BMH Isherlohn

I remember Isherlohn very well I was pregnant in 1961 and was booked to have my baby in BMH and use to go for anti-natel classes . He decided to be born in the Military Ambulance en-route in the Canadian section Soest with only SAAFA sister and the National Service driver.I was taken straight to BMH which had all Canadian nurses and sisters at that time and who spoke french on the wards.My time there was not happy lucky I learnt french at school. Two years later I was back when my daughter was born there this time the staff were QANS and spoke english. I didn't go back We lived in Lippstadt and it was quite a ride to Isherlohn usually in a VW with a german driver.My son who was born there went back on business two years ago and looked up the old hospital he agreed with me Isherlohn was a beautiful place.

I'd forgotten many of the nurses at BMH Iserlohn, at least for a couple of tours there, were French-Canadian/Francophone. And, yes, many of them while fluently bi-lingual, often refused to converse in English or would do so only under duress. It's a real political issue in Canada (well, down in Eastern Canada, not so much out west where I now reside).

We also had a couple of French-Canadian regiments (Vandoos or Royal 22nd) and many of the younger soldiers could not speak English, or did so very poorly. Since Canada is officially a bi-lingual country, they could literally spend their entire career never having to speak English! If any superior officer happened to be Anglophone, and some were, the onus was on them to learn and speak En Francais!

Many babies got born in the back of a bumpy ambulance...some of which must have dated from WWII LOL (heck, maybe even WWI...nah...). Nothing like having mom tossed around over cobblestones to induce labour.