frev Posted 18 November , 2011 Share Posted 18 November , 2011 Jim Strawbridge suggested that this lady may be eligible for commemoration. Does she have a case? Cheers, Frev ATKINSON, (Alice) Blanche – Staff Nurse, QAIMNSR, ARRC [Note: her birth is registered as Alice – in all other references she’s known as Blanche, including her death registration] Died 9/12/1916 of TB at her mother’s home in Crafers, Sth Australia, age 38 Buried at the Stirling East Cemetery, SA [Note: Now Stirling General Cemetery – doesn’t appear to be a headstone for her, though there is for her parents & siblings?] War Service Record: Travelled to England to join the QAIMNSR, embarking Adelaide 19/5/1915 on the SS Beltana – arriving London 22/7/1915 Interviewed & accepted for service with the QAIMNSR 23/7/1915 Application Form (on p.54 of her Service Record) shows Q.8 State of health (attach Medical Certificate)………Good Posted for duty to Brockenhurst Military Hospital 2/8/1915 Admitted to above hospital as a patient 21/3/1916 with all the symptoms & physical signs of tubercle of the lungs – [short Statement of Case (p.43 of her Service Record - typed)] Proceedings of Medical Board 28/3/16 [p.48 of service record] – recommends discharge as permanently unfit Engagement terminated 28/3/1916 (p.45) Granted 6 months pension (a rate of forty pounds per annum) from 29/3/16 to 28/9/16 (p.44) Transcribed below is a Statement of her Case (from p.50 of her service record, which is hand written & not easy to read) Brockenhurst Military Hospital, 31/3/1916 Statement of Case of Staff Nurse Blanche Atkinson – QAIMNS® It appears that her family history is a good [.?.] and no members of her family, as far as she knows, have suffered from chest trouble – she says she had no cough or chest trouble before she left Australia in May last – 1915. She thinks that she “caught a chill” when on night duty during the months of Oct to Dec last year. She had been looking after patients suffering from tubercle of the lungs during that time in this hospital. She is a tall, delicate looking woman and states that she has had a cough since Nov 1915. The expectoration has lately been copious and on examination was found to contain T.B. The left upper lobe is chiefly affected. She has lost flesh and has an evening rise of temperature. Eric Nooke (?) Lt RAMC A letter dated 7/4/16 [p.46 of service record – typed] – states that she is too ill to be moved to a Sanatorium, but all precautions are being taken against spreading infection. From Short Statement of Case 28/5/16 Brockenhurst (p.43): “Her general condition has improved considerably of late, & she is now in a fit state to permit of her removal to a Sanatorium, & if she continues to improve it may be found possible to send her back to Australia (in a Hospital Ship) at the end of September, or early in October.” 30/6/1916: “Miss Atkinson is now at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, being a ‘Free Patient’.” (p.45) Blanche was returned to Australia on the HT Marathon, embarking (about 8th) August 1916 & disembarking in Australia 23/9/1916. She died 2½ months later. The Register (Adelaide), Sat 16 Dec 1916: DEATHS ATKINSON – On the 9th December, at Crafers, Blanche (Sister) Atkinson, RRC, and QAIMNSR, eldest dearly loved daughter of Mrs and the late F.J. Atkinson, aged 38 years. “She gave her life for King and Country.” English and Western Australian papers please copy. The Advertiser (Adelaide), Sat 16 Dec 1916: PERSONAL Staff-Nurse Blanche Atkinson, whose death took place at Crafers last Saturday, was the eldest daughter of Mrs M.A. Atkinson and the late Mr F.J. Atkinson, and was born at Crafers. She adopted nursing as her profession, and after serving a term in the Adelaide Hospital practised for several years in Western Australia. At the outbreak of the war she went to England and joined the Royal British Nursing Association. She was on the staff of the Brokenhurst Military Hospital, in England, for a considerable time, and was so untiring in attending to her duties that ultimately her health broke down, and she was compelled to become an inmate of Netley Hospital. While she was there the following letter was received by Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Keogh, Director-General of the Army Medical Service, from the King’s private secretary: [photo] “The King and Queen are so sorry to hear that Miss Atkinson is laid up in Netley Hospital and so is unable to receive at the hands of his Majesty the Royal Red Cross decoration awarded to her for devoted service, in the execution of which she unfortunately contracted her present illness. The King hopes you will be able to send someone to Netley – perhaps Miss Belcher – to hand this decoration to Miss Atkinson, and to tell her how much their Majesties sympathise with her and truly wish her a speedy restoration to health.” Sister Atkinson was duly presented with the decoration and the letter. The Royal Red Cross medal is one of the highest distinctions to be obtained in the military nursing service. She also held a medal of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service Reserve. Sister Atkinson was subsequently invalided home, and had only returned a very short time when she succumbed to her illness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 19 November , 2011 Share Posted 19 November , 2011 Frev Do you have a copy of the DC? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 21 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 21 November , 2011 No I don't Chris - but if you think it's worth it (?) - I'll order a copy. Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 21 November , 2011 Share Posted 21 November , 2011 It seems like a very worthwhile case, but a DC is needed for submission to CWGC Also required will be the grave ref Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 25 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 25 November , 2011 Thanks Chris - I've set the ball in motion to track down a cemetery register to obtain the grave ref - and if this proves successful, I'll purchase a DC. [i'm guessing a 'transcript' of the DC wouldn't be acceptable - and an 'official copy' is required?] Cheers, Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 25 November , 2011 Share Posted 25 November , 2011 Frev a copy will be required for CWGC purposes Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 30 December , 2011 Author Share Posted 30 December , 2011 Hi Chris At last I have a grave ref & a death certificate - sorry to appear so dumb, but what's the next step?? Thanks, Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 30 December , 2011 Share Posted 30 December , 2011 Morning Frev Would you like IFCP to submit them for you? We can do the donkey work for you however the case will remain in your name Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 5 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2012 Happy New Year Chris Yes thank you, that would be great if I could leave it all in your cable hands. Do you require the paper copy of the DC - or scan & email? Relevant pages of the service record, or the whole thing? Etc...... Cheers, Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 5 January , 2012 Share Posted 5 January , 2012 Frev I will PM you Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 8 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 March , 2012 I have received word from Terry Denham that Blanche has been commemorated by the CWGC: http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/75230039/ATKINSON,%20BLANCHE Thank you Terry, & Chris Harley for handling the submission, & also Jim Strawbridge for making the initial suggestion. It's wonderful to see that her sacrifice is now officially acknowledged. Rest peacefully, Blanche - and thank you. Lest we forget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted 10 March , 2012 Share Posted 10 March , 2012 Frev, Well done to you and Jim for seeing that Staff Nurse Blanche Atkinson is remembered. Kudos to you both also to the IFCP team. We shell remember them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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