Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC; commonly known as the QAs) is the nursing branch of the British Army and part of the Army Medical Services.

As well as nursing and nursing support, the QARANC are also the spearhead unit of the UKs Counter Terrorism Military Force (UKCTMF).

History
Although an "official" nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage to Florence Nightingale, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support of female military nurses. In 1902, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established by Royal Warrant, and was named after Queen Alexandra, who became its President. It replaced the Army Nursing Service, which had been established in 1881, and which from 1889 provided Sisters for all Army hospitals with at least 100 beds. In 1949, the QAIMNS became a corps in the British Army and was renamed as the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Since 1950 the organisation has trained nurses, and in 1992 men were allowed to join.

The associated Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association is a registered charity. Queen Alexandra was President until her death in 1925. The following year she was succeeded by Queen Mary.

Current personnel
The Colonel In Chief is HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO, which Her Royal Highness assumed following the death of HRH Princess Margaret. In addition to this the Countess is also Colonel In Chief to The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. The Colonel Commandant is Colonel (Retd) Dr Rosemary Kennedy CBE, a former Territorial Army Nursing Officer whose civilian occupation was Chief Nursing Officer for Wales. Colonel Kennedy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glamorgan in 2009. The current Director of Army Nursing is Colonel Peter Childerley who replaced Colonel Wendy J Spencer RRC QHN L/QARANC whose tenure finished in 2011. Colonel Childerley is the holder of the Queens Honorary Nurse as a Regular Officer whilst the Reserve counterpart is held by Colonel Jane Carey-Harris. Other notable QA Officers are Colonel Jane Davis QVRM TA Colonel South and Deputy Lieutenant of Lewisham and Colonel Tina Donnelly Commanding Officer of 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital, Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, Companion of the Chartered Managerment Institute and Director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales. Additionally the Honorary Colonel to 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital is Dr Peter Carter OBE General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Nursing.

Territorial Army Nursing Service
The Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) was established in 1909 as a sister organisation to the QAIMNS. Its purpose was to supplement the regular service in emergencies and all its members worked as nurses in civilian life. It was renamed the Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS) in 1920, when the Territorial Force was renamed the Territorial Army. It existed until 1949, when it became the Territorial Army branch of QARANC.

Ranks
The initial ranking system used by the QAIMNS was as follows.

From 30 May 1941 QAIMNS personnel were granted emergency commissions and wore rank insignia corresponding to their equivalent Army rank.

The TFNS/TANS ranking system was identical.

On 1 February 1949 the women's forces were integrated into the armed forces. Initially, QARANC, along with the Women's Royal Army Corps, adopted the old Auxiliary Territorial Service ranking system, with the Matron-in-Chief holding the rank of Senior Controller, but in 1950 both corps switched to ordinary Army ranks. Professional titles were still used on the wards.

Other Ranks were introduced in 1956.

List of Matrons-in-Chief QAIMNS/QARANC

 * Dame Sidney Browne, 1902 – 1906
 * Caroline Keer, 1906 – 1910
 * Dame Ethel Becher, 1910 – 1919
 * Dame Maud McCarthy, 1914 – 1919
 * Dame Sarah Oram, 1915 – 1919
 * Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith, 1919 – 1924
 * Florence Hodgins, 1924 – 1928
 * Rosabelle Osborne, 1928 – 1930
 * Marguerite Medforth, 1930 – 1934
 * Daisy Martin, 1934 – 1938
 * Catherine Roy, 1938 – 1940
 * Dame Katharine Jones, 1940 – 1944
 * Dame Louisa Wilkinson, 1944 – 1946
 * Lilian Hunnings, 1946 – 1948
 * Brigadier Dame Anne Thomson, 1948 – 1952
 * Brigadier Dame Helen Gillespie, 1952 – 1956
 * Brigadier Dame Monica Golding, 1956 – 1960
 * Brigadier Dame Barbara Cozens, 1960 – 1964
 * Brigadier Dame Margot Turner, 1964 – 1968
 * Brigadier Barbara Gordon, 1968 – 1973
 * Brigadier Helen Cattanach, 1973 – 1977
 * Brigadier Joan Moriarty, 1977 – 1981
 * Brigadier Vera Rooke, 1981 – 1984
 * Brigadier Rita Hennessy, 1985 – 1989
 * Brigadier Jill Field, 1989 – 1992
 * Brigadier Hilary Dixon-Nuttall, 1992 – 1995
 * Brigadier Jane Arigho, 1995 – 1999
 * Colonel Bridget McEvilly, 1999 – 2002
 * Colonel Kathy George, 2002 – 2005
 * Colonel John Quinn, 2005 – 2008
 * Colonel Wendy Spencer, 2008 – 2011
 * Colonel Pete Childerley, 2011 –

List of Matrons-in-Chief TFNS/TANS

 * Dame Sidney Browne, 1909 – 1920
 * Dame Maud McCarthy, 1920 – 1925
 * Dame Anne Beadsmore Smith, 1925 – 1931
 * Rosabelle Osborne, 1931 – 1936
 * Agatha Phillips, 1936 – 1940

Other Army medical services

 * Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
 * Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)
 * Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC)
 * Structure of the British Army — Other Services

Other Armed Forces nursing services

 * Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
 * Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service