McDOWELL, L Patricia T (#167)

Alan Pollock’s Rough Notes:

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As a young nurse in the Canadian Army, she cared for the most severely wounded and dying soldiers who were evacuated from the invading beaches of Normandy to England in the summer of 1944. She later said that what made the biggest impression on her was the strong unity between the young Norwegian boys in exile. Pat became friends with one of them, Sergeant Ulf Wormdal from Hamar, who was to be the Norwegian 331 Squadron’s first loss, as a fighter pilot on the Orkney Islands in March 1942.’ (Aftenposten obituary, behind paywall].

‘[No. 166: Svein Heglund’s wife to be]. Canadian Army Nurse, praises Lady Astor’s help, the Canadian Hospital & Casualty Evacuation’s importance beyond D-Day. Representing all the Nursing Services. She spoke of how important for morale were the close local links with the British people, particularly in the run up to the savage fighting on and beyond D-Day, when speedy Casualty Evacuation was another unsung story of service and care for the forward troops.’ [ARP]