monkstown Posted 30 May , 2022 Share Posted 30 May , 2022 This is a photo of Winifred M Letts - is she by any chance in her VAD (or even masseuse, though I doubt it) uniform here? Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 30 May , 2022 Share Posted 30 May , 2022 Not VAD. Might be masseuse? Those look like trousers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 30 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2022 Thanks seaJane - that hadn't struck me that they might be trousers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 30 May , 2022 Share Posted 30 May , 2022 (edited) I think her armlet (left arm) should just about have been visible. See example below. Edited 5 June , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 30 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 30 May , 2022 Thanks again - I wondered about the dark belt too. Has the ornamentation/embroidery/whatever on her right shoulder any significance? Such a pity too that I can't identify the paper and its date - Weekly .... with a headline of Whitsun Holidays .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 31 May , 2022 Share Posted 31 May , 2022 17 hours ago, monkstown said: Thanks again - I wondered about the dark belt too. Has the ornamentation/embroidery/whatever on her right shoulder any significance? Such a pity too that I can't identify the paper and its date - Weekly .... with a headline of Whitsun Holidays .... Apparently the Senior masseuses of the APMC wore red strips on both shoulders so I don’t think your lady matches that. The dark belt also doesn’t seem right according to the surviving photos of the APMC. On balance I don’t think your lady is wearing a uniform at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 31 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2022 (edited) Thanks Frogsmile - possibly not, although the image of the newspaper ad you posted on my other query advertises 'black patent leather belt to wear with overall'? Edited 31 May , 2022 by monkstown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 June , 2022 Share Posted 1 June , 2022 (edited) 18 hours ago, monkstown said: Thanks Frogsmile - possibly not, although the image of the newspaper ad you posted on my other query advertises 'black patent leather belt to wear with overall'? Was that for APMC masseuses though? There’s nothing about the rest of her dress to suggest a nurse, and she’s not dressed as a domestic either. Edited 1 June , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 1 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2022 (edited) No - the ad doesn't clarify who/what the patent belt was for. The background does look for an institutional building however, but then maybe she was on a day off and had time to read the paper Edited 1 June , 2022 by monkstown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 June , 2022 Share Posted 1 June , 2022 1 hour ago, monkstown said: No - the ad doesn't clarify who/what the patent belt was for. The background does look for an institutional building however, but then maybe she was on a day off and had time to read the paper I think that the advert was relating to administrative (non nursing staff) reading between the lines, as the lady depicted is dressed in a long dark shift dress and dark cap, all very different to the nurses outfit pictured above it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 1 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2022 Ah thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 2 June , 2022 Share Posted 2 June , 2022 I checked newspaper archives last night and feel sure the paper she holds is the 'Weekly Dispatch' of London. The typeface for Weekly D...... fits well. I searched that paper for 'whitsun holidays' 1915-20 with no success. Perhaps the collection is missing some editions or poor transcriptions? You could ID Whitsun dates for the War years and browse the paper for 3 ish editions before and after and repeat for the next year. If a date for the photo would help? TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 2 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2022 (edited) Thanks TEW Dispatch sounds good - yes, if I could find a date I would be able to link it to her possible location... Have now looked at May and June front pages (I presume the paper title in big font is only on the front page) 1916-1920 without success but I'll keep looking... Edited 2 June , 2022 by monkstown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 2 June , 2022 Share Posted 2 June , 2022 I've just looked through 1914 -1921 and about 3 weeks either side of Whitsun with no luck. This is the title with the same advert TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 2 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2022 Thank you - were there regional variations of the Dispatch? I only see London on BNA. If she were working I'd expect her to be in Manchester or Alnwick but she did give a Sydenham address for an ISTM entry in June 1017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmeg Posted 5 June , 2022 Share Posted 5 June , 2022 Great minds think alike. The newspaper struck me as your best bet as well do you have a better quality image of it? Whitsun holidays.... what? The blouse is quite formal and they do look like epaulets and the building could well be some sort of institution, but dating it through that paper would certainly give more clues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 6 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 6 June , 2022 Unfortunately that photo is as good as it gets.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 6 June , 2022 Share Posted 6 June , 2022 (edited) On 05/06/2022 at 23:07, Madmeg said: Great minds think alike. The newspaper struck me as your best bet as well do you have a better quality image of it? Whitsun holidays.... what? The blouse is quite formal and they do look like epaulets and the building could well be some sort of institution, but dating it through that paper would certainly give more clues. I was puzzled by that blouse Meg and after squinting at it a while I don’t think that it is fitted with an epaulette, but instead an opening fastened by either, three buttons, or three poppers/hooks and eyes. It looks like a fastening that one sees on some French woollen jumpers of striped nautical type. Presumably the collar is removable, or perhaps wrap around (one side appears longer than the other). It appears to be a rather fussy, unusual design of blouse and quite intriguing. Edited 6 June , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmeg Posted 7 June , 2022 Share Posted 7 June , 2022 (edited) Yes that could make sense, unfortunately the definite Almeric Paget uniform doesn't show that side. But also doesn't seem to have front buttons which would explain the need for a fastening such as you describe to be able to actually get into the garment. Although I think the collar is just a trick of the light. The sleeved are different though, those long sleeves probably wouldn't be for work wear, or there would be covers? Edited 7 June , 2022 by Madmeg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 7 June , 2022 Share Posted 7 June , 2022 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Madmeg said: Yes that could make sense, unfortunately the definite Almeric Paget uniform doesn't show that side. But also doesn't seem to have front buttons which would explain the need for a fastening such as you describe to be able to actually get into the garment. Although I think the collar is just a trick of the light. The sleeved are different though, those long sleeves probably wouldn't be for work wear, or there would be covers? The uniform can be better seen as an overall type apron affair, with short sleeves, in this group photo where a variety of collars are apparent protruding through an open neck. There are it seems universally short sleeves, without removable arm covers, presumably because unlike nurses there is no contact with open wounds. images courtesy of National Army Museum and ‘Scarlet Finders’. Edited 7 June , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmeg Posted 7 June , 2022 Share Posted 7 June , 2022 Those are good, and definitely NOT like her blouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 7 June , 2022 Share Posted 7 June , 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Madmeg said: Those are good, and definitely NOT like her blouse. They don’t look very dainty do they! I’d be reluctant to wrestle with any of them after all that arm pummelling they must have done. Edited 7 June , 2022 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 7 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 7 June , 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 8 June , 2022 Share Posted 8 June , 2022 I've trawled quite a few copies of the Weekly Dispatch. The Old Calabar advert top left seems to run 17/1/1915 to 4/3/1917. I've been through all of 1915 and up to July 1916 with no luck. It's possible the advert ran for a short period in 1914, 1918 or 1919 but I've not seen it. I've search FMP for Whitsun Holidays or just Whitsun 1910-1919 and into the early 20s. The remaining period seems to be July 1916 to March 1917 or of course the image is pre or post war and not getting picked up by a search. It became the Sunday Dispatch in 1928 No idea about areas covered or regional editions. According to Wiki it was the biggest selling Sunday paper so may well have been available at national level. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkstown Posted 8 June , 2022 Author Share Posted 8 June , 2022 TEW that's going above and beyond the call of duty! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now