Ruth Lindner, Burwell, date unknown

Hythe Lane

History of Hythe Lane

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Ruth Lindner lived here until her death in 2011; she had been born in 1921.

Ruth related her experiences of World War Two to Michael Bentinck and they were published in his book, War Time Memories, in 2001. She had written to Michael having heard telling other war time stories on Radio Cambridgeshire, and also having read his books.

She had lived with her parents at the RAF base at Seletar, Singapore, from 1935. to 1937; she had arrived at the age of 15. When she returned to England she was 17 and the family lived at Grantham, Lincs. She started training as a nurse in 1939 at the East Suffolk Ipswich Hospital. She describes her experiences there as a student nurse in great detail. In 1943, when her training was complete, she moved to the Nottingham General Hospital and then joined the Army Nursing Service. She then worked in various locations in England before being sent to Normandy after D-Day. She was assigned to a 1,000 bedded hospital acting as a casualty clearing station. In October 1944 she moved to Brussels and was on duty there during the time of the Battle of the Bulge. Her account of her work in the hospitals is fascinating and she also records the experiences of her colleagues, one of whom was among the first nurses to enter Belsen concentration camp after it was liberated. She returned to work in East Suffolk Hospital after the war.