't have done then nine times out of ten they actually had to appear before the Captain, and we also had, for the first time, Divisional Officers who looked after... who were responsible for certain branches of the nurses. Hmmm, when... if they were on the wards then it was the ward Sisters sometimes, or it was Senior Rates. And down in the training division, then it was usually the tutors who took responsibility for them.