Monday, 10 October 2011
My Wish
Is it time for New Year Resolutions yet? Never mind. May I offer up a prayer that at some future time there will be more awareness about military nurses. There seems to be a common misconception that their story starts and ends with Florence Nightingale, Edith Cavell and Vera Brittain, none of whom were military nurses of course. Those three have a lot to answer for!
Monday, 3 October 2011
Downton Abbey - More Tales of the Unexpected
Julian Fellowes was rather upset last year about criticisms pointing out inaccuracies in the first series of Downton Abbey:
"There was also an assumption in the media that the complainant was automatically correct and we were wrong, which was frustrating... When there was a television aerial in shot, as there was once, I was happy to hold my hands up. But I expended a lot of energy getting agitated about accusations that such-and-such piece of music wasn't released until 1922, when in fact it was being played in 1910. Or the butler should have been in uniform when they came out of uniform in the Regency period - I mean, just shut up!"
Fellowes added: "This year I think it might be nice to have a column called 'This Week's Downton Blunders', where I have the right of reply and can say either, 'It's a fair cop' or, 'No, we got it right, they did wear bathing costumes in 1761' or whatever. That might be a much better way of handling all the excitement."
In the absence of such a column, I once again feel the need to comment on one or two of the latest blunders. Now the Abbey itself has opened as a convalescent home for officers there’s no improvement in the sardine-tin formation of the beds, and still no room for lockers or anywhere to keep personal items. Mrs. Crawley seems to be conducting affairs at Downton, and with Major Clarkson and Lady Sybil spending every waking minute there as well, it makes me wonder what’s happening down at Downton village cottage hospital. It was chaos there last week, and with 50% of the staff gone, things must be reaching a critical point. I say 50%, but with Thomas moving down the road as well, more like 75%.
Thomas Barrow. In the first series he was exposed at Downton as a thief. With war on the horizon he decided to jump before he was dismissed and joined the Territorial branch of the Royal Army Medical Corps. This ensured (so he thought) that he would get a cushy number when the wartime chips were down. Somehow he ended up in the thick of the fighting, having a few fags in a trench under constant bombardment. I can’t quite work out what he was actually doing in that trench. Was he attached to a Regimental Aid Post, or attached to a Field Ambulance perhaps? If it was ever explained, I missed it. Apologies. He intentionally exposed himself to sniper fire and after recovering from his self-inflicted injury, and by the miracles of modern television script-writing, he ends up in charge of the convalescent home at Downton Abbey.
Thomas Barrow. Thief, liar, manipulator, coward. Just the man for the job. Well, not exactly, as no UK convalescent home had RAMC staff. There was absolutely no way a RAMC corporal (sorry, Acting-Sergeant) would work in that type of unit or give orders to sick officers. Complete drivel and tosh. There should at least have been a trained nurse, but unfortunately no provision has been made for even one in this series.
The surprise of the week (errors no longer being surprises) came when Lady Mary announced that a friend of the family wanted to come to Downton from Middlesbrough to convalesce, and both Mrs. Crawley and Major Clarkson were up in arms.
‘Middlesbrough General will have their own arrangements about where their officers convalesce’ declared Mrs. C. And Major C. agreed:
‘Downton must function as part of the official system or it can’t function at all.’
So Lord Fellowes KNOWS there was an official system – that rather took my breath away. Is it better to know about something and choose to ignore it, or make errors because you failed to do the research and never knew about it at all? (Vote NOW). And I must just add here (pedant that I am) that there was only one military hospital in Middlesbrough, not the General Hospital, and no officer beds in the town at all.
However I did notice one bit of light flickering in the drawing-room when the near-exploding Carson exclaimed:
‘So we just make it up as we go along?’
Spot on, Carson.
"There was also an assumption in the media that the complainant was automatically correct and we were wrong, which was frustrating... When there was a television aerial in shot, as there was once, I was happy to hold my hands up. But I expended a lot of energy getting agitated about accusations that such-and-such piece of music wasn't released until 1922, when in fact it was being played in 1910. Or the butler should have been in uniform when they came out of uniform in the Regency period - I mean, just shut up!"
Fellowes added: "This year I think it might be nice to have a column called 'This Week's Downton Blunders', where I have the right of reply and can say either, 'It's a fair cop' or, 'No, we got it right, they did wear bathing costumes in 1761' or whatever. That might be a much better way of handling all the excitement."
In the absence of such a column, I once again feel the need to comment on one or two of the latest blunders. Now the Abbey itself has opened as a convalescent home for officers there’s no improvement in the sardine-tin formation of the beds, and still no room for lockers or anywhere to keep personal items. Mrs. Crawley seems to be conducting affairs at Downton, and with Major Clarkson and Lady Sybil spending every waking minute there as well, it makes me wonder what’s happening down at Downton village cottage hospital. It was chaos there last week, and with 50% of the staff gone, things must be reaching a critical point. I say 50%, but with Thomas moving down the road as well, more like 75%.
Thomas Barrow. In the first series he was exposed at Downton as a thief. With war on the horizon he decided to jump before he was dismissed and joined the Territorial branch of the Royal Army Medical Corps. This ensured (so he thought) that he would get a cushy number when the wartime chips were down. Somehow he ended up in the thick of the fighting, having a few fags in a trench under constant bombardment. I can’t quite work out what he was actually doing in that trench. Was he attached to a Regimental Aid Post, or attached to a Field Ambulance perhaps? If it was ever explained, I missed it. Apologies. He intentionally exposed himself to sniper fire and after recovering from his self-inflicted injury, and by the miracles of modern television script-writing, he ends up in charge of the convalescent home at Downton Abbey.
Thomas Barrow. Thief, liar, manipulator, coward. Just the man for the job. Well, not exactly, as no UK convalescent home had RAMC staff. There was absolutely no way a RAMC corporal (sorry, Acting-Sergeant) would work in that type of unit or give orders to sick officers. Complete drivel and tosh. There should at least have been a trained nurse, but unfortunately no provision has been made for even one in this series.
The surprise of the week (errors no longer being surprises) came when Lady Mary announced that a friend of the family wanted to come to Downton from Middlesbrough to convalesce, and both Mrs. Crawley and Major Clarkson were up in arms.
‘Middlesbrough General will have their own arrangements about where their officers convalesce’ declared Mrs. C. And Major C. agreed:
‘Downton must function as part of the official system or it can’t function at all.’
So Lord Fellowes KNOWS there was an official system – that rather took my breath away. Is it better to know about something and choose to ignore it, or make errors because you failed to do the research and never knew about it at all? (Vote NOW). And I must just add here (pedant that I am) that there was only one military hospital in Middlesbrough, not the General Hospital, and no officer beds in the town at all.
However I did notice one bit of light flickering in the drawing-room when the near-exploding Carson exclaimed:
‘So we just make it up as we go along?’
Spot on, Carson.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Downton Abbey - Hospital or Bedlam?
I was a keen follower of the first series of Downton Abbey. As someone from a working-class background I’ve never been too keen on toffs, but I’ve been persuaded over the past few years that as a researcher of Great War nurses, a basic knowledge of upper-class whims, desires and inter-marrying might be useful background. And so it has been. When I heard that the second series was going to see the Abbey as a hospital I was very aware that it would be too easy for the writer(s) to get it wrong. But I was unprepared for just how wrong it could be. I’ve read that the first series cost approximately £1 million an episode, so presumably this second series is no cheaper, and with that budget it might be hoped that a few pounds would be spent on decent research into the formation, organisation and administration of military hospitals during the Great War.
Not a bit of it. The portrayal falters at every step. I can see only too clearly that there are not a lot of sources out there to punch a writer in the face, and it might need a bit more digging to uncover the real story, but come Lord Fellowes, with a million an episode this is poor stuff.
During the Great War military ‘hospitals’ were divided into two types, central hospitals and auxiliary hospitals. The former were the larger units run under the auspices of the War Office. They were staffed in the main by officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps and nurses of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Territorial Force Nursing Service. Men were admitted to a central hospital, assessed and treated, and when appropriate (days, weeks or months) transferred out to one of the many satellite auxiliary units for which each central hospital had responsibility. The auxiliaries came under the control of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, and were staffed by nurses under contract to them. Downton village cottage hospital could be nothing but an auxiliary hospital. And as a small, local, auxiliary hospital, it would still have conformed to the very high standards set by the Joint War Committee. So where does it fail?
Auxiliary hospitals did not employ Royal Army Medical Corps orderlies. Thomas could never have worked there. But then, the whole tale of Thomas’ return is pure fantasy.
Auxiliary hospitals did not, except in the rarest of circumstances, admit men direct from disembarkation. Their patients would already have been treated and cared for at a local central hospital. The raggle-taggle stream of wounded officers, shirts hanging out, blood oozing from their dressings, arms in slings bandaged over their uniforms was less likely than Haig riding in on his horse. Are these supposed to be men ‘straight from Arras.’ Quite ridiculous.
So many beds would never been crammed into such a small space. How does the writer imagine that nurses would have walked between the beds? Washed the patients and dressed their wounds? Fed them? Cleaned the floors? The ward looked worse than the worst of the casualty clearing stations on the Western Front in 1914. Far worse than Bedlam. Is Lord Fellowes aware that officers were treated rather differently from other ranks? His ‘ward’ is barely fit for pigs, let alone soldiers, and never officers.
Why is there no uniformed trained nurse? I’m afraid Mrs. Crawley, for all her wise words and ‘experience’ simply won’t do. She might act in an administrative role as Commandant, but wouldn’t be allowed to take part in giving out drugs or patient care. Mrs Crawley and the Major moving patients on stretchers was laughable (if it wasn’t so tear-inducing). And rookie VAD Miss Sybil doing a medicine round – complete poppycock. She’d have been lucky if she’d been allowed to wash the lockers or set trays.
The VADs were in the wrong uniform. They wore the grey dresses of St. John’s Ambulance Brigade VADs, but with the armlets of the British Red Cross. If they were supposed to be BRCS VADs, then they should have been in blue dresses, if St. John VADs, they should have been wearing the appropriate armlets. But of course, nobody ever gets the uniform right – only nurses so it’s hardly important.
It was fun to see Thomas being asked by Mrs. Crawley to stand in for Lady Sybil and do her VAD duties so she could go home for dinner. Fun? Nonsense.
And finally (for now), a blind officer would never, not in a million years, wash up in a tin-pot cottage hospital in Yorkshire. From fairly early in the war all blind officers were treated at No.2 London General Hospital (Territorial Force), Chelsea, where they received the most up to date and experienced care available, later almost certainly being transferred to one of the London hostels of St. Dunstans.
I suppose there’s always next week. I wonder what a ward in Downton Abbey itself will add to the hospital picture? I feel sure that it has to be better – I pray it couldn’t be any worse. And to exit where I entered, there are so few sources on Great War hospitals, and so much inaccuracy and misinformation spread around, both in books and on the web, that there is a great need for intelligent research. This Downton portrayal will now whip around the world and be used as a model of the truth by one and all, especially those who misguidedly believe it’s a fly-on-the-wall documentary. It will leave a legacy of falsehoods. Julian Fellowes has the background, he has the money, but unfortunately he lacks the knowledge.
Not a bit of it. The portrayal falters at every step. I can see only too clearly that there are not a lot of sources out there to punch a writer in the face, and it might need a bit more digging to uncover the real story, but come Lord Fellowes, with a million an episode this is poor stuff.
During the Great War military ‘hospitals’ were divided into two types, central hospitals and auxiliary hospitals. The former were the larger units run under the auspices of the War Office. They were staffed in the main by officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps and nurses of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Territorial Force Nursing Service. Men were admitted to a central hospital, assessed and treated, and when appropriate (days, weeks or months) transferred out to one of the many satellite auxiliary units for which each central hospital had responsibility. The auxiliaries came under the control of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, and were staffed by nurses under contract to them. Downton village cottage hospital could be nothing but an auxiliary hospital. And as a small, local, auxiliary hospital, it would still have conformed to the very high standards set by the Joint War Committee. So where does it fail?
Auxiliary hospitals did not employ Royal Army Medical Corps orderlies. Thomas could never have worked there. But then, the whole tale of Thomas’ return is pure fantasy.
Auxiliary hospitals did not, except in the rarest of circumstances, admit men direct from disembarkation. Their patients would already have been treated and cared for at a local central hospital. The raggle-taggle stream of wounded officers, shirts hanging out, blood oozing from their dressings, arms in slings bandaged over their uniforms was less likely than Haig riding in on his horse. Are these supposed to be men ‘straight from Arras.’ Quite ridiculous.
So many beds would never been crammed into such a small space. How does the writer imagine that nurses would have walked between the beds? Washed the patients and dressed their wounds? Fed them? Cleaned the floors? The ward looked worse than the worst of the casualty clearing stations on the Western Front in 1914. Far worse than Bedlam. Is Lord Fellowes aware that officers were treated rather differently from other ranks? His ‘ward’ is barely fit for pigs, let alone soldiers, and never officers.
Why is there no uniformed trained nurse? I’m afraid Mrs. Crawley, for all her wise words and ‘experience’ simply won’t do. She might act in an administrative role as Commandant, but wouldn’t be allowed to take part in giving out drugs or patient care. Mrs Crawley and the Major moving patients on stretchers was laughable (if it wasn’t so tear-inducing). And rookie VAD Miss Sybil doing a medicine round – complete poppycock. She’d have been lucky if she’d been allowed to wash the lockers or set trays.
The VADs were in the wrong uniform. They wore the grey dresses of St. John’s Ambulance Brigade VADs, but with the armlets of the British Red Cross. If they were supposed to be BRCS VADs, then they should have been in blue dresses, if St. John VADs, they should have been wearing the appropriate armlets. But of course, nobody ever gets the uniform right – only nurses so it’s hardly important.
It was fun to see Thomas being asked by Mrs. Crawley to stand in for Lady Sybil and do her VAD duties so she could go home for dinner. Fun? Nonsense.
And finally (for now), a blind officer would never, not in a million years, wash up in a tin-pot cottage hospital in Yorkshire. From fairly early in the war all blind officers were treated at No.2 London General Hospital (Territorial Force), Chelsea, where they received the most up to date and experienced care available, later almost certainly being transferred to one of the London hostels of St. Dunstans.
I suppose there’s always next week. I wonder what a ward in Downton Abbey itself will add to the hospital picture? I feel sure that it has to be better – I pray it couldn’t be any worse. And to exit where I entered, there are so few sources on Great War hospitals, and so much inaccuracy and misinformation spread around, both in books and on the web, that there is a great need for intelligent research. This Downton portrayal will now whip around the world and be used as a model of the truth by one and all, especially those who misguidedly believe it’s a fly-on-the-wall documentary. It will leave a legacy of falsehoods. Julian Fellowes has the background, he has the money, but unfortunately he lacks the knowledge.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Not a good day ...
While doing some work on my transcription of the official war diary of Maud McCarthy, Matron-in-Chief with the British Expeditionary Force, I stopped at this entry. It must have been a very trying day, among a whole war-ful of trying days, but somehow it always makes me smile and give thanks for today's quiet life:
17 December 1914
After many delays left for Abbeville at 10.30am. Endless punctures and delays and after dark ran into 2 French carts at separate intervals, on the wrong side of the road on each occasion – not supplied with lights of any kind. Both sides of the car were knocked about, and in the end when starting for the 3rd time, the steering gear was out of action and on the brow of the hill just escaped a serious accident, the car being brought to a stand still by coming into contact with a tree. Got out. Walked back to office and reported the matter.
Found many official letters awaiting me; received news that one of the Nursing Sisters at No.8 had gone mad.
17 December 1914
After many delays left for Abbeville at 10.30am. Endless punctures and delays and after dark ran into 2 French carts at separate intervals, on the wrong side of the road on each occasion – not supplied with lights of any kind. Both sides of the car were knocked about, and in the end when starting for the 3rd time, the steering gear was out of action and on the brow of the hill just escaped a serious accident, the car being brought to a stand still by coming into contact with a tree. Got out. Walked back to office and reported the matter.
Found many official letters awaiting me; received news that one of the Nursing Sisters at No.8 had gone mad.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Some new names from Edith Appleton's Diary
A bit of nosing around in service files at The National Archives yesterday has resulted in some more surnames in the diary being confirmed. There is varying information associated with each one, but hopefully enough to give a good idea of their identity:
CHARLESWORTH, Annie; strong family connections with Wombwell, Yorkshire, and her address given towards the end of the war was The Hall, Wombwell, Yorkshire. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
CONSTABLE, Nora; born in Ireland circa 1875, and her family were living in Charlbury, Oxfordshire during the Great War. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
COULTER Susanna; born in Ireland; trained as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary 1908-1911; home address throughout the war was Westland House, Londonderry, Ireland. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
DENTON, Annie Blackley; born 26 November 1868 in Birkenhead, Liverpool, and died in 1957 in Worthing, West Sussex; Matron, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, and had previous service during the Boer War
GREGSON, Mabel Mary; born 24 April 1874 in Bradford, and during the Great War home address and that of her mother was in the Finchley area of North London. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
HUTCHINSON Ethel; born circa 1875 in Nottingham, daughter of John and Mary Hutchinson. Sisters Gertrude and Annie and brothers John, Ben and Thomas. Permanent address for most of war 300 Bluebell Hill Road, Nottingham. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Awarded the Military Medal in 1916 while working at No.33 Casualty Clearing Station, Bethune.
LATHAM Kathleen Mary; born in Richmond-upon-Thames in early 1880, the daughter of Thomas Latham, a barrister, and his wife Mary Harriet, née Doveton. Mary Latham died within three months of her daughter's birth, her death was registered in the June quarter of the same year. Kathleen had one elder brother, Fenton Henry Latham, born in 1877. She trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew's Hospital between 1906 and 1909. Nursing Sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Her home address during the Great War was 'Stillingflete, Folkestone, Kent.'
MAIR Jean Dixon; born 25 February 1887, daughter of W. Mair, joiner and cartwright. Family home at Rose Cottage, Whauphill, Wigtownshire, Scotland. Trained as a nurse in Manchester 1909-1912. Staff Nurse, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. Known to have married after her demobilisation in 1919, though married name unknown
RAPER, Olive Louise; born circa 1887 in Great Wakering, Essex; Nursing Sister, Territorial Force Nursing Service
RITCHIE-THOMSON, Mary Lamont; born 21 August 1870 in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
TILNEY, Constance; born circa 1887. During the Great War her mother was living in Ashburnham Road, Bedford, and post-war Miss Tilney had connections in South Africa
TULLY, Elizabeth; Born in Scotland, and family connections during the Great War with Morebattle, Kelso
CHARLESWORTH, Annie; strong family connections with Wombwell, Yorkshire, and her address given towards the end of the war was The Hall, Wombwell, Yorkshire. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
CONSTABLE, Nora; born in Ireland circa 1875, and her family were living in Charlbury, Oxfordshire during the Great War. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
COULTER Susanna; born in Ireland; trained as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary 1908-1911; home address throughout the war was Westland House, Londonderry, Ireland. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
DENTON, Annie Blackley; born 26 November 1868 in Birkenhead, Liverpool, and died in 1957 in Worthing, West Sussex; Matron, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, and had previous service during the Boer War
GREGSON, Mabel Mary; born 24 April 1874 in Bradford, and during the Great War home address and that of her mother was in the Finchley area of North London. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
HUTCHINSON Ethel; born circa 1875 in Nottingham, daughter of John and Mary Hutchinson. Sisters Gertrude and Annie and brothers John, Ben and Thomas. Permanent address for most of war 300 Bluebell Hill Road, Nottingham. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Awarded the Military Medal in 1916 while working at No.33 Casualty Clearing Station, Bethune.
LATHAM Kathleen Mary; born in Richmond-upon-Thames in early 1880, the daughter of Thomas Latham, a barrister, and his wife Mary Harriet, née Doveton. Mary Latham died within three months of her daughter's birth, her death was registered in the June quarter of the same year. Kathleen had one elder brother, Fenton Henry Latham, born in 1877. She trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew's Hospital between 1906 and 1909. Nursing Sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Her home address during the Great War was 'Stillingflete, Folkestone, Kent.'
MAIR Jean Dixon; born 25 February 1887, daughter of W. Mair, joiner and cartwright. Family home at Rose Cottage, Whauphill, Wigtownshire, Scotland. Trained as a nurse in Manchester 1909-1912. Staff Nurse, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. Known to have married after her demobilisation in 1919, though married name unknown
RAPER, Olive Louise; born circa 1887 in Great Wakering, Essex; Nursing Sister, Territorial Force Nursing Service
RITCHIE-THOMSON, Mary Lamont; born 21 August 1870 in Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Nursing sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
TILNEY, Constance; born circa 1887. During the Great War her mother was living in Ashburnham Road, Bedford, and post-war Miss Tilney had connections in South Africa
TULLY, Elizabeth; Born in Scotland, and family connections during the Great War with Morebattle, Kelso
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Edith Appleton's Diary - help required
I've been asked to post this information to try and find present day relatives of some of those named in Edith Appleton's diary. The most likely way that people will come across these names is while pursuing family history research on the web, so the more places it appears, the more chance there will be of family members being found (I hope).
A television company is trying to trace the descendents of anyone nursed by, or who knew or worked alongside, Sister Edith Appleton, a nurse working in various locations in France throughout the First World War. An index detailing names is below. If you recognise anybody, please get in touch and your details will be forwarded for a potential television project. Although referred to only by surname in the diary, it has been possible to fully identify most of those named below, and more names will be added soon
NURSES
ATKINSON, Miss, also known as ‘Atky,’ a VAD from New Zealand, b. 1860
BALDR(E)Y, Ellen, born in Norfolk, and at the outbreak of war living at 49 Blackwater Road, Eastbourne, Sussex. Served during the Boer War with the Army Nursing Service Reserve. During the Great War an Acting Matron, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
BLAKELY, Maud(e) Mary; a doctor’s daughter, born on 6 March 1874 in Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Trained as a nurse at Chelsea Infirmary, London, between 1895 and 1898. Served with Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve during the Boer War before joining Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in February 1903. Promoted Sister in February 1904 and during the Great War was Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders. Maud Blakely was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1916, a Bar to the award in January 1919 and the OBE in May 1927. Her sister, Jane Lavens Blakely also served in QAIMNS during the Great War
CLEMENTS, Mary; born 27 January 1875 in Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister (believed to be William Clements). She trained as a nurse at The London Hospital, Whitechapel, between 1898 and 1901, and was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in January 1905 as a Staff Nurse, being promoted to Sister in December 1906. During the Great War Mary Clements served as an Acting Matron, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1917. She reached the rank of Matron in 1927, and retired from the service in January 1930
CONGLETON, Jessie Hume; born 12 November 1872 in Newport, Fife; educated at Dundee High School, and trained as a nurse at Dundee Royal Infirmary between 1896 and 1899. Jessie Congleton was appointed as a Staff Nurse in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in September 1906, and promoted to the rank of Nursing Sister in April 1914. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in June 1915, and was also mentioned in Army Orders in early 1916 ‘for conspicuous bravery during a fire at No.14 Stationary Hospital.’ She retired from QAIMNS in March 1924, and died on 20 April 1932.
DENNE, Ethel Mary; born 3 December 1872 in Hounslow, Middlesex, the daughter of William Robert and Emily Denne. At the time of her birth her father was a bank clerk in Hounslow, but was later employed as a poultry farmer. She was educated at Notting Hill High School, and trained as a nurse at St. Marylebone Infirmary, London, between 1897 and 1900. Ethel Denne was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in February 1903, and promoted Sister in August 1904. During the Great War she served as an Acting Matron, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1917, and a Bar to the award in April 1919. She retired from the service in December 1927 and died in Hastings in 1956 at the age of 83 years
GASCOIGNE, Elsie Vera Orby, born circa 1880 in Wiltshire, died 1956
HAMILTON-WATTS, Madeline Hamilton, Sister, Territorial Force Nursing Service, born circa 1882 in Plaistow, Essex, and died in Aldershot in 1974
HANSARD, Ethel Maud, nursing sister, trained St. Bartholomew’s Hospital between 1906 and 1909
HARTIGAN, Helena; born 8 April 1878 in Crean, Co. Limerick, the daughter of James Hartigan, gentleman farmer, and Maria Ryan Hartigan. Trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, between 1901 and 1904 before joining Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in May 1905. Held the position of Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders during the Great War, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class in June 1915, and a Bar to the award in January 1919. Retired from the service in June 1928, and died in 1931, aged 53 years. Her brother was Lt. General James Andrew Hartigan, Royal Army Medical Corps
HINDLE, Hilda
KABERRY, Mabel Lydia; born 15 May 1877 in Pontefract, Yorkshire, the daughter of Isaac Kaberry, a solicitor, and his wife Mary. Trained as a nurse at Bristol General Hospital between 1899 and 1902 where she was awarded the gold medal as top student of her year. She was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in June 1905, and promoted Sister in November 1910. She held the position of Acting Matron during most of her Great War service, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, Second Class, in January 1918. Her elder sister, Ethel Kate Kaberry, also trained as a nurse and served with QAIMNS, resigning on the grounds of ill-health in 1913.
LATHAM, Kathleen Mary; born in Richmond-upon-Thames in early 1880, the daughter of Thomas Latham, a barrister, and his wife Mary Harriet, née Doveton. Mary Latham died within three months of her daughter's birth, her death registered in the June quarter of the same year. Kathleen had one elder brother, Fenton Henry Latham, born in 1877. She trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew's Hospital between 1906 and 1909. During the Great War was a nursing sister with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Her home address during the Great War was 'Stillingflete, Folkestone, Kent
McCARTHY, Miss/later Dame Emma Maud, Matron-in-Chief, France and Flanders
MAXEY, Kate; born in Spennymoor, County Durham in 1877, the daughter of Walter John and Jane Maxey (née Watford). She trained as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary between 1900 and 1903. She enrolled in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in January 1912 while working in Leeds, and was attached to No.2 Northern General Hospital (Territorial Force) as a Staff Nurse. On the outbreak of war she was mobilised and went to France on 9 October 1914, initially to No.8 General Hospital, Rouen, being promoted to Sister in September 1917. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, and the Military Medal for her actions at No.58 Casualty Clearing Station on the night of 21 March 1918, the citation reading:
For gallantry and conspicuous devotion to duty displayed during a recent hostile bombing raid on a CCS. Although severely wounded herself, she went to the aid of another Sister, who was fatally wounded, and did all she could for her. Later, although suffering severe pain, she showed an example of pluck and endurance which was inspiring to all
RENTZSCH, Ethel Maude; born on 5 April 1970 in Hackney, London the daughter of Benjamin and Marie (Edith) Rentzsch. Educated at Notting Hill High School, and trained as a nurse at King’s College Hospital, London, between 1896 and 1899. Ethel Rentzsch was appointed as a Staff Nurse to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in May 1905 and promoted Sister in 1909. She had a brother, Sigismund Rentzsch, which suggests the family were descended from the well known 19th century watchmaker of the same name. Ethel Rentzsch retired from QAIMNS in August 1924 and died in Brighton in 1941.
SCHREINER, Believed to be either Ursula Hester Schreiner or Frances Lydall Schreiner, both South African VADs.
SMITH, Gertrude Mary Wilton (also WILTON-SMITH); born 14 April 1872 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire, the daughter of William Wilton Smith, a clergyman, and his wife Louisa. Trained as a nurse at Bedford County Hospital between 1897 and 1900, and appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in July 1904. Promoted Sister in June 1906, and during the Great War served as an Acting Matron from June 1915. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class in June 1915 and a Bar to the award in January 1919. Gertrude Wilton Smith retired from the service on 21 October 1926
TRUSLOVE, Annie Elizabeth, b. circa 1875 in Warwickshire
TUNLEY, Mabel Mary; born 10 July 1970 in Pontypridd, South Wales, the daughter of Charles William Tunley, a schoolteacher, and his wife Louisa (née Smith). She trained as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary between 1896 and 1899, and soon after the completion of her training served with Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve in South Africa during the Boer War. She was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in March 1903, rising to become an Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders during the Great War. Mabel Tunley received the Royal Red Cross, First Class in January 1916, and a Bar to the award in January 1919. In September 1916 she was awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire, the citation reading:
At Bethune, on the 7th August 1916, she did exceptionally good work in assisting getting all the patients, 260, down to the cellars, so that when the Clearing Station was eventually hit not one of the patients received a scratch. Her cheeriness and courage were instrumental in keeping everyone who came in contact with her up to the mark. She was slightly wounded and remained at duty.
She retired from the service in July 1925, and died in Hull in September 1932 from the complications of diabetes
WAITE, Margaret Bowman; just surname given, and believed to be this woman, but not able to confirm in the absence of a service file.
WELFORD, Millie, VAD
SOLDIERS/PATIENTS
BARBER, Albert Edward, M.M., L/Cpl 9189, Essex Regiment
BELL-IRVING, Captain Malcolm McBean
BERREL, John, Private 2827, Seaforth Highlanders
BLOGG, Edward Basil, Major, Royal Engineers
CHITTY, Henry Leonard, Serjeant 12/3583, Auckland Regiment
COOPER, T., Private 1633, Yorkshire Regiment
HENDRY, Mr., a wounded officer with family living in Paris
HAMMOND, Paul, Captain, East Lancashire Regiment
KERR, Charles, Private 8209, Manchester Regiment
LENNOX, James, Rifleman 1925, Royal Irish Rifles
LIMBRICK, George Thomas Alfred, Private 1265, Australian Infantry
MADDOX, Sam, a patient
MIDDLETON, F. G., Serjeant 639, Lancashire Fusiliers
PARTLIN, J. E., Serjeant 15967, Border Regiment
PIERCE, a New Zealand Sergeant-Major and patient
ROGERS, a patient from Sandwich
RUDMAN, a patient
SAWDON, George Herbert, Sapper 59612, Royal Engineers
THACKERAY, Edward Rennell, Colonel, Royal Field Artillery
VERNON LEE, Mr., patient, formerly musician and composer
WANSTALL, Ernest
*****
A television company is trying to trace the descendents of anyone nursed by, or who knew or worked alongside, Sister Edith Appleton, a nurse working in various locations in France throughout the First World War. An index detailing names is below. If you recognise anybody, please get in touch and your details will be forwarded for a potential television project. Although referred to only by surname in the diary, it has been possible to fully identify most of those named below, and more names will be added soon
NURSES
ATKINSON, Miss, also known as ‘Atky,’ a VAD from New Zealand, b. 1860
BALDR(E)Y, Ellen, born in Norfolk, and at the outbreak of war living at 49 Blackwater Road, Eastbourne, Sussex. Served during the Boer War with the Army Nursing Service Reserve. During the Great War an Acting Matron, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve
BLAKELY, Maud(e) Mary; a doctor’s daughter, born on 6 March 1874 in Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. Trained as a nurse at Chelsea Infirmary, London, between 1895 and 1898. Served with Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve during the Boer War before joining Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in February 1903. Promoted Sister in February 1904 and during the Great War was Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders. Maud Blakely was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1916, a Bar to the award in January 1919 and the OBE in May 1927. Her sister, Jane Lavens Blakely also served in QAIMNS during the Great War
CLEMENTS, Mary; born 27 January 1875 in Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, the daughter of a Presbyterian Minister (believed to be William Clements). She trained as a nurse at The London Hospital, Whitechapel, between 1898 and 1901, and was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in January 1905 as a Staff Nurse, being promoted to Sister in December 1906. During the Great War Mary Clements served as an Acting Matron, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1917. She reached the rank of Matron in 1927, and retired from the service in January 1930
CONGLETON, Jessie Hume; born 12 November 1872 in Newport, Fife; educated at Dundee High School, and trained as a nurse at Dundee Royal Infirmary between 1896 and 1899. Jessie Congleton was appointed as a Staff Nurse in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in September 1906, and promoted to the rank of Nursing Sister in April 1914. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in June 1915, and was also mentioned in Army Orders in early 1916 ‘for conspicuous bravery during a fire at No.14 Stationary Hospital.’ She retired from QAIMNS in March 1924, and died on 20 April 1932.
DENNE, Ethel Mary; born 3 December 1872 in Hounslow, Middlesex, the daughter of William Robert and Emily Denne. At the time of her birth her father was a bank clerk in Hounslow, but was later employed as a poultry farmer. She was educated at Notting Hill High School, and trained as a nurse at St. Marylebone Infirmary, London, between 1897 and 1900. Ethel Denne was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in February 1903, and promoted Sister in August 1904. During the Great War she served as an Acting Matron, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in January 1917, and a Bar to the award in April 1919. She retired from the service in December 1927 and died in Hastings in 1956 at the age of 83 years
GASCOIGNE, Elsie Vera Orby, born circa 1880 in Wiltshire, died 1956
HAMILTON-WATTS, Madeline Hamilton, Sister, Territorial Force Nursing Service, born circa 1882 in Plaistow, Essex, and died in Aldershot in 1974
HANSARD, Ethel Maud, nursing sister, trained St. Bartholomew’s Hospital between 1906 and 1909
HARTIGAN, Helena; born 8 April 1878 in Crean, Co. Limerick, the daughter of James Hartigan, gentleman farmer, and Maria Ryan Hartigan. Trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, between 1901 and 1904 before joining Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in May 1905. Held the position of Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders during the Great War, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class in June 1915, and a Bar to the award in January 1919. Retired from the service in June 1928, and died in 1931, aged 53 years. Her brother was Lt. General James Andrew Hartigan, Royal Army Medical Corps
HINDLE, Hilda
KABERRY, Mabel Lydia; born 15 May 1877 in Pontefract, Yorkshire, the daughter of Isaac Kaberry, a solicitor, and his wife Mary. Trained as a nurse at Bristol General Hospital between 1899 and 1902 where she was awarded the gold medal as top student of her year. She was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in June 1905, and promoted Sister in November 1910. She held the position of Acting Matron during most of her Great War service, and was awarded the Royal Red Cross, Second Class, in January 1918. Her elder sister, Ethel Kate Kaberry, also trained as a nurse and served with QAIMNS, resigning on the grounds of ill-health in 1913.
LATHAM, Kathleen Mary; born in Richmond-upon-Thames in early 1880, the daughter of Thomas Latham, a barrister, and his wife Mary Harriet, née Doveton. Mary Latham died within three months of her daughter's birth, her death registered in the June quarter of the same year. Kathleen had one elder brother, Fenton Henry Latham, born in 1877. She trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew's Hospital between 1906 and 1909. During the Great War was a nursing sister with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. Her home address during the Great War was 'Stillingflete, Folkestone, Kent
McCARTHY, Miss/later Dame Emma Maud, Matron-in-Chief, France and Flanders
MAXEY, Kate; born in Spennymoor, County Durham in 1877, the daughter of Walter John and Jane Maxey (née Watford). She trained as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary between 1900 and 1903. She enrolled in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in January 1912 while working in Leeds, and was attached to No.2 Northern General Hospital (Territorial Force) as a Staff Nurse. On the outbreak of war she was mobilised and went to France on 9 October 1914, initially to No.8 General Hospital, Rouen, being promoted to Sister in September 1917. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, and the Military Medal for her actions at No.58 Casualty Clearing Station on the night of 21 March 1918, the citation reading:
For gallantry and conspicuous devotion to duty displayed during a recent hostile bombing raid on a CCS. Although severely wounded herself, she went to the aid of another Sister, who was fatally wounded, and did all she could for her. Later, although suffering severe pain, she showed an example of pluck and endurance which was inspiring to all
RENTZSCH, Ethel Maude; born on 5 April 1970 in Hackney, London the daughter of Benjamin and Marie (Edith) Rentzsch. Educated at Notting Hill High School, and trained as a nurse at King’s College Hospital, London, between 1896 and 1899. Ethel Rentzsch was appointed as a Staff Nurse to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in May 1905 and promoted Sister in 1909. She had a brother, Sigismund Rentzsch, which suggests the family were descended from the well known 19th century watchmaker of the same name. Ethel Rentzsch retired from QAIMNS in August 1924 and died in Brighton in 1941.
SCHREINER, Believed to be either Ursula Hester Schreiner or Frances Lydall Schreiner, both South African VADs.
SMITH, Gertrude Mary Wilton (also WILTON-SMITH); born 14 April 1872 in Folkingham, Lincolnshire, the daughter of William Wilton Smith, a clergyman, and his wife Louisa. Trained as a nurse at Bedford County Hospital between 1897 and 1900, and appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in July 1904. Promoted Sister in June 1906, and during the Great War served as an Acting Matron from June 1915. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class in June 1915 and a Bar to the award in January 1919. Gertrude Wilton Smith retired from the service on 21 October 1926
SMITH, Jeanie Macpherson Barclay (also BARCLAY-SMITH); born in Scotland 22 February 1874, the daughter of John Smith, a pharmacist, and his wife Margaret. Trained as a nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary between 1901 and 1904 and joined Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in September 1907. She resigned from the service in July 1911, but returned on the outbreak of the Great War to serve once more. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, on 23 June 1915. Jeanie Barclay Smith died of endocarditis on 28 April 1916, and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.
STEEN, Lavinia Eliza Caroline; born in St. Petersburg, Russia, 20 January 1869, the daughter of a stockbroker. She trained as a nurse at Bristol General Hospital between 1891 and 1894, and was appointed to the Army Nursing Service in March 1897, transferring to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in February 1903. She served in South Africa during the Boer war and was promoted to Matron in May 1910, the rank she held during the Great War. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class, in June 1916, and a Bar to the award in March 1919. After being invalided home from France in March 1916 (diary 9/3/16) she was granted sick leave, and later returned to work as the Matron of Reading War Hospital, Berkshire. She retired from the service on the grounds of ill-health in December 1922TRUSLOVE, Annie Elizabeth, b. circa 1875 in Warwickshire
TUNLEY, Mabel Mary; born 10 July 1970 in Pontypridd, South Wales, the daughter of Charles William Tunley, a schoolteacher, and his wife Louisa (née Smith). She trained as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary between 1896 and 1899, and soon after the completion of her training served with Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve in South Africa during the Boer War. She was appointed to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service as a Staff Nurse in March 1903, rising to become an Acting Principal Matron in France and Flanders during the Great War. Mabel Tunley received the Royal Red Cross, First Class in January 1916, and a Bar to the award in January 1919. In September 1916 she was awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire, the citation reading:
At Bethune, on the 7th August 1916, she did exceptionally good work in assisting getting all the patients, 260, down to the cellars, so that when the Clearing Station was eventually hit not one of the patients received a scratch. Her cheeriness and courage were instrumental in keeping everyone who came in contact with her up to the mark. She was slightly wounded and remained at duty.
She retired from the service in July 1925, and died in Hull in September 1932 from the complications of diabetes
WAITE, Margaret Bowman; just surname given, and believed to be this woman, but not able to confirm in the absence of a service file.
WELFORD, Millie, VAD
SOLDIERS/PATIENTS
BARBER, Albert Edward, M.M., L/Cpl 9189, Essex Regiment
BELL-IRVING, Captain Malcolm McBean
BERREL, John, Private 2827, Seaforth Highlanders
BLOGG, Edward Basil, Major, Royal Engineers
CHITTY, Henry Leonard, Serjeant 12/3583, Auckland Regiment
COOPER, T., Private 1633, Yorkshire Regiment
HENDRY, Mr., a wounded officer with family living in Paris
HAMMOND, Paul, Captain, East Lancashire Regiment
KERR, Charles, Private 8209, Manchester Regiment
LENNOX, James, Rifleman 1925, Royal Irish Rifles
LIMBRICK, George Thomas Alfred, Private 1265, Australian Infantry
MADDOX, Sam, a patient
MIDDLETON, F. G., Serjeant 639, Lancashire Fusiliers
PARTLIN, J. E., Serjeant 15967, Border Regiment
PIERCE, a New Zealand Sergeant-Major and patient
ROGERS, a patient from Sandwich
RUDMAN, a patient
SAWDON, George Herbert, Sapper 59612, Royal Engineers
THACKERAY, Edward Rennell, Colonel, Royal Field Artillery
VERNON LEE, Mr., patient, formerly musician and composer
WANSTALL, Ernest
A full list of all those mentioned in the diary, identified or otherwise, can be found on the following page:
Edith Appleton's Diary - complete list of those mentionedIf you are related to any of those named above, and wish to get in touch, please contact Dick Robinson through the visitor's book here:
Edith Appleton - Visitors' Book
Or by contacting me via the email link on my profile page in the right-hand menu.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
A Bit of Luck
I was very excited to wake up early on Sunday morning and find an email on my phone telling me that one of my book 'wants' had turned up, and asking if I wanted to buy it. The book in question was Kate Luard's 'Unknown Warriors' and definitely my most 'wanted.' I've got a wide range of old and new books relating to nursing during the Great War, but this one had previously eluded me - I've found a couple of copies before, only to be pipped at the post, and one or two that I couldn't afford. This time I was determined not to miss out, and my copy arrived this morning, complete with Kate Luard's hand-written dedication to her brother inside:
T. B. L. from K. E. L.
21.3.30
The cover is a little tatty, but the pages still so tight that I'm not sure it was ever read, or certainly not more than once. I think that's about to change!
Unknown Warriors - Extracts from the Letters of K. E. Luard, R.R.C.
Chatto and Windus, 1930
T. B. L. from K. E. L.
21.3.30
The cover is a little tatty, but the pages still so tight that I'm not sure it was ever read, or certainly not more than once. I think that's about to change!
Unknown Warriors - Extracts from the Letters of K. E. Luard, R.R.C.
Chatto and Windus, 1930
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