VAD’s ON HOSPITAL SHIPS - As detailed on the British War & Victory Medals Rolls

[alf mcm]

  The awards of the British Victory and War medals to VAD’s are detailed in 5 different volumes. These are;

Piece 2317 {Surnames A-B, from page 222}

Piece 2318 {Surnames B-G}

Piece 2319 {Surnames G-M}

Piece 2320 {Surnames M-S}

Piece 2321 {Surnames S-Y, up to page 237}

  For each VAD the rolls show which theatre of war they served in, including start and end dates. Some VAD’s have more than one entry. Where service was on a Hospital Ship the name of the ship is given, plus start and end dates. For some VAD’s ‘Malta’ is shown, although this wasn’t technically a theatre of war. Where Malta is shown there is usually no mention of the hospital ships used to ship them there and back. For some hospital ships it is clear from the dates that VAD’s are being shipped to and from Malta, with passages taking about 7 to 10 days. My opinion is that when dates are shown for hospital ships then the VAD mentioned was actually working their passage, and not on board as a passenger. Most VAD’s served on ‘Aquitania’ and ‘Brittanic’, with a good number serving on both.

  I believe that this list shows all VAD’s who served on hospital ships, but would appreciate if anyone can prove otherwise..

 

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘AQUITANIA’

VAD Emily Bunsell ALLEN – 07/09/16 to 11/16

VAD Marguerite E. ALLEN – 16/12/15 to 03/01/16

VAD May ASHWORTH – 05/09/16 to 28/09/16

VAD Margaret A.P. BANKS – 06/09/16 to 01/01/17

VAD Ada G. BECKLEY – 06/09/16 to 12/16

VAD Frances BELFIELD – 15/12/15 to 19/01/16

VAD Dorothy F. BLAKE – 15/12/15 to 23/12/15

VAD Gladys Marguerite BOWES – 06/09/16 to 31/12/16

VAD Grace BROADHEAD – 15/12/15 to 18/02/16

VAD Annie BUTLER – 11/09/16 to 04/01/17

VAD Hilda Mary BUTLER – 06/09/16 to 03/01/17

VAD Evelyn CARNLEY – 06/09/16 to 29/09/16

VAD Lois CHANING-PEARCE – 11/09/16 to 11/16

VAD Marion CLIFF – 05/09/15 to 01/01/17

VAD Dorothy Grace CLIFT – 16/12/15 to 01/16

VAD Gladys CONOR – 04/12/16 to 27/12/16

VAD Natalia COOKE – 25/09/16 to 16/10/16

VAD Vida CRAWFORD – 04/09/16 to 12/16

VAD Mary DAVIDSON {Later Mrs. BRAITHWAITE} – 16/12/15 to 15/01/16

VAD Margaret DUKE – 06/09/16 to 07/10/16

VAD Alice Mary EWENS – 06/09/16 to 13/11/16

VAD Nina FAGAN – 04/09/16 to 18/01/17

VAD Agnes FEARNLEY – 06/09/16 to 30/11/16

VAD Winifred E. FISHBOURNE {Later Mrs. FREWER} – 29/01/16 to 01/03/16

VAD Faith GARNER – 06/09/16 to 07/10/16

VAD Marjorie Frances GHRIMES – 16/12/15 to 29/01/16

VAD Phyllis GUILEMARD – 15/12/15 to 18/01/16

VAD Ruth GUILEMARD – 15/12/15 to 18/01/16

VAD Gertrude HARRISON-JONES – 06/09/16 to 30/09/16 & 05/12/16 to 03/01/17

VAD Eva Suie HASSALL – 09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Muriel HOLLINGUM {Later Mrs. ROBERTS} – 15/12/15 to 29/01/16

VAD Dorothy Alice IRWIN – 04/12/16 to 01/01/17

VAD Ida Grace JEANS – 16/12/15 to 04/01/16

VAD Mildred JEFFREYS – 16/12/15 to 09/01/16

VAD Ada KAY – 16/12/15 to 20/02/16

VAD Marion KNOWLES – 13/12/15 to 02/01/16

VAD Sarah LAWRENCE – 06/09/16 to 30/11/16

VAD Amy LEPPER – 16/12/15 to 02/02/16

VAD Georgina Maud LEVETT-PRINSEP – 30/01/16 to 01/03/16

VAD Elsie Mabel MARSHALL {Later Mrs. FITZ PATRICK} – 05/09/16 to 07/10/16

VAD Hilda MORONY – 06/09/16 to 8/10/16

VAD Louisa Elizabeth PAGE – 11/09/16 to 01/17

VAD Daisy PATTENDEN – 22/08/16 to 20/10/16

VAD Dorothy Kingsbury PEARCE – 06/09/16 to 07/10/16

VAD Florence Jane SETTLE – 29/01/16 to 21/03/16

VAD Marion Amelia SHORES – 29/01/16 to 22/02/16

VAD Clara Eliza SPENCER – 07/09/16 to 30/09/16

VAD Daisy SPICKETT – 15/12/15 to 19/01/16

VAD Isabel STAINTHORP – 29/01/16 to 25/02/16

VAD Mrs. May Webster TAMS {Previously May ASHWORTH} – 07/12/16 to 23/12/16

VAD Emilie Joan THOYTS – 15/12/15 to 29/01/16

VAD Mildred TOULMIN – 16/12/15 to 01/03/16

VAD Lilian Rachel Mary TRICKETT – 06/09/16 to 30/11/16

VAD Mary Elizabeth TURNBULL {Later Mrs. WALMESLEY} – 29/01/16 to 03/16

VAD Mildred Agnes VAUGHAN – 15/12/15 to 01/16

VAD Elsie Mary WHITLOCK – 16/12/15 to 03/01/16

VAD Norah Mary Helena WILKINSON – 29/01/16 to 01/03/16

VAD Winifred Edith WOOLFORD {Later Mrs. SPENCER} – 06/09/16 to 27/03/17

VAD Nellie WORTHINGTON – 06/09/16 to 19/04/17

 

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘BRITTANIC’

VAD Mrs. Dorothy Grace ALLEN – 01/16 to 13/03/16

VAD Frances BELFIELD – 19/01/16 to 12/03/16

VAD Mrs. Marie BERESFORD – 15/12/16 to 22/12/16

VAD Hilda S. BINNS – 30/01/16 to 20/02/16

VAD Dorothy F. BLAKE – 9/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Mary Elizabeth BOWYER – 23/09/16 to 26/12/16

VAD Eleanor CALLAN – 22/09/16 to 11/16

VAD Kathleen CALLAN – 22/09/16 to 11/16

VAD Daisy COLCUTT – 22/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Florence CREED – 23/09/16 to 26/12/16

VAD Muriel Stopford DOUGLAS – 17/09/16 to 18/11/16

VAD Florence DOYLE – 09/16 to 21/11/16

VAD Evelyn Mary COLERIDGE SMITH – 23/09/16 to 26/12/16

VAD Evelyn Marjorie FAULCONER – 23/09/16 to 26/03/17

VAD Muriel FINCHAM [later Mrs. ALLAN] – [dates not shown]

VAD Ada May GARLAND – 23/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Helena Bertha GARRATT – 23/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Marjorie Frances GHRIMES – 29/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Phyllis GUILEMARD – 18/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Ruth GUILEMARD – 18/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Mabel Winifred GUILFORD – 23/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Lilian Nina HALL – 09/16 to 21/11/16

VAD Annie HANDLEY – 26/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Florence IRVING – 02/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Phoebe JAMES – 30/09/16 to

VAD Mildred JEFFREYS – 19/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Marion KNOWLES – 20/09/16 to 21/11/16

VAD Mrs. Ethel Muriel Maxwell LEFROY – 23/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Kathleen LING {Later Mrs. THOMPSON} – 23/09/16 to 24/01/17

VAD Laura LONGSTAFF – 09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Henrietta Mary MCCREA – 23/09/16 to 26/12/16

VAD Minnie Jane MILTON – 06/09/16 to 23/06/17

VAD Marion Ann RAMSBOTHAM – 23/09/16 to 26/12/16

VAD Dorothea RAWDON – /09/16 to 11/16

VAD Annie ROGERS – 23/09/16 to 21/11/16

VAD Sara Gwendoline SPARK – 23/09/16 to 09/12/16

VAD Daisy SPICKETT – 19/01/16 to 11/03/16

VAD Isabel TARBOLTON – 23/09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Emilie Joan THOYTS – 01/16 to 12/03/16

VAD Mrs. Mary Elizabeth WALMESLEY {Nee TURNBULL} – 29/01/16 to 03/16

VAD Lilian Anne WIDDICOMBE – 19/10/16 to 21/11/16

VAD Norah Mary Helena WILKINSON – 09/16 to 26/02/17

VAD Florence WILLMOTT – 23/08/16 to 17/09/16

 

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘DUNLUCE CASTLE’

VAD Ella Scott ALLINSON – 21/06/18 to 01/07/18

VAD Beryl BINNING – 12/10/15 to 24/10/15

VAD Mrs. Violet Evelyn WATSON-WEMYS {Nee COLEMAN} – 21/06/18 to 01/07/18

 

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘GLENART CASTLE’

VAD Muriel Scott CLAY – 02/09/16 to 03/17

VAD Emily GEERE – 06/09/16 to 03/17

VAD Elsie GREY – 20/09/16 to 03/17

VAD Katharine Haig - 02/09/16 to 02/03/17

VAD Marjorie PRITCHARD – 02/09/16 to 02/03/17

 

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘WARILDA’

VAD Nora FEARN – 11/09/16 to 10/02/17

VAD Eleanor Kathleen O’CONNOR – 25/08/16 to 15/04/17

VAD Norah ROWELL – 25/08/16 to 15/04/17

VAD Gladys E. RUNTON – 25/08/16 to 15/04/17

 

AMBULANCE SHIP ‘GRETA’

VAD Mrs. C.N.R. BLENNERHASSETT – 09/04/16 to 05/16

VAD Hilda BLENNERHASSETT – 09/04/16 to 05/16

VAD Vera BLENNERHASSETT – 09/04/16 to 05/16

 

AMBULANCE SHIP ‘GRIANAIG’

VAD Mrs. C.N.R. BLENNERHASSETT – 21/08/16 to 10/16

VAD Hilda BLENNERHASSETT – 21/08/16 to 10/16

VAD Vera BLENNERHASSETT – 21/08/16 to 10/16

  

HOSPITAL SHIP ‘ALBION’

Quartermaster Margaret Helen COTTELL – 15/10/14 to 30/01/15 {Margaret ‘s father was Col. Cottell, R.A.M.C., and he had permission for her to accompany him}.

 

Regards,

Alf McM

Edited 18 October , 2022 by alf mcm
Katharine Haig added

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf McM,

Some other VAD’s whose details I cannot check.

MIC x2 Edith Edwards / Edith John, HS Sicilia, Gallipoli, May 15.

H.M.H.S. Glenart Castle

K Haig (might be Katherine) She is also on the embarkation list (can be found in Annie Preston’s file WO 399/6754).

H.M.H.S. Asturias

Since posting the time line I’ve added two VAD nurses:

Nina FAGAN (misspelt Neva), dates from? to 26/01/17

& Gertrude LONG present at sinking 21/03/17.

At present, cannot back track to where I found the names – is there any info on their files?

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

Hello ZeZe,

  Thanks for your additional names.

Edith EDWARDS/JOHN is a bit of a puzzle. I can only find 2 entries in the medal rolls.

There is an Edith Jowett EDWARDS who disembarked from Asturias on 08/08/14. Recorded as Edith Jannett EDWARDS on T.N.A. for M.I.C. She was a trained nurse, Civil Hospital Reserve.

Edith Maud EDWARDS was a Sister with the Red Cross. She served in theatre 1{a} from 02/15 until 06/15, and then in theatre 2{a} from 08/16 until 08/17.

There are no medal roll entries for Edith John.

A look at Edith’s MIC on T.N.A. shows that she was Edith M. WILLIAMS before becoming Edith EDWARDS, and was a T.F.N.S. Nurse. As Staff Nurse Edith Marie {service record says Mary} WILLIAMS, Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. she landed in Egypt on 13/09/15.

Katharine HAIG is recorded on Glenart Castle from 02/09/16 until 02/03/17. There is another separate entry for Katharine HAIG recording that she was serving in France from 20/04/17 until 20/10/18. I don’t know how I missed her, she will be added to the list.

Nina FAGAN is recorded in my list for Aquitania, disembarking on 18/01/17. There are no other entries for her so she was presumably heading back to England on Asturias as a passenger.

Gertrude LONG is recorded at Malta from 21/01/16 until 21/03/17. She presumably travelled there, and back, as a passenger on a hospital ship and not as a member of the ship’s nursing staff.

Regards,

Alf McM

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf,

Working on Aquitania, Mauretania & Britannic timelines.

I’m confused by some of the dates for the Britannic VADS.

Britannic sank on 21^st November 1916, therefore dates, e.g. VAD Daisy COLCUTT 22/09/16 to 26/02/17 are not just for service on board ship. A possible answer is that some of the nurses were still on the Embarkation Officer (Southampton) payroll for quite some time after the sinking, perhaps until they returned to England or were posted elsewhere. The date 26/02/17 is also given in the record of Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. S/Nurse Edith Mary PENNEY (file under PENNY) WO 399/6601 for ‘disembarked HS Britannic’ so it's not just the VAD's.

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

Hello ZeZe,

  That’s interesting.

  Daisy’s Red Cross record [Daisy COLLCUT] doesn’t mention Brittanic being sunk. She was posted to 14 G.H., France, on 26/02/17.

(May 15/1915 Military Hospital Cambridge (Sept: 23. 1916 Sept: 23. 1916. Hospital Ship Britannic Feb 26. 1917. 14 General Hospital France.

  I think you may be right about Daisy still being on the paymaster’s roll, or perhaps a roll held elsewhere, as still with Brittanic, even though the ship had been sunk. She had to ‘belong’ somewhere until her next posting. I can see at least another 9 VAD’s with the 26/02/17 date.

   I have been trying to identify the 200 VAD’s who disembarked at Malta from Asturias. The embarkation roll is a great help, but some of the names are practically illegible. Interestingly, the date of 02/09/15 when they were assumed to have disembarked was actually the date the ship sailed from Portsmouth, as mentioned on the embarkation roll.  I have noticed some errors in the medal rolls, including a VAD disembarking on 02/10/15 instead of 02/09/15. Her Red Cross card confirms the 02/09 date. There are also a large proportion of the 200 who have a beginning date of 30/08/18. This would presumably be the date they boarded the ship, but I would have thought that the date the ship sailed should have been the one on the medal rolls.

Regards,

Alf McM