Haslar ‘Operation Overlord’ D-Day Remembered

At the time of D-Day Haslar was staffed by Surgeons and Dentists of the Royal Navy Medical service and Royal Navy Dental service. Nursing duties were undertaken by nursing sisters of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Navy Nursing Service (QARNNS) and ladies of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD’s) Sick berth Staff (SBA’s) and Wardmaster Officers (commissioned Sick Beth Staff) who administrated hospital wards and departments.

In the lead up to D-Day members of the QARNNS were deployed to the frontline and hospital ships. The Haslar detachment of staff were joined by 140 nursing members of the VAD’s, a number of Pharmacists were also drafted in and trained as Sick Berth staff.

The Medical Officer in Charge of Haslar at the time of D-Day was Surgeon Rear Admiral William Bradbury CBE. DSO. MB.Bch. BAO RN. Admiral Bradbury Irish by birth had seen action at Gallipoli in WWI and was awarded his DSO for his actions in saving life.