Members of QAINS arrive at the Normandy bridgehead, June 1944

Photograph, World War Two, North West Europe, 1944.

Personnel of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service (QAINS) were the first women to arrive at the Normandy beach head. The first draft arrived on 13 June, seven days after the initial landings of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Their purpose was the setting up of a general hospital to house 600 patients. With the assistance of Pioneers and the Royal Army Medical Corps the hospital was quickly established.

One of 37 British official photographs relating to preparations for D-Day and liberation of North West Europe.