Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle, Nurse Rules and Regulations - Trouble on the Gloucester Castle

[ZeZe]

I have to admit that reading TNA nurse records when trying to find just a little nugget of information amongst all the reports & letters can be somewhat humdrum. However, sometimes an unusual note catches the eye….a sad tale...

Background – Regulations for Nurses on board Hospital Ships:

 

Trouble on the Gloucester Castle

Matron Eleanor Inglis Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.; Sisters; H. Goldsbrough, H. Jones, M.L. Barlow; Staff Nurses, B. G. Graham, M.H.B. Ward, H. Copley, C. Neville, L. Bennett and M.E. Webster, instructed to join for duty, Hospital Ship “Gloucester Castle”, on 24th June 1915.

Early October 1915, with sick and wounded officers (some of whom were ‘on the mend’) “Gloucester Castle “sailed for Southampton. Also on board was a group of nurses in transit from hospitals in Egypt returning to England. 

During the voyage Matron Inglis received an anonymous letter from a patient stating that nurses were talking to the ship’s officers and not caring for the wounded during the night roster. On investigation at 10:20p.m. Matron Inglis found S/N May Hester Burt Ward on the top deck, alone with a ships officer. M. Inglis states she gave Ward a warning but her bad behaviour returned after a short while. Nurse Ward wasn’t the only one in trouble.

Miss F McDonald, Miss N.M Burke & Miss Christine Dale had been found to be ‘constantly in the company of the sick officers, smoking and drinking’. According to Matron Inglis, she had to tell the three sisters above not to go on deck after dinner, and that same night ordered her own sister’s who were on duty to bed. Matron Inglis then took charge of all the patients herself till morning.

Matron Inglis reported the matter to the Commander-in-Chief, War Office on 25th October 1915 enclosing an admission of guilt document (handwritten by Inglis) which was signed by Dale, M.N. Burke & F. McDonald confirming their ‘unbecoming behaviour’. This was backed up with another letter written by Major Hubert Burke R.A.M.C.

Christine Dale (Q.M.A.I.N.S.R., originally Canadian Red Cross) resigned. E.H. Becher, Matron-in-Chief did think that her indiscretion was due ‘to ignorance of the etiquette prevailing’.

The engagements for the following four nurses were terminated on 1st November 1915: Miss Burt Ward; Miss M.L. Barlow; Miss H. Jones; Miss M. Goldsbrough.

The unfortunate episode did not end there.

The dismissal had been weighing heavily on the mind of Miss May Burt-Ward so in January 1920 she decided to write asking if an appeal against the decision was possible. Regrettably for Miss Burt-Ward the reply stated ‘the termination of your engagement was entirely in accordance with the terms of the contract signed by yourself’ and that ended matter.

* * * *

I cannot find records that match with M.L Barlow, H.Jones & M. Goldsbrough – their misdemeanours are unknown. Perhaps they were the night duty nurses sent to bed.(there’s a record for Mable Goldsbrough, but I do not think they are one and the same)

Did N.M. Burke & F. McDonald also have their engagements terminated?

The terminated list has two more names, taken off the “Massilia”. S Swift and G.M. Richards. Presumably they too were in trouble – I haven’t found any records for them. (Matron Gertrude M. Richards, LG 02/06/15 is not the same person)

Would all these nurses medals be forfeited?

Regards

ZeZe (p.s. hope to post a time line for nurses serving on Gloucester Castle but short of names, late 1915 - Mar 1917.)

General link for nurse records.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-nurses-service-records-1914-1918/

Sources: Christine DALE WO 399/1990; May Hester BURT WARD WO 399/8712; Eleanor INGLIS WO 399/4142

Excerpt of Nurse on Ships regulations: Sorry cannot remember where I found it, perhaps archive.org, hopefully someone will recognise it.

Telegram dated 22/09/1915, extract National Archives, to be found in file of: Emmeline AUSTIN-LANGFORD WO 399/246

Langford is mentioned in Capt BRETT’s letter to ‘Katie’ from HMHS “OxfordShire”: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pet9mg2r

 

[seaJane]

Intriguing! I do not know the answer, as army nurses were always outside my remit.

I do know that two (at least, possibly three) of the QARNNS nurses in REWA married officers of the RN Medical Service.

sJ

[Hutcho]

Hi ZeZe,

Thanks you for your interesting post on the happenings on the Gloucester Castle – very intriguing!

About 5 years ago I started looking into the service records of persons listed on an Australian WW1 Honour Roll for the Queensland Motorcycle Club. It is on display at my local branch of the Historical Motorcycle Cycle Club of Queensland (HMCCQ).

I have found the information for most of those honoured but have had quite a bit of difficulty in finding much information of the first person on the roll – N.M. Burke.

At the time I did find an N.M. Burke listed on the Maffra (Victoria)  Honour Roll using Trove, a reference to a Nurse N.M. Burke and a British Surgeon N.M. Burke and that was about it. I contacted the AWM (Australian War Memorial) a few years ago but they unfortunately could not help me with any of my questions.

After a bit of a break from this research I thought the other day to re-visit a few of the un-answered questions and came across your post. I have no idea if the Miss N.M. Burke is the one on the Honour Roll or not, but thought it would be good to try and find out 😊 – one thought is why Nurse Burke would be a member of the Queensland Motorcycle Club?  But then again, she may have travelled around in her duties on a motorcycle – that was not uncommon in those times.

I did a bit more searching and found a reference to a  Miss N.M. Burke in AWM12 5033/4 part 1 but alas it appears they have not digitised it yet – and unfortunately I am no where near Canberra to go and have a look at it in person anytime soon! I will have to enquire about this with the AWM and see if they can elaborate on the information they have.

So the intriguing question is the N.M. Burke on the Honour Roll the one and same Nurse N.M. Burke? Long stretch I know -  but you never know – stranger things have happened! :-)

Cheers

Ian

[ZeZe]

Hi Ian

Unfortunately I cannot find any more info on nurse N.M. Burke. Perhaps her file was binned during the ‘weeding’ in the 1930’s. She may have been an Australian Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Attached snippet of the letter found in WO 399/1990 (Christine Dale’s file). Interesting to note that although it appears to be written by Evelyn Moore the handwriting is Matrons Inglis.

Attached the timeline (any additions / corrections wellcome). Most sources state three died in the transfer following Gloucester Castle being torpedoed and infer the three were patients. I do not know if any of the patients died but C.W.G.C. info for the 30th March 1917 gives the names of three crew. Were they killed in the explosion or died in the lowering of the life boats? (there is an old post on GWF regarding this topic)

Regards ZeZe

Edited 23 September , 2022 by ZeZe

[KizmeRD]

12 hours ago, ZeZe said:

Most sources state three died in the transfer following Gloucester Castle being torpedoed and infer the three were patients. I do not know if any of the patients died but C.W.G.C. info for the 30th March 1917 gives the names of three crew. Were they killed in the explosion or died in the lowering of the life boats? 

Regards ZeZe

As I understand it, two crew members died immediately in the explosion, and one died whilst in one of the ship’s lifeboats from wounds he’d received when the torpedo hit. There were no deaths from amongst the patients.

MB

Edited 23 September , 2022 by KizmeRD

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

 I have a few observations on your timeline;-

 T. TIERNEY is Thomas TIERNEY M.D., Manchester University 1895.

H/M GOLDSBROUGH is Sister Mable/Mabel GOLDSBROUGH, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. Embarked on Gloucester Castle in June 1915. {Medal Rolls}

Staff Nurse Alice Eleanor CASHIN, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. posted 27/04/15 for transit to Egypt aboard Gloucester Castle. {WO-399-1386}.

Staff Nurse Florence May DODERY, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R.  embarked Gloucester Castle for duty on 3/11/15 until 09/05/16.

Whilst looking for H. JONES I came across Mrs Helen Marjorie JONES, who served on Carisbrook Castle from 21/10/15 until 22/10/16 {WO-399-4405}. This may be of use if you do Carisbrook Castle.

Sister Florence Mary DODERY, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. embarked 3/11/15 {1914-15 Star Roll}

Staff Nurse Theresa Genevieve Newmarch RAYNOR, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. embarked 05/11/15 {1914-15 Star Roll} She isembarked Alexandria 13/06/16. {WO-399-6889}

 

The following transferred from Guildford Castle to Gloucester Castle at Malta for passage to England on 04/10/1916;- {WO95/4145/7}

Sister B.M. WILLIAMS, A.A.N.S.

Sister L. STOBO, A.A.N.S.

Sister W. FELLANS{?}, A.A.N.S.

Sister P. BLUNDELL, A.A.N.S.

Staff Nurse J. CAMPBELL, A.A.N.S.

Staff Nurse E. LACKEY, A.A.N.S.

Staff Nurse A.L. FAULKENER, A.A.N.S.

Staff Nurse M.W. COOPER, A.A.N.S.

 

  It’s interesting that Christine DALE was ex Canadian Red Cross. She would presumably have had contact with Canadian Army Medical Corps nurses. Uniquely, they were all commissioned officers {Staff Nurses and Sisters were Lieutenants}. As such they would technically outrank any British and Empire nurses, including matrons. They were also encouraged to socialise with male officers. There are very few records of Canadian Army nurses serving on Hospital ships, perhaps because of the problem of rank. This may explain why Miss Becher thought that her indiscretion was due ‘to ignorance of the etiquette prevailing’. The lack of service records may because Christine was not entitled to a pension. This appears to be one of the main reasons for records surviving.

Regards,

Alf McM

 

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf McM

Thanks for the input. I have the transfer list but haven’t yet been through the A.A.N.S. records for their time on Guildford Castle. Maxed out on my 100 limit downloads with TNA at present, but getting close to completing Asturias, Galeka & Glenart Castle – maybe I’ll put them on one post, the link being they all were torpedoed or hit a mine. I agree that financial & pension records always appear to have been kept. Also medical board proceedings were saved, but any info for 1915 is always a bonus.

With H M Jones & T G N Raynor the ‘Likely’ Gallipoli ship board nurses xls is now at 290 rows – I’ll post when 300 is reached.

Regards ZeZe

Edited 25 September , 2022 by ZeZe

[Hutcho]

Hi ZeZe,

Thank you very much for the information you have on N.M. Burke and other nurses on the Gloucester Castle and also the timeline. I agree with you that N.M. Burke could well be an Australian Nurse. I will enquire with the AWM and see what I can find out and let you know. It is Interesting that Burke was in transit (for leave or moving to a different hospital?) and I guess (?) maybe technically not on duty so probably thought it was ok to fraternise with the sick officers? That may have rankled the nurses who were still working shifts on the ship tho'?!. The fact that Burke was in transit rather than actually working on the hospital ship might also have had a bearing on what punishment she may have received?

Picture of the Gloucester Castle in 1915 here;

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1424726

I did have a quick look into the three crew who died as a result of the Torpedoing of the Gloucester Castle in 1917 on the British Newspaper Archives and found a few short references to the inquest into their deaths in a few newspapers.

for e.g.;

Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury, Tuesday April 24, 1917

Gloucester Castle Victims  Inquest

"At the inquest held on three victims of the hospital ship Gloucester Castle, a verdict was returned that deceased were drowned as the result of the torpedoing of the vessel."

The Scotsman, Tuesday April 24, 1917.

Torpedoing of Hospital Ship

"Inquests have been held into the deaths of Wm. Williams, Alexander Lamb and Henry White, three members of the crew of the hospital ship Gloucester Castle. The evidence was short in each case, and the jury returned a verdict that death was due to injuries sustained by the torpedoing of the vessel at sea."

 

The People, 29 April, 1917

"The hospital ship Gloucester Castle, after being torpedoed in the Channel, has been dry docked during the weekend. On the floor of the engine room were found the bodies of the three missing men, the fourth Engineer, a young fellow 32 years of age, named Alex. Lamb, formerly residing at Holborn-rd, Aberdeen, and two greaser, named Wm White, aged 42, of Derby-rd., Southampton, and Wm. Williams, St Mary’s-rd., Sholing, Southampton."  

There is an obvious variation in the reporting, so it is hard to ascertain if all three men drowned, or were fatally injured by the explosion due to the torpedo.....or maybe, were sufficiently injured that they couldn't escape the incoming seawater and drowned? Maybe a transcript of the inquiry may tell us more?

I must admit that I have not looked very hard into what might have already been posted on the inquiry into the torpedoing of the Gloucester Castle in 1917 on this forum, so my apologies if this link has already been posted;

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030009390

I have not been able to access it but it may contain some clues?

Cheers

Ian

 

[alf mcm]

ZeZe/Hutcho,

I may have a candidate for N.M. BURKE.

Norah Mary BURKE qualified as a nurse at Fulham Infirmary, London between 1910 and 1913 according to the Register of Nurses 1925.   UK & Ireland, Nursing Registers, 1898-1968 - Ancestry.co.uk   Unfortunately I can't find her in London in the 1911 census.

Regards,

Alf McM

Edited 26 September , 2022 by alf mcm

[Hutcho]

7 minutes ago, alf mcm said:

ZeZe/Hutcho,

I may have a candidate for N.M. BURKE.

Norah Mary BURKE qualified as a nurse at Fulham Infirmary, London between 1910 and 1913 according to the Register of Nurses 1925.   UK & Ireland, Nursing Registers, 1898-1968 - Ancestry.co.uk   Unfortunately I can't find her in London in the 1911 census.

Regards,

Alf McM

Thanks Alf McM,

That is the first time I have seen any Christian names associated with a "N.M. Burke" so it could be some vital information!. :-) I will use "Norah Mary Burke" in some searches and see what shows up,

Cheers

Ian

 

[Hutcho]

Hi Alf McM,

First search I did turned up a Norah Mary Burke who died in Queensland in 1963 (from Queensland Birth, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces)....

Norah Mary Burke 

Death Date 28/12/1963

Mothers Name: Teresa O'Sullivan

Father's Name George Hadley

Registration details: 1963/B/62867

Unfortunately not the correct N.M. Burke, but it is a start and I will do some more investigations......... 

Cheers and thanks again!

Ian

Edited 26 September , 2022 by Hutcho

[Hutcho]

Hi ZeZe / KizmeRD,

Here is another newspaper article; 

Leicester Journal, Friday 27^th April, 1917

HOSPITAL SHIP INQUEST.

"An inquest has been held on three men of the hospital ship Gloucester Castle, sunk on March 30th by an enemy submarine. They were William Williams, greaser, of Sholing, Hants; Alexander Lamb, fourth engineer, of Aberdeen; and Henry White, greaser, of Southampton. The evidence showed that all three were scalded. The jury found that their injuries were received in the torpedoing of the vessel, the immediate cause of death being drowning."

So it appears they sadly drowned, but were also apparently non-fatally injured due to the torpedoing (burst boiler or steam pipes?). There seems to be some variation in the names of the victims in various reports?

Edit:- There is more information about the inquest in the Hampshire Independent from April 28th 1917 which gives a slightly different but more detailed account of events than the above article. 

Regards,

Ian

Edited 26 September , 2022 by Hutcho

[ZeZe]

Hi Hutcho,

Thanks for looking up the inquest. That gives a clear explanation of what happened. 

I see I made a ‘copy & paste’ mistake and had two of the names & details wrong on the spreadsheet. Clumsy – at least you have corrected the error. Thanks

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

   I think that M.L. BARLOW may be Mary Lilian BARLOW. She was a hospital nurse in Derby in 1911. She was born about 1888 and died in 1974.

Regards,

Alf McM

[frev]

On 25/09/2022 at 19:55, alf mcm said:

Staff Nurse Alice Eleanor CASHIN, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. posted 27/04/15 for transit to Egypt aboard Gloucester Castle. {WO-399-1386}.

 

 

Alice Cashin didn’t actually join the QAIMNSR until July 1915, and was posted to Egypt on the 24/7/1915 (not 27/4/1915, slight case of dyslexia!).  https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/904240

I doubt she would have sailed by the Gloucester Castle, because it was still disembarking patients at Malta on the 20/7/1915.  https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMHS_Gloucester_Castle

[HS Gloucester Castle written below the above posting date in her records is written in a different hand, and most likely at a different time – as per the other notes above them]

 

 

On 25/09/2022 at 19:55, alf mcm said:

The following transferred from Guildford Castle to Gloucester Castle at Malta for passage to England on 04/10/1916;- {WO95/4145/7}

 

Sister B.M. WILLIAMS, A.A.N.S.

 

Sister L. STOBO, A.A.N.S.

 

Sister W. FELLANS{?}, A.A.N.S.

 

Sister P. BLUNDELL, A.A.N.S.

 

Staff Nurse J. CAMPBELL, A.A.N.S.

 

Staff Nurse E. LACKEY, A.A.N.S.

 

Staff Nurse A.L. FAULKENER, A.A.N.S.

 

Staff Nurse M.W. COOPER, A.A.N.S.

 

 

The full names of the 8 AANS Nurses transferred to Gloucester Castle 4/10/16 for UK, arriving 13/10/16:

Bertha Mary WILLIAMS

Louisa STOBO

Wilhelmina FILLANS

Patricia BLUNDELL

Isobel Annie CAMPBELL

Ethel Janet LACKEY

Amy Louise FAULKNER

Ilma Myrtle COOPER

Cheers, Frev

[seaJane]

In passing, one of the Medical Officers on Glenart Castle was retired Fleet Surgeon RN Arthur Edward Kelsey (1865-1918), re-joined as Captain RAMC.  https://www.surreyinthegreatwar.org.uk/person/95753

 

 

[ScottB]

With regard to Sister Christine Dale I bought her 1914/15 star this year and this information came with it. She has 2 MIC’s one as Dale and one as Douglas-Kerr.

Quote

 

“Christine Dale was born at London in 1888, the daughter of Albert and Caroline Dale. Her family moved to Canada in her youth and the young Dale only returned with the outbreak of war. Joining the Second Canadian Red Cross Contingent on 29 June 1915, one of only twenty nurses, making her one of the first Canadian nurses to join the war. Arriving in England she entered the war in Egypt on 6 July 1915 through the St. Johns Ambulance Association, joining Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve on arrival. Unfortunately for Dale while aboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle she was faced with the temptation of treats rarely available in wartime, cigarettes and wine. The nurses didn't defend themselves although the testimony of one, F. Macdonald did say that her taking wine was 'at the suggestion of one of the officer patients.', Dale's testimony simply states 'I admit that my conduct on the 'Gloucester Castle' was unbecoming for a nurse'. She handed in her notice with the Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. on 2 November 1915 but did attempt to continue her work in Europe applying to join the Canadian Army Medical Corps in December that year. A letter from the C.A.M.C. Matron-in Chief asking for a reference was met with a stiff response from her former employers, who stated 'I had no report on her work in Egypt, but on the way home on the Hospital Ship her behaviour was not as strictly professional as we expect' . It is unclear if Dale saw any further service during the war, interestingly however she married soon after the conflict on 20 May 1920 at Toronto to Captain Douglas Kerr. He was seriously wounded in France on 25 August 1917, being returned to England and on 19 November Canada. We might speculate that the couple met during his rehabilitation, tragically one of their sons, Bruce Douglas was killed during the Second World War.”

[alf mcm]

Thanks for sharing these details, they make interesting reading.

Douglas Kerr was a Captain in the 94^th Battalion, C.E.F. His service record can be downloaded free here;-   https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=498070 

Page 67 shows that he was suffering from shell shock.

He was sent to recuperate at Anstie Grange Hospital, Holmwood, Dorking, Surrey on 12^th September 1917 and was struck of strength on being invalided to Canada on 19^th November 1917.  Douglas was married to Helen Johnstone Bean. They had married in Toronto on 18th October 1905. She appears to have died in Olmstead, Minnesota on 14th October 1919.

Douglas and Christine’s marriage certificate shows that he was a widower and Administrator, and she was a spinster, working as a Nurse.

 

 

Regards,

Alf McM

 

 

[ZeZe]

Hi ScottB

I’m glad Christine Dale received her medals and you have the star to look after.

Regards 

ZeZe

[seaJane]

On 18/08/2022 at 09:02, ZeZe said:

Langford is mentioned in Capt BRETT’s letter to ‘Katie’ from HMHS “OxfordShire”: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pet9mg2r

Good afternoon ZeZe - and anyone else who might be able to help -

I'm just working on adding this letter to a list of material on Great War hospital ships, and wonder if you have any idea whether "Captain Brett" is Captain Pierce Morgan Joseph Brett RAMC (1885-1939), or Captain W. G. Brett RAMC, whom I have not yet been able to trace otherwise?

Whichever it is will have been in the Dardanelles with HS OXFORDSHIRE between November 1915 and January 1916. There are no other Captains RAMC who might be involved.

Many thanks!

seaJane

[alf mcm]

seaJane,

  W.G. Brett is William Geourge Brett, commissioned as temporary Lieutenant on 3rd June 1915, abnd temporary Captain later that year.

  According to medal rolls, Pierce Brett was awarded the 1914-15 Star, plus British War and Victory Medals. william George is not on the medal rolls, so must have served at home. Therefore Pierce Morgan Joseph Brett is your man.

Regards,

Alf McM

Edited 1 February by alf mcm

[seaJane]

36 minutes ago, alf mcm said:

Therefore Pierce Morgan Joseph Brett is your man.

Excellent, Alf, many thanks!

sJ

[ZeZe]

Hi seaJane,

I also had Pierce Morgan Joseph Brett as the most likely – that was based on the MIC, ‘Theatre first served in Alexandria 9-7-15. 

I’ve searched the BMJ and so far have only found references to W.G. Brett.

You may have seen this already – British Newspaper Archives: Waterford Standard, Published: Saturday 03 February 1940 

... MAJOR BRETT’S WILL Major Pierce Morgan J. Brett, late R.A.M.C., Wilton Road, Salisbury, who died in November, son of the late Mr. T. H. Brett (a former manager the Munster and Leinster Bank, Waterford) left £29,382, with net personality £26,685 all of …

Is Katie Captain Brett’s wife or daughter? Norman, Brian and Bob and others are also mentioned in the letter so he may be traced using his wider family.

Regards ZeZe

Edited 2 February by ZeZe
spelling

[ZeZe]

Hi

H.M.H.S. Gloucester Castle timeline to replace the missing image

Regards ZeZe

[seaJane]

Thanks ZeZe. On familysearch.org, I found a probate record for Pierce, and the beneficiary was Mai Francis (Frances?) Brett. Perhaps Katie was a sister.