Biography
Betty Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firmroots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhoodand teenage years, which stood her in good stead for the tribulations tocome with the Second World War. She was sent away to boarding school, andthen went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, StateRegistered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery. In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, whichlater became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with theCasualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, includingBetty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have beenquite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sistersmanaged to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy andterrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incrediblyfortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving t...