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Travel tales of an empty nester
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Home  >  Blog  >  My father’s memories of the Coronation

My father’s memories of the Coronation

Trish Burgess Posted on02/06/201207/04/2016 Lucky Dip 16 Comments

As some of you know, I am in the process of writing up my dad’s diaries in the form of a blog: Memoirs of John Michael Grinsell. A few weeks ago I wrote a post about my dad’s experience in 1953 when he was able to watch the Queen’s coronation. I thought it would be appropriate this weekend to include it on my own blog as we celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
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Catterick Military Hospital had its own brand of discipline.  Ward rounds were like any other military inspection, so much so you had to lie down to attention. The majority of patients had orthopaedic injuries so there was a lively atmosphere in the ward. As a young man of 18 I rather enjoyed all the fuss from the nurses and made the most of it, rather than worry about my curtailed army career.

The nurses and sisters all wore their own version of military uniform, the sisters having bright red short cloaks which bore their officer rank and any medals awarded during their service career. The general routine was no different from a civil hospital but I think the food was better and, to help build up our strength, we regularly received a bottle of stout to drink.

It was while I was here that the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953. In order to give injured servicemen the opportunity to attend, a number of us were allowed leave to watch the procession. Luckily for me, my name was pulled out of the hat. We were driven by ambulance to the North London Barracks medical centre where we met up with about 30 other injured soldiers. Some of the top brass came to see us before we boarded a special bus to take us to a point on the route near Hyde Park.

The weather was appalling on the day and we waited for hours for the royal procession. My clearest memory, however, was not of the Queen but a trip many of us had to make to the nearby public toilet in the park. This motley crew of walking wounded limped across the sodden grass to do the necessary but, as we returned to the bus, I noticed that clearly displayed on the front was a large placard which read, “EX KOREAN WAR VETERANS”. The fact that I had broken my leg during National Service in Scotland, and that the injury was a repeat of an old fracture caused by a bicycle accident when I was 12……well, I kept that to myself.

Previous Article #ArtIHeart: Whistler’s Mother – ‘a hideous old bat?’
Next Article Party like it’s 1952

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16 Comments

  1. Steve Reply
    02/06/2012 at 1:36 pm

    "Old war wounds" are valid no matter how you get them…

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:21 pm

      Ah, I think you're right there..

  2. Tere Ávila Reply
    02/06/2012 at 1:49 pm

    great post honey, i love it!
    have a nice day!

    xx

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:21 pm

      Thank you 🙂

  3. About Last Weekend Reply
    02/06/2012 at 3:45 pm

    Trish – this is fantastic. You Dad had the same sense of humour as you! I just love all the expressions…. "to do the necessary" You are your father's daughter – that trip you made to Canada and your talked about the restrooms. In the end that is what you remember on any trip.

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:27 pm

      Indeed. That's a good premise for a travel book, don't you think? ….Mum's gone to spend a penny? Toilets on my travels?

  4. Being Me Reply
    02/06/2012 at 9:03 pm

    Love it! My father was there as well that day with his dad.very amusing story, your Dad's writing is engaging just like yours xxx

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:30 pm

      That's so nice of you (and Jody, above) to say that about our familial style of writing. Must admit, it's lovely to read through his stories and memories. I wonder if our dads were near each other at the coronation?

  5. BavarianSojourn Reply
    03/06/2012 at 6:02 am

    Brilliant! How amazing to be there! 🙂

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:32 pm

      I had no idea he was there until I read his diary. So glad he wrote it down for me.

  6. jfb57 Reply
    03/06/2012 at 10:30 am

    I've really enjoyed all the reflections from our older folks as we get ready for the celebrations. It's stories like this that make the tapestry of Elizabeth's reign!

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      04/06/2012 at 7:33 pm

      You're so right, Julia. Brings all the generations together.

  7. Curry Queen Reply
    05/06/2012 at 5:15 am

    My kids have an obsession with public toilets and usually give them a star rating. The result can colour a whole trip! I've been enjoying my mum's memories of the Coronation this week – a time to feel patriotic!

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      06/06/2012 at 6:54 am

      It's been quite a weekend hasn't it. Never seen so many flags and lines of bunting.

  8. libby Reply
    05/06/2012 at 6:58 am

    Clever man your Dad…best to keep schtum!

    • Trish @ Mums Gone To... Reply
      06/06/2012 at 6:56 am

      It did make me chuckle.

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