WWI British Nurse Photo Album

[rcleary171]

Hello Group,

This may be of interest to this forum. A number of decades ago I purchased an old photo album which appears to have been the property of a nurse who served in France between 1915 and 1920 (how it got to New Jersey I will never know). I have been posting pictures from this album on another forum (see link below) but I will be willing to scan and deliver any of these pictures to the members of this group upon request. The owner is not identified but she did make the effort to put the names down of her colleagues and friends. Hope this helps in your research.

Sincerely,

Bob

http://www.toysoldierschat.com/showthread.php?t=1858

[centurion]

What a brilliant debut to the forum.

[Canadawwi]

Thank you for caring for this album and ensuring the pictures were scanned and shared with others.

[JoMH]

They are totally absorbing. Thank you.

Joanna

[Guest]

Wonderful images, thanks for sharing.

Mike

[Tonym]

Bob

Fantastic!!! What you purchased x number of decades ago as an old photo album is now virtually a museum piece. Thank you for sharing it.

Tony

[Pighills]

Wow! Only checked out the first page (so far) but cracking photos. I shall sift through the rest of the pages at a later date (having bookmarked it).

Thanks for posting and a very warm welcome to the forum!

[Sue Light]

Hallo Bob

This type of image is so rare that it does have great value for research. A few observations:

Sister Ayre is Amelia Ayre, born in Liverpool on 12 July 1875; her father a builder; educated at Cambridge House School, Liverpool; trained as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary from September 1901 to September 1904.

Appointed as Staff Nurse in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service 1 July 1905; promoted Sister 19 July 1911. Arrived in France 18/8/14; awarded Royal Red Cross (2nd Class), 1914 Star, BWM and Victory Medal; mentioned in despatches 24/12/17.

Retired list from 1/10/25.

From the other names in the album - cannot be 100% sure, but very likely:

Gossage = Georgina Halliday Gossage; I think that the reference to 'Goss' is also Gossage.

Pardoe = Alice Mary Spencer Pardoe

Soames = K. Marjorie Soames

Clarkson = Hilda Clarkson

Madley = Gertrude Madley

Sawday = Eva Maud Sawday

Bradburn = a nursing sister in the Territorial Force Nursing Service, either Mary Bradburn or Marie Bradburne

British census returns will turn up all family history on these women - how many hours are there in a day?

Also service files available at The National Archives for Amelia Ayre and the two Bradburns

Regards --- Sue

[Sue Light]

For me, the images of the departure of Miss McCarthy from France are wonderful - something I never thought I'd see. After transcribing a million (or so) words of her war diary, her leaving left me trying to type while sniffing into my hankie. Personally, I don't believe that the image of the woman with her back to the camera, talking to the officer, is Miss McCarthy. Here's the account, written by Mildred Bond, to go with your images:

05.08.19

Departure of Matron-in-Chief, France

On August 5th the Matron-in-Chief, BEF left France, from which date I took over the duties of Principal Matron of France and Flanders.

On the evening of the fourth, Dame Maud McCarthy GBE, RRC, dined with the DMS General Gerrard CB, and the officers of his staff, who were giving a farewell dinner in her honour. The following guest were present: Colonel Barefoot DDMS, L of C, Colonel Statham the DDMS Boulogne and Etaples, Colonel Gordon the ADMS Calais, and also the A/Principal Matrons of the Areas, Miss L. E. Mackay QAIMNS, Miss Allen QAIMNS and Miss Rowe QAIMNS; also Miss Congleton QAIMNS, Matron 32 Stationary Hospital; Miss G. Wilton Smith and myself. In the centre of the dinner table was placed a gorgeous basket of choice hot-house flowers which was afterwards presented to Dame Maud, and the DMS made a very appropriate and gratifying speech in which he expressed so much appreciation of her noble work and character and regrets at her leaving France, in which we all concurred so heartily.

On the afternoon of the 5th, Dame Maud left by the afternoon boat for England. I went with the DMS in his car to see her off, and Miss G. Wilton Smith and Miss Barbier CHR went with her in her own car. There was a large crowd waiting on the Quay when she arrived. Among those present were a Representative from GOC, General Asser being absent from Boulogne; the DMS and his staff; Brigadier General Wilberforce CB CMG the Base Commandant; Colonel Barefoot DDMS L of C; Colonel Statham DDMS Boulogne and Etaples; Colonel Gordon the ADMS Calais; and many other officers; Major Liouville, who represented the French Medical Service and Monsieur M. Rigaud, Secretary to the Sous-Prefecture who represented the French civil population, came in place of Monsieur M. Buloz who was absent from Boulogne. These two men thanked her on behalf of the Military and Civil Authorities for all the goodness and courtesy they had always received at her hands. The Matrons and the Nursing Staff from all the near Units who could be spared from duty and who were anxious to show a last mark of respect to their retiring chief were present.

She shook hands with everyone and was wonderful to the last, in the way she carried through a most difficult and trying farewell. Her cabin was a perfect bower of most beautiful flowers sent from the staff of the different Hospitals. One of her own staff, Miss Hill VAD, was able to cross with her as she was going home on demobilisation. As the ship moved off the Matron-in-Chief, Miss Hill and Major Tate RAMC of the DMS staff, who was proceeding to England on transfer, escorted Dame Maud to the bridge and remained with her. They all waved from the bridge and we all waved and cheered our loudest and sang “For she’s a jolly good fellow” as the ship sailed out of the harbour. I think we shall never forget that sight and shall always like to remember the courageous and plucky way in which our chief carried our flag flying to the very last moment into her civilian life, where we wish her all happiness and success and where she will still command the love and respect of us all.

------------------------------

Sue

[Sue Light]

And this is from the war diary - some details of the trips to the forward areas (and to Lourdes) arranged for nurses after the Armistice. It was certainly on one of these trips that the photos were taken.

15.01.19

Major Lord Greville came to the Office with reference to the three day trips which he was arranging for the benefit of Nurses and VAD members from both Calais and Boulogne Bases on three successive days, parties to consist of 14 members with a Conducting Officer in attendance, and I arranged that a senior Member of the Service should be in charge of each party. These trips were to begin on 20th instant, and the parties from Calais would finish the trip at Boulogne, and the Boulogne parties at Calais. The programme drawn up is as follows:-

1st day: Leave for Blendeques. Sleep at Blendeques. 2nd day: Arras, Vimy Ridge, Lens, La Bassee, Gezaincourt. Sleep at Gezaincourt. 3rd day: Somme Battlefield, Bapaume, Albert. Sleep at (Boulogne) or (Calais). The Principal Matrons of the Areas were issued with full instructions regarding these trips, and the names of the Members selected were also notified.

17.01.19

Boulogne

Pilgrimage to Lourdes: The Roman Catholic Chaplain from GHQ Colonel Rawlinson, rang up to say that he had made arrangements with the Etaples Padre for Nurses to proceed on an 8 days’ tour to Lourdes, leaving Etaples on 29th. I let him know that I knew nothing about it, and made an appointment to visit him at his Headquarters the next day after discussing the matter with the DGMS should it meet with his approval.

19.1.19

With Miss Wright VAD to GHQ where I saw Colonel Rawlinson, Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, with reference to the Pilgrimage to Lourdes, and said that until something was settled officially on the subject no further arrangements should be made. He told me that Col. Wroughton, Adjutant General’s Office, had told him there would be no difficulty in the matter. Father Coyle, a Jesuit Priest at Etaples, would be in charge of the party, and arrangements had been made with the railway authorities for accommodation to be provided, and they would go direct from Etaples by train, via Paris. The fare would be 30 francs each way from Paris, and their expenses at Lourdes would be 8 francs a day.

From there I went on to GHQ and saw Colonel Price Jones who informed me that he had heard of the matter but had nothing on paper, and he advised me to put up the request with as little delay as possible.

From there to Etaples. Saw the DDMS Colonel Barefoot, who had not realised the necessity of this trip being on thoroughly official lines before any orders could be given. I also found that he was arranging privately for trips to the Forward Areas for Nurses in parties of 14 one day and 24 the next, without any definite instructions on the subject, and he undertook to delay the starting of these trips until proper instructions had been circulated by the Acting Principal Matron as had already been done at Boulogne.

24.01.19

The 3 day trips to Forward Areas from both Bases completed. Each day (22nd, 23rd, 24th) the Conducting Officer and the Sister in charge of the party called at the office to say that all had gone well and that the members had had a very interesting and instructive time. The Matron in charge of each party was writing to Major Lord Greville thanking him, and as well I wrote on behalf of everybody to thank him for arranging the trips, and for the great privilege each Member of the party realised had been given in having the opportunity of visiting the Front Areas under such pleasant and interesting conditions.

Miss Ridley, Principal Matron Canadians, accompanied by Miss Campbell and Miss Isaacs, Matrons CAMC, left for a tour of inspection in the Forward Areas, intending to visit all Canadian Units right up to Cologne, and returning via Brussels.

-------------------------------------

Sue

[SiegeGunner]

For me, the images of the departure of Miss McCarthy from France are wonderful - something I never thought I'd see. After transcribing a million (or so) words of her war diary, her leaving left me trying to type while sniffing into my hankie.

Now look what you've gone and done, Bob ...

This is a very special and wonderful collection of photographs.

[moggs]

I thought the photos were fantastic but then Sue became involved and brought them even further to light. Brilliant job all round!

Jonathan

[rcleary171]

I thought the photos were fantastic but then Sue became involved and brought them even further to light. Brilliant job all round!

Jonathan

Wow, I't looks like I came to the right website. I'll continue to publish the remaining pictures.

Thanks Sue for all your work.

Sincerely,

Bob

[mandy hall]

I would recommend all pals to follow the link in post 1 you will be impressed by what has been posted. Thanks for sharing Bob amazing photos.

Mandy

[jwp2007]

fantastic images, many thanks for sharing these,

regards,

John.

[Desmond7]

Amazing.

[Jim Strawbridge]

Truly, a snapshot of time. Thank you for sharing them.

[Desmond7]

I see one of the officers on this album is Herdman .. I am certain I've seen something to do with this man on the forum before, but can't find it. Bells ringing with anyone?

[ShirlD]

I echo everything the others have written - thank you so much for sharing these remarkable photos with us.

Cheers

Shirley

[Sue Light]

Bob (or anyone?)

On page seven of the photos on the other forum, there is a woman identified just as 'I.M.K.'. I wonder if this could be the album owner, and the same woman as 'Self' in several of the other earlier images. I think from the initials that I.M.K. may well be Ida Maud Kenshole, and if this is 'Self' then the owner of the album. May be a long shot?

Sue

[JoMH]

Sue,

Not dissimilar, I think. But difficult to tell without seeing more together - side by side.

I suppose 'Self' could be another surname - or is that just silly?

Joanna

[Sue Light]

Joanna

I honestly hadn't considered that!

My reasoning was that 'IMK' is the only woman in there that is identified by initials and not by surname, and it wasn't uncommon for families to refer to members (or themselves) by initials. And I'd sort of assumed that she was 'Self' but having said that, I did my nurse training with someone of that name.

Also, this is where the Forum is frustrating, as there's no way of contacting Bob as he hasn't posted five times. I suppose joining his other forum is the only answer, though I'm not keen on doing that just for contact purposes.

Sue.

[JoMH]

Sue,

'IMK' is in post # 37 (edit page 4) as well, and does look similar to 'Self'. Yes, it is striking that she is the only one referred to by initials. I think it's a possibility...

Joanna

[Terry_Reeves]

I suspect Sue is right. There is a medal index card for a VAD of that name and Ida seems to have been a VAD.

TR

[Dragon]

In his post #64, two adjacent photos are labelled IMK and Self. Are they the same woman?

These are wonderful photos, Bob and the clarity of most is amazing. Thank you for sharing them and that you, Sue, for your insights.

Gwyn