Why support Blesma Week? June and Betty's story

It’s a well-known trait that sisters share a lot in common, same eyes, same style in clothes, same hair style but for sisters June Thompson and Betty Cole their similarities are even shared through their marriages, for the sisters both married limbless veterans.

June, 86, the elder of the sisters, was the first to meet her husband, Stanley Wilson Thompson. They met whilst June was working in Leeds at the Blind School in 1949, just after Stanley had returned from WW2.

“He never spoke much about the War even to me. Certain moments would spark a bit of memory, like he once spoke about digging trenches but nothing much,” said June, who still lives in Leeds. “He served in the South Staffordshire Regiment as a Private. All he told me is that he lost his foot in France but eventually gangrene set in and he had to have his leg amputated up to the hip joint.”

It was through June and Stan that Betty and Alan Cole first met. On Saturday nights, June and Stan would join friends for drinks at their local pub. Alan, who was originally from Huddersfield, became friends with Stan whilst they were at Chapel Allerton hospital, Leeds. Alan had served as an ambulance driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. All Betty knows about his experience is that he injured his leg whilst in a road traffic accident in Germany in 1946, and once he was brought back to England Doctors had tried to save his leg but he had to have it amputated from the knee as a result of osteomyelitis – an inflammation of the bone or bone marrow.

He served in the South Staffordshire Regiment as a Private. All he told me is that he lost his foot in France but eventually gangrene set in and he had to have his leg amputated up to the hip joint.

Betty, now 83, said, “It’s weird because everyone assumes we must have met our husbands before their injuries and wonder what two sisters were doing with two amputee soldiers. We both met our husbands after injury and it never mattered to us.”

Betty and Alan married in 1953 and had four children together, two girls and two boys. Whilst June and Stan married 1952, and had one son who was born on Betty and Alan’s wedding day. The couples enjoyed many happy memories together – Alan taught June to drive and the two families went on regular holidays together with their children.

For the two gentlemen it was not until retirement that their health took a turn for the worse. Alan retired when he was 64 years old and at the time he and Betty were living in Berry. It was around this time that Alan’s health turned for the worst as though he already suffered from epilepsy, he started going deaf, had severe problems with his bladder and bowels and he also suffered several heart attacks. Betty had retired from her job as an auxiliary nurse to look after him and says she soon began doing everything for him.

Alan soon required a wheelchair as he became very weak. Fortunately, Alan had been a member of Blesma since he was injured and whilst Alan and Betty had required little help from Blesma before then, Betty says it was Blesma who helped them a great deal when Alan became ill.

“I had to renew a disability badge for Alan and they said they were taking it off me because they didn’t think Alan needed it. So I got in touch with Blesma and told them they didn’t think Alan was bad enough to need the badge. They sorted it just like that for me.”

Eventually Alan was called into hospital to be cared for despite Betty’s wishes that she could care for him at home if they showed her how to use the feeding machine. Alan passed away in 1999, but Betty has remained a Blesma Widow.

June shares a similar story as her sister. She too had to retire to look after her husband when he was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 74.

“He was losing an awful lot of weight and he was falling where he couldn’t walk. In the end I couldn’t get his leg on him because the straps wouldn’t fit. At first they thought he had Tuberculosis . He also had trouble using his hands. It turned out his spine was collapsing with the weight of the leg and crushing the spine.”

June soon became Stan’s full-time carer, still coming to wash and feed him even whilst he spent a short time in hospital as he wouldn’t let anyone else. Eventually, June decided she needed some help, but when enquiring she found she was only entitled to minimum help. It was here that Betty suggested her and Stan get in touch with Blesma. A suggestion that helped the couple greatly in their hour of need.

Their Blesma welfare officer at the time, Eric Pitchford, helped the couple get the help they needed with a carer in the morning and carer at night. He also realised that Stan should have been paid more whilst he was in the Army and that the couple were not getting the correct welfare and benefit money. In 2006 Stan passed away whilst at home.

June said, “I got upset because I’d slept all night by the side of him and I’d just gone down to get a cup of tea. The nurses said it often happens that they wait until you go, to pass away. I was extremely grateful to everyone who helped us, the hospital, Blesma and Betty for suggesting Blesma.”

As Stan and Alan were members of Blesma, Blesma looks after their wives once they pass. The ladies can take part in Blesma activities such as Widows Week where they spend a week at the Blesma’s Blackpool Home socialising and relaxing with other widowed members who have been in similar situations to them. This is an activity the ladies have both found beneficial.

Eventually, June decided she needed some help, but when enquiring she found she was only entitled to minimum help. It was here that Betty suggested her and Stan get in touch with Blesma. A suggestion that helped the couple greatly in their hour of need.

June said, “I think it is a marvellous organisation. Leeds still have our own branch. We’ve had other organisations write to us and ask us to get in touch if we need anything but I don’t think you can beat Blesma.”

Help us in supporting Widows like June and Betty this June and join us this Blesma Week or you can make a donation….