Poem -
The Flying Nightingales (for the D-day aniversary)
The unsung,
unknown heroines of D-day.
The volunteer nurses on the Dakotas.
The flying nightingales.
From the moment the bridgehead formed
they began to fly the wounded out.
Given parachutes on the way to Normandy but,
once in charge of wounded,
those 'chutes were given up.
They faced the same bullets.
The Dakotas were hit by flack.
They nursed those hurt all the way back to England
and then kept on flying back.
They flew and served for the rest of the war.
That they are not known is our shame.
The women who chose to risk their lives
to save our men,
surely deserve their fame.
The flying nightingales.
I wish I knew their names.
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Comments
So many unsung heroes.....people just being selfless and compassionate..I love how you have highlighted the ‘ordinary ‘ people who performed in an extraordinary way..and expected nothing in return..we should all be humbled by them. We may not know their names..but one thing is sure..they will be known to their God ..and deservedly so.Thank you Nigel for bringing this act to life in such a heartfelt and respectful way..nice work Sir! Xx
Thank you so much Lady L,
75yrs and the actions of so many are still not really known. The flying nightingales were formed for D-day but continued to serve on through to the end of the war. It was demonstrated after D-day that the Dakota was so stable it could act as an air-born hospital. The nightingales flew into every theatre post Normandy with only one fatality that I know of. The three nurses in the picture are the first three flying nightingales who flew in with the gliders on the first day. I don't know which one but one of them is called Lydia Alford and she started it all.
Unknown but absolutely heroes all.
Your friend
Nigel.