Phyllis Keyes at the Dardanelles 1915

[michaeldr]

Commodore Roger and his brother Lieut.-Commander Adrian were not the only members of the Keyes family to be at the Dardanelles in 1915. I see from 'The Keyes Papers – Vol.I 1914-1918' edited by Dr. Paul Halpern and published by the Navy Records Society in 1972, that their sister Phyllis Keyes was also there.

Page 218 has her serving at a rest camp referred to as “Gift's camp” on Mudros [it is not clear whether or not 'Gift' is a person's name.]

Page 250 describes her as “living with the Australian sisters under the charge of the Matron – running Oswin Creighton's restaurant.” [Rev Creighton, Chaplain to 86^th Brigade, 29^th Div., invalided to Egypt, then returned to Mudros in September 1915 to run a canteen & recreation centre.]

Page 253 tells that in November 1915 she contracted dysentery and was sent home on the Aquitania at the end of that month.

Does anyone have any further information on this lady or her service at the Dardanelles in 1915?

Thanks in advance, Michael

[helpjpl]

 

Here's a brief starter:

On behalf of Lady Hamilton’s Dardanelles Fund, for example, Mrs Vans Agnew and Miss Phyllis Keyes opened a depot at Mudros on the Island of Lemnos in September 1915, remaining through December when the island was evacuated. They distributed cigarettes, towels, handkerchiefs, soap, stationery and candles, in addition to basic food and clothing.

page 3:

https://www.gale.com/binaries/content/assets/au-resources-in-product/wwsessay_vries_womens.pdf

JP

[michaeldr]

Many thanks JP: that looks like a very interesting article

Looking at the Rev Creighton's letters [Letters of Oswin Creighton, C. F., 1883-1918, ed. by his mother, Louise Creighton]

it could well be that the ref. to Phyllis Keyes “living with the Australian sisters under the charge of the Matron – running Oswin Creighton's restaurant”

refers to the 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital and to a 'coffee bar' [since corrected - see ref below to 3 Australian General Hospital]

see https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t1rf5mq04&view=1up&seq=172 > where Creighton gives details of his work on Mudros at this time

Edited 24 May , 2022 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

 

19 minutes ago, michaeldr said:

it could well be that the ref. to Phyllis Keyes “living with the Australian sisters under the charge of the Matron – running Oswin Creighton's restaurant” refers to the 2^nd Australian Stationary Hospital and to a 'coffee bar' 

Supposing that the above is correct, then details of the location on Lemnos can be seen here http://throughtheselines.com.au/2010/research/2-ASH.html

Edited 24 May , 2022 by michaeldr

[helpjpl]

 

It seems likely that Phyllis Keyes sailed with Mrs Vans Agnew.

The Galloway Gazette, 24th August, 1915

WHAUPHILL LANDOWNER’S WIFE SAILS FOR GALLIPOLI

Mrs Vans Agnew of Barnbarroch is proceeding to the Dardanelles this week to organise a depot for the gifts which are being sent out by Lady Hamilton, wife of Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander-in-Chief at the Dardanelles. Lady Hamilton has collected a large fund for this purpose. Mrs Vans Agnew will also report on the advisability of starting a large hospital at Lemnos.

https://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/lifestyle/galloways-great-war-2265679

JP

[michaeldr]

1 hour ago, helpjpl said:

Mrs Vans Agnew

JP, thanks for the lead re Mrs Vans Agnew, which has in turn led me to https://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2015/D22061/a6620.html where we find

Then breakfast. I sit next to Matron but we do not talk much – a lady Miss Keys who came out with Mrs Vans Agnew to over see the distribution of Lady Hamilton’s Gifts for soldiers at the front – fund – and has not been able to live in peace with that Lady – at the admiral’s (the Governor) request has been given lodging by us. She had breakfast with us. I don’t know what your Mrs Vans Agnew is doing across the bay in a camp by herself without a maid! This girl is going to help the Rev Creighton – (the Archbishop* of London's son) to run a canteen for the soldiers. He’s a fine fellow – I have met him with Col Fortescue – is very delicate – has diphtheria paralysis of a leg.

*Creighton's father had been Bishop of London

Edited 24 May , 2022 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

48 minutes ago, michaeldr said:

Miss Keys who came out with Mrs Vans Agnew to over see the distribution of Lady Hamilton’s Gifts for soldiers at the front

re Lady Jean Hamilton's Gift fund see https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/f212d8a1-8128-48b7-ae55-a2c3130ab3d9/HAMILTONS %26 CHURCHILLS For Website-0001.pdf

JEAN HAMILTON’S WAR WORK

Jean Hamilton had also taken on a lot of war work, being an active member of the Red Cross. … … Jean also set up a Gallipoli Fund to raise cash to buy supplies that were sent to the troops at the Dardanelles. The appeal was published in the newspapers, July 12, 1915, and ‘brought an immediate and most gratifying response.’ Jean was also a member of Queen Alexandra’s Field Force Fund that was run by a committee on which sat Mr Henry Fenwick Reeve, who was a senior executive officer, and Mrs Charlotte Sclater Honorary Secretary. Hundreds of bales of comforts and medical supplies were packed at Jean's house, under her supervision, and at the depots of Queen Alexandra's Field Force Fund. The supplies were then shipped to the troops at Gallipoli and the base hospitals at Mudros (on the island of Lemnos), Alexandria, and Malta.

[michaeldr]

1 hour ago, michaeldr said:

JP, thanks for the lead re Mrs Vans Agnew, which has in turn led me to https://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2015/D22061/a6620.html where we find - 

Then breakfast. I sit next to Matron but we do not talk much – a lady Miss Keys who came out with Mrs Vans Agnew to over see the distribution of Lady Hamilton’s Gifts for soldiers at the front – fund – and has not been able to live in peace with that Lady – at the admiral’s (the Governor) request has been given lodging by us. She had breakfast with us. I don’t know what your Mrs Vans Agnew is doing across the bay in a camp by herself without a maid! This girl is going to help the Rev Creighton – (the Archbishop* of London's son) to run a canteen for the soldiers. He’s a fine fellow – I have met him with Col Fortescue – is very delicate – has diphtheria paralysis of a leg. 

*Creighton's father had been Bishop of London

Looking at the head of this letter, I see that my earlier speculation was mistaken as to the Australian hospital involved here.

The address at the letterhead reads: 

3 Australian General Hospital
West Mudros
Lemnos

 

Edit to add question - Are there no earlier diaries for this unit before May 1916? [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339249]

Edited 24 May , 2022 by michaeldr