Four Funnelitis - On duty as Hospital Ships, Aquitania & Mauretania & Britannic; and a Soldiers Will wriiten by a Nurse.

[ZeZe]

Four Funnelitis – On duty as Hospital Ships, Aquitania & Mauretania & Britannic; and a Soldiers Will wriiten by a Nurse.

Hi,

Timelines for nurses & VAD’s serving on Aquitania & Mauretania, (Britannic timeline to follow). I’m not sure if the three liners were officially titled H.M.H.S. or kept to R.M.S. – any corrections / additions welcome. Aquitania V.A.D.’s info taken from Alf McM’s posting; GWF, VAD’s ON HOSPITAL SHIPS - As detailed on the British War & Victory Medals Rolls.

This entry from the diary of A.A.N.S. Sister Olive Haynes illustrates the buzz and thrill that these giant ocean liners held for all who saw them.

22^nd December 1915: ‘It is so funny now – we watch for the boats. ‘Four Funnelitis’ is a disease everybody has got, more or less. The ‘Aquitania’, which takes patients to the base, is a four-funnel boat and it’s the aim of everyone to get there. The excitement in the tents when she comes in and we get them all off!’

from web site: http://throughtheselines.com.au/2010/research/olive-haynes.html

 

AQUITANIA

NA online War Diary for Aquitania, period 1^st August 1916 to 30^th April 1917: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/a241ef0584964b20b346dd74650a15fd

It’s clear on the timeline to March 1917 that Aquitania had two distinct periods of sailings. The first ‘Gallipoli period’ is not covered by the war diary but I have copied some abbreviated extracts from the later 16/17 period which reveal the numbers of patients, and the names of other hospital ships involved in the evacuation of wounded from the Mediterranean to Southampton:

1916 Sept 6^th: Cowes Road. S.S. “Tudno” arrived with main party of R.A.M.C. (the nurses are not mentioned but presumably they were also transferred from shore via the “Tudno”)

Sept 7^th: Left for Naples.

Sept 12 & 13^th Naples, Coaling & took on water.

Sept 16^th Arrived Mudros; H.S. “Warilda”, H.S. “Herefordshire”, H.S. “Formosa”, H.S. Gloucester Castle”, H.S. “Goorkha”, H.S. Llandovery Castle” all loading patients onto H.S. “Aquitania” (no numbers for the wounded given).

Sept 27^th: Berthed Southampton, commenced disembarking wounded.

Oct 5^th: All sisters taken off strength.

*   *   *  

Dec 3^rd & 4^th: Sisters joined.

Dec 7^th: Total medical staff on board; 30 Medical Officers, Chaplains and Quarter Master; 65 Nursing Staff; 349 W.O’s & N.C.O.‘s and men, R.A.M.C.

Dec 14^th: Arrived Port of Augusta (east coast of Sicily); H.S. “Grantully Castle”, H.S. “Letitia”, H.S. “Panama”, H.S. “Neuralia”, H.S. “Valdivia”, H.S. “Essequibo”, H.S. “Lanfranc” and H.S. “Grantully Castle” all loading patients onto H.S. “Aquitania”. Total patients on board 4055, loading time 11hrs 40 mins. Rate of loading 5.8 patients per minute.

Dec 16^th: 10:45 a.m. proceeded to sea.

Dec 22^nd: Arrived Southampton, disembarked 4053 patients.

1917 2^nd: All sisters have now left the ship.

* * * * *

 

 

[ZeZe]

MAURETANIA

A very helpful blog by Sue Light with a transcribed copy of the NA Mauretania War Diary, 10th October 1915 to February 29th 1916, WO95/4146.

http://greatwarnurses.blogspot.com/2014/09/mauretania-as-hospital-ship.html

A Google search ‘WW1 nurse & Mauretania’ results in one name – Ada Stanley.

Sadly Ada was taken ill on the 14^th December and died on 22^nd or 23^rd December 1915 aged 44.

Quoting from British Journal of Nursing, January 8, 1916,

The Memorial Service:…….. Ada Stanley, in July, she was ordered on active service abroad. She was attached to H.M. hospital ship, Mauretania, and it was while she was attending patients being conveyed from the Eastern theatre of war that she contracted dysentery. She died in Netley Hospital …..The scene in the little church, with the blue-garbed wounded soldiers and the white-capped nursing sisters, was singularly impressive.

A small step to equality

[Background – A Soldiers Will: The most common kind of soldier's will was: unwitnessed, written and signed by the soldier when under orders for active service, or during active service and often recorded in his pay book.]

In Ada’s file WO 399/7885 there were questions as to the validity of her will. Ada’s unwitnessed will was written on the 8^th October 1915 whilst she was on leave in London, between disembarking the S.S. “Northland” and joining the H.S. “Mauretania”. The will was signed, sealed, and posted to her niece ‘to be opened if necessary’. (there is a copy of will in the file p.50 & 51)

The court had to decide if Ada was ‘under orders for active service’ and if a woman’s will in these circumstances would be treated the same way as a Soldier’s will.

British Journal of Nursing, March 18, 1916. Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane in the Probate Court was asked to admit to probate the contents of the letter.

Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane: Is it the old story - can a woman be a soldier?

Mr. Willis: Yes; but I hope we have advanced since the days of Charles II.

His Lordship: But this lady was not even nurse; she was a nursing sister. How the once honourable title of “Sister” has fallen! High time we had a Nursing Register to refer to in our Law Courts, as in the case of the Medical Register. We shall not then, as now, have persons posing as “Nursing Sisters” who are “not even a nurse.” 

Only legal registration can tackle such evils.

The court decided that a letter written by a nurse, employed under contract by the War Office on hospital ships, during an interval of leave in England, but after the writer had received orders to re-embark, - which gave the addressee full liberty to deal with her affairs, and directions as to the disposal of her property, was privileged as a soldier’s will within the meaning of the Wills Act 1837…. 

It’s also interesting to note that Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane recommended the formation of a Register of Nurses. He was not alone for in 1919 the General Nursing Council (GNC) was required by the Nurses Act (1919) to 'form and keep a Register of Nurses for the sick.' Early council meetings discussed the training and experience required by a properly qualified nurse. The register was opened on 30 September 1921.

N.A. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6416

https://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/volumes/56/Volume 56 Page 34

https://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/volumes/56/Volume 56 Page 243

https://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/volumes/57/Volume 57 Page 23

https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/canlawtt36&div=142&id=&page=

* * *

[ZeZe]

BRITANNIC

The Britannic timeline is similar to Aquitania – dividing into two periods of sailings. Britannic sank on 21^st November 1916, the main source of Nurses and V.A.D.s for this date has been Michail Michailakis detailed web site:http://hmhsbritannic.weebly.com/crew-lists.html

He done really well to name 69 out of 77 nursing staff at the time of the sinking.

A NA blog by James Cronan has scans of some original documents which is very useful. The blog also states that a list of the doctors and nurses on board, and the number of RAMC officers and men, for the previous voyage from Southampton to Mudros on 20 October 1916 may be found in a Ministry of Transport file MT 23/593 (paper T54469/1916).

Has anyone a photo or scan of the MT 23/593 document which they can upload?

https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospital-ship-britannic/

*   *   *

Nurses known to be on board Britannic during her first sailings, 22nd December 1915 to April 1916.

Sarah Ann BROWN, Margaret MACALISTER, Alice WILLIAMS, Catherine PALMER, Mary SYNNOT, Florence KEARNEY, Margaret Ann BLAKELOCK, Alexina GUTHRIE,

Edith Mary McINTOSH, G M PRIDDEN, Florence BRANDER nee´ McDERMONT, Mary GREGORY, Margaret Rowley FARMER, Mary Elizabeth ADCOCK

Edith Alice YATES, Mary Nesta ROBERTS, Margaret HANKINSON, Miriam BUNTING

Any additions corrections/wellcome. Timeline to follow asap.

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  A small addition to your 'Aquitania' timeline;-

Acting Sister Dorothy Annie Maunsell HOBBES, served from 06/09/16 to 11/10/16. {WO399/3866}

Regards,

Alf McM

[alf mcm]

And another, served on Mauretania and Aquitania;-

Staff Nurse Jessie CUMMING served on Mauretania from 23/11/15 until 12/03/16 and as Acting Sister on Aquitania from 02/09/16 until 13/11/16. {WO399/1940}

 

From Maud McCarthy's diary;-

Aquitania

11.08.16
WO letter with reference to 15 Nurses from Hospital Ship Aquitania being required on 26th at WO for Ship duty forwarded to the units it concerns.

01.09.16
WO letter requesting that Miss J. Cummings, 18 General Hospital, should be added to number of nurses joining “Aquitania”.

02.09.16
A telegram had been received from the WO saying that the staff who had already been instructed to hold themselves in readiness for the “Aquitania” should report at the War Office on Sept. 6th. These instructions were telegraphed to the areas where the nurses concerned were serving.

06.09.16
Informed DGMS of the departure of the nurses for duty on HS Aquitania

Britannic

25.02.17
Reinforcements: War Office letter received notifying that 32 Sisters, 19 VADs and 5 Special Probationers would be arriving on the 26th from the Hospital Ship “Britannic”.

04.03.17
VAD Brassards: Received letter from Matron-in-Chief, TFNS, with reference to 4 VAD members who had been posted to France on 22.2.17 from Hospital Ship “Britannic” and had lost their brassards and identity certificates. They had been issued with temporary ones by the BRCS and Miss Browne asked that these might be returned and that they be provided with regulation Army ones. Arranged accordingly.
 

07.03.17
Abbeville
CAMC reinforcements: Reported to DGMS arrival of 31 Sisters ex Hospital Ship “Britannic” on 26.2.17 and 27.2.17.

Nothing on Mauretania.

Regards,

Alf McM

 

Edited 30 December , 2022 by alf mcm

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf,

Thanks for the additions, I have a few more probable Aquitania nurses to look at:

Margaret COLLIER nee´ FARMER

Octavia LITTLE

Eileen Alice Rogan O’CONNOR

Mollie MILLER

Jentie PATERSON

Sarah ANDERSON

* * *

[I noticed A/Matron Helena Hartigan’s signature in Emma Munson’s file WO 399/6065 p.43 & 45. Kinmel Park Mil. Hosp. Rhyl was her posting after ‘Kalyan’]

Regards 

ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  I've been looking at the nurses who don't appear to have surviving service records, and discovered the following;-

 

AQUITANIA

CONSTANCE EDWARDS

QAIMNSR Staff Nurse Constance Lizzie EDWARDS – Born 1884, Claimed army pension. Service record not found. Died 1960, did not marry.

 

MARGARET PATERSON

QAIMNSR Sister Margaret Brand PATERSON A.R.R.C. – Claimed for army pension. Lived in Langholm, Dumfries, Scotland. 1921 Scotland census shows a Mary Paterson age 33 at Langholm, so born about 1888. Scotlandspeople shows no Mary Brand Paterson births, so Brand may be mother’s maiden name. Died 1957.

 

Ethel Mary NICKELL

QAIMNSR Staff Nurse Ethel Mary NICKELL - Claimed army disability pension for anaemia. Born 1883, lived in Plymouth. Died 1951.

 

Katherine Stella Mary RADICE/SPECK

No pension claim

 

Cecilia Compton SMITH

No pension claim

 

A.WATSON

No pension claim.

 

May Margaret CARMICHAEL

QAIMNS Probationer Mary Margaret CARMICHAEL – Claimed army pension.

 

All pension claims are on Fold 3 and comprise of a card for each nurse including service, rank and name for each nurse. Sometimes an address is shown or the blank rear face of the card. Dates are never shown.

A search using 'QAIMNS' as a keyword gives 209 results.

A search using 'QAIMNSR' as a keyword gives 716 results.

A search using 'TFNS' as a keyword gives 812 results.

A search using 'VAD' as a keyword gives 947 results.

Presumably these women's cervice records {perhaps apart from VAD's} were deposited with the Ministry of Pensions or were completely weeded from TNA because of the pension claims.

This may explain why there is no available service record for Helena HARTIGAN.

 

Regards,

Alf McM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 January , 2023 by alf mcm

[seaJane]

On 19/12/2022 at 08:47, ZeZe said:

I’m not sure if the three liners were officially titled H.M.H.S. or kept to R.M.S

Despite occasional appearance as HMHS on contemporary records, hospital ships are probably best referred to using H.S., as none of them were, strictly speaking, commissioned into His Majesty's navy (older posts of mine may not have been corrected).

All the mentions I have seen in the Journal of the Royal Naval Medical Service are of "Hospital Ship."

[ZeZe]

Hi,

Thanks seaJane for the advice on the designation of the Hospital Ship ocean going liners.

A timeline for H.S. Britannic. The timeline clearly shows the gap from 4^th April until 24^th September 1916 without sailings, when a completely new group of medical staff were posted to the ship.

Half way down this page is a full list of Britannic’s arrival/departure dates at ports of call & also information for Britannic’s whereabouts during the gap in sailings: http://hmhsbritannic.weebly.com/hospital-ship.html

 There’s a lot already written on GWF and the internet about the sinking of the H.S. Britannic. Nurse Ada Garland’s eye witness account: http://www.gwpda.org/naval/garland.htm

I found the Matron Elizabeth DOWSE file WO 399/2334 (169 pages not in date order) most interesting. It’s worth a look.

Miss Elizabeth Ann Dowse, born 20th October 1855, served during the Egypt – Nile Expedition 1885 under the Red Cross / National Aid Society (Elizabeth states in a letter she was one of H.R.H. Princess of Wales nurses). She was Sister in the Army Nursing Service from 1886 and during the Boer War (amongst other postings) was superintendent at the hospital in Ladysmith before and during the siege. She was presented the Royal Red Cross by Lord Kitchener. Elizabeth applied to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1902, was accepted as Sister, and appointed Matron in 1908. She was awarded a pension of £63.16s per annum from October 1910. 

Elizabeth was ‘dug out’ of retirement to serve in the Great War from 2^nd November 1914 all through to June 1919. Her first posting was ‘Home’ at Norwich, followed by postings to H.S. Britannic, a period of sick leave, France & Italy, her engagement being terminated from 21^st November 1919 by which time she was medically unfit for any further duty. Sue Light’s interesting blog on Vera Brittain & the ‘Old Dug-out’ is here: http://greatwarnurses.blogspot.com/2014/09/vera-brittain-and-old-dug-out.html

Another redoubtable lady who also saw active service in Egypt, the Boer War & WW1 was T.F.N.S. Matron-in-Chief, Sidney J. Browne (WO 399/10074 – 622 pages – summary of her career on pages 308 to 309 & 329 to 330). She may not have had a hands on nursing role in the Great War but she was five years older than Matron Elizabeth Dowse and no doubt the office work was quite a headache at times.

Dame Sidney Browne’s rather brief obituary: https://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/volumes/89/Volume%2089%20Page%20154

I have come across one other nurse who unusually served in three conflicts – I’ll mention her on a H.M.H.S. Delta post. Any others known?

Regards ZeZe

Edited 10 January , 2023 by ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  Very interesting. 

  Jennie McGinn has a Queens Nursing Institute record on Ancestry. She was District Nurse in Bury up to 1914. She served in QAIMNSR from 04/08/15 until May 1919. She then resigned from the Institute to go abroad. May have married abroad, so record may be in her married name. She was born in Ireland on 13/04/1887.

Regards,

Alf McM

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf,

Thanks for the info on Jennie McGinn.

Marjorie Frances CHAMPION – Another VAD who served on both Aquitania 16.12.15 to 20.01.16 & Britannic 21.01.16 to 10.03.16.

regards ZeZe

[PRC]

On 10/01/2023 at 09:04, ZeZe said:

I found the Matron Elizabeth DOWSE file WO 399/2334 (169 pages not in date order) most interesting. It’s worth a look.

Miss Elizabeth Ann Dowse, born 20th October 1855, served during the Egypt – Nile Expedition 1885 under the Red Cross / National Aid Society (Elizabeth states in a letter she was one of H.R.H. Princess of Wales nurses). She was Sister in the Army Nursing Service from 1886 and during the Boer War (amongst other postings) was superintendent at the hospital in Ladysmith before and during the siege. She was presented the Royal Red Cross by Lord Kitchener. Elizabeth applied to Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1902, was accepted as Sister, and appointed Matron in 1908. She was awarded a pension of £63.16s per annum from October 1910. 

Elizabeth was ‘dug out’ of retirement to serve in the Great War from 2^nd November 1914 all through to June 1919. Her first posting was ‘Home’ at Norwich, followed by postings to H.S. Britannic, a period of sick leave, France & Italy, her engagement being terminated from 21^st November 1919 by which time she was medically unfit for any further duty. Sue Light’s interesting blog on Vera Brittain & the ‘Old Dug-out’ is here: http://greatwarnurses.blogspot.com/2014/09/vera-brittain-and-old-dug-out.html

Catching up on transcribing my notes from visits to the Norfolk County archive and have just got to this article from the Norfolk Chronicle - a weekly newspaper. Unfortunately the pages were micro-filmed out of order so I don't know if it's from the 1st, (most likely), or 8th December 1916.

THE BRITANNIC OUTRAGE.

NORWICH MATRON’S STORY.

The sinking of the great Hospital ship Britannic in the Aegean Sea, was marked by a wonderful display of coolness and courage on board in which the woman showed splendid discipline and heroism.

In an interesting message from Athens, the special correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” quotes the words of an officer who witnessed “the cool, unflinching courage of the nurses, when, under Miss Dowse, the matron, they lined up on deck like so many soldiers, and unconcernedly and calmly waited their turn to enter the boats.” The officer added:- “We men are proud of them, and we can only hope England will hear of their courage. They were magnificent.”

Miss E.A. Dowse (who won such high regard in Norwich as matron of the Lakenham Hospital), was matron on board the Britannic. On landing after the sinking of the hospital ship this lady was interviewed at Athens by the “Chronicle” correspondent, who says:-

“Miss Dowse, of the Queen Alexandra Nursing Staff, who went through the siege of Ladysmith, made the following statement:-

“The ship had all the hospital marks, and was fitted up like the best shore hosptals. It is impossible to understand why the ship was attacked. We were bound for Mudros, and when the disaster occurred, had everything ready to take on board the sick and wounded there. I had with me 76 nursing sisters, mostly belonging to the Queen Alexandra’s Nursing Staff, together with four stewardesses. They were all English, and happily all are saved, though on landing on the island we had long minutes of anxiety, for one boat did not reach land till long after the others. We had no patients on board, excepting a few of the staff who were down with slight indispositions. We were able to carry these on deck and get them away.

“The explosions occurred when we were breakfasting. We heard something, but had no idea the ship had been hit or was going down. Without alarm we went on deck, and there awaited the launching of the boats. The whole staff behaved most splendidly, waiting calmly, lined up on deck. We were obliged to leave behind us our belongings such as medals, watches and money, and here we are with nothing but what we stand up in. We came here from the island in the Heroic and the Scourge, and were taken on board the British flagship, where we had tea. Everybody was most kind, and it is impossible to say adequately how thankful we are for that.

“We were two hours in the boats. The Germans, however, could not have chosen a better time for giving us an opportunity to save those on board, for we had all risen. We were near land, and the sea was perfectly smooth. Although all my nurses reached here last night exhausted and distracted – scarcely one of them could have slept without dreaming of drowning, and would have been disturbed by the slightest noise – the portion of the staff who accompanied the wounded to the Russian hospital stayed on duty all night and will be relieved by another section this morning.”

Apologies if that adds nothing new.

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 16 January , 2023 by PRC
Typo

[alf mcm]

4 hours ago, ZeZe said:

Hi Alf,

Thanks for the info on Jennie McGinn.

Marjorie Frances CHAMPION – Another VAD who served on both Aquitania 16.12.15 to 20.01.16 & Britannic 21.01.16 to 10.03.16.

regards ZeZe

Thanks ZeZe,

   Marjorie Frances CHAMPION is actually on my list, but under her maiden name of GHRIMES. She married Arthur James CHAMPION in late 1918.

Regards,

Alf McM

[ZeZe]

Hi Peter,

I always like to read any eye witness accounts, they often have something new. I hadn’t found Matrons Dowse’s. What made me smile in Ada Garland’s account of the sinking was …..’then ran up the emergency staircase, passing Matron on the way who remarked, "Hurry up Children."’ It says so much.

Thanks ZeZe

 

Hi Alf,

Re Champion – Hadn’t spotted the same first names – I’ve amended my spreadsheet.

Regards

ZeZe

Edited 16 January , 2023 by ZeZe

[ZeZe]

Hi,

The Award, (or not) of the Royal Red Cross Decoration.

‘Just’ another “Britannic” nurse, Jessie (Jessy on MIC) Ewart Nicholson to add to the timeline, however some of the correspondence in her file (WO 399/13577) caught my eye.

Background: During the war when Miss J.E. Nicholson was posted to active duty, her deputy at Highfield Military Hospital Miss Price (who became A/Matron) was awarded the R.R.C. Two other Superintendents also at the hospital were awarded A.R.R.C. Upon Miss Nicholson’s return in 1919 to her position of Matron she found her subordinates had received these much coveted decorations whereas she had not. She did not complain but in 1920 The Select Vestry of the Parish of Liverpool wrote to the War Office highlighting “this striking anomaly” with the view that the matter should be corrected.

The reply stated “…throughout the past war the initiation of the recognition of individual service was delegated to Commanders in the field, and rewards were not initiated by the War Office. As the name of Miss Nicholson has never been proposed for a specific reward, it is regretted that no exception can be made...”

For interest these are the particulars of Military Service as listed by Miss. J. E. Nicholson, Matron of the Highfield Military Hospital, Knotty Ash, Liverpool.

J. E. Nicholson, Sister, T.F.N.S. 1st Western General Unit. Mobilised August 12th, 1914.

----------------

1st Western General Hospital Fazakerley, Liverpool.

August 12th, 1914 to December 22nd 1915. Sister-in-Charge, “D” Section & Night Sister.

----------------

Hospital ship "Britannia" to Lemnos, Augusta, &c.,

December 22nd 1915 to April 4th 1916. Sister-in-Charge Officers' Deck (235 cots)

----------------

2nd Northern General Hospital, Becketts Park, Leeds,

April 17th 1916 to May 3rd 1916. Night Superintendent.

----------------

Colaha War Hospital, Bombay.

June 20th 1916 to June 30th 1916. Sister-in-Charge, sick Sisters' Quarters.

----------------

Hospital Ship "Ellora", Bombay to Barra Mespot: & Bombay to Dar-es-Salaam, B.E.A.

June 30th 1916 to February 28th 1917. Matron of Hospital Ship.

----------------

Alexandria War Hospital, Bombay.

February 28th 1917. Posted as Matron but did not have this post as I had been sent out for service in Mespot:

----------------

3 British General Hospital, Barra.

February 28th 1917 to May 26th 1917. Home Sister & Housekeeping Sister.

----------------

23 British Stationary Hospital, Baghdad.

MaY 26th 1917 to October 14th 1917. Asst: Matron & Sister-in-Charge of Sandfly Area.

----------------

Paddle Steamer "50" Baghdad to Kut.

October 14th 1917 to December 18th 1917. Sister-in-Charge.

----------------

Smallpox Area (240 beds) connected with 25 British Stationary Hospital, Baghdad.

December 18th 1917 to February 28th 1918. Sister-in-Charge.

----------------

Hospital Ship "Erinpura" Bombay to Barra.

July 2nd 1918 to July 28th 1918. Sister-in-Charge of Turkish Prisoners dying from starvation. Many died before reaching Bombay.

----------------

Hill Station Hospital, Chakrata, United Provinces, India.

July 29th 1918 to November 8th1918. Sister-in-Charge of Hospital & Theatre.

----------------

Plain. Station Hospital Bereilly, United Provinces, India.

November 8th 1918 to November 25th 1918. Sister-in-Charge of Hospital (Influenza Epidemic. All staff off sick except 1 V.A.D.)

----------------

Cumhalla War Hospital, Bombay.

November 25th 1918 to December 12th 1918. Night Sister.

----------------

87 British General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.

December 26th 1918 to January 9th 1919. Sister of Malaria Section.

----------------

Hospital Ship "Wandilla" Alexandria to Marseilles

January 9th 1919 to January 16th 1919. Sister of Malaria Wards.

----------------

Arrived in England January 22nd 1919.

----------------

2nd Northern General Hospital, Killingbeck, Leeds.

February 6th 1919 to May 1st 1919. Sister-in-Charge of Infectious Wards. Kitchens & Stores Supervisor.

----------------

Demobilised May 1st 1919. Returned to Highfield Military Hospital, May 1st 1919.

----------------

Ordinary Leave.

1915 14 days

1916 None.

1917 None.

1918 28 days at Darjeeling, India.

1919 14 days on landing in England

Sickness or Sick Leave – None.

----------------

Miss J.E. Nicholson hardly remained in any one posting for long enough to be recommended for an award, but she did receive the 1914-15 Star, BWM, VM and was allowed to keep her T.F.N.S. badge.

regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  A search of Maud McCarthy's diary includes some interesting notes regarding RRC and ARRC. It seems that, because the number of rewards were limited that some deserving nurses, perhaps including Miss Nicholson, were not recognised.

21.11.15
Saw particulars in Times with King’s approval of a second order of RRC, to be known as Associate and designated after name as ARRC. This will give great satisfaction to the Regular Services.

20.01.16
Sent circular instructing all Sisters who had been awarded the RRC and ARRC but had not been decorated to inform WO of the fact, when forwarding their arrival report and Home address, so that should any be on leave when an Investiture is taking place, they might attend also.

10.06.16
Miss Nunn, A/Matron 2 Stationary wrote to say Nurses Jickley, Lock and Lyons were going to resign. Jickley and Lyons because they were still Staff Nurses, having been out since August 1914, both Guy’s trained. Miss Lyons has been awarded the ARRC and wrote to me direct, saying that she could only suppose that her work must have been considered eminently unsatisfactory by the Army and she had been honoured with a decoration!!!!

15.03.17
Despatches: Sent list of Honours and Mentions of the Nursing Service in France to the AAG and copy to DGMS – 9 RRC, 16 ARRC and 111 Mentions.

28.04.17
Honours List: Forwarded to DGMS the names of 25 members of the nursing staff recommended for the ARRC, in accordance with instructions received.

25.08.17
Honours for French ladies: Received memo from the DGMS asking for names to be submitted in order of merit of any French ladies for consideration for the RRC and ARRC. This was circulated to all Bases for information and necessary action.

17.10.17
RRC to French ladies: Received from DGMS copy of awards of honours made to French ladies:  The RRC to Madame Eugene Rougeul, (soeur St. Marcel), ARRC to Madame Aurelie Berthe (Soeur St. Leonard), Madame Jeanne Frache (Soeur St. Blaise) and Madame Elisa Vanheuverswyn (Soeur St. Hyacinthe) all of the Ordre de St. Augustin, Arras.

22.11.17
Decorations: Received memo from DGMS referring to the recommendations submitted for the award of the RRC for the New Years’ Honours Gazette. Only 23 names for the RRC and 128 for the ARRC had been submitted, and DGMS asked that these numbers should be increased to 50 and 200 respectively. It was suggested that the first 27 nurses for the ARRC should be changed to RRC and 100 of those put up for mention should be given the ARRC.

26.11.17
Decorations: Submitted to the Military Secretary, GHQ supplementary list of members of the Nursing Service recommended for honours for the New Year’s Gazette – 27 for the RRC, 72 for the ARRC and 15 for mention in despatches.
27.11.17
Decorations: Received memo from DGMS with reference to the recommendations submitted for the award of the RRC and ARRC to certain American ladies – in the event of these awards being made, the names of the recipients will not be published on the New Year’s Honours Gazette but the information will be given by letter.

21.03.18
Honours and Mentions: Forwarded to DGMS (one copy) and to AAG (2 copies) recommendations for Honours and Mentions for members of the Nursing Services for the Birthday Honours’ Gazette.
Total submitted – 1 Bar to RRC, 24 RRCs, 116 ARRCs and 183 Mentions. In addition to these forwarded names of BRCS Motor Drivers, FANY Motor Drivers and Lady Helpers which had been submitted to me.

03.07.18
Loss of ARRC: Informed DMS, 2nd Army, that A/Sister E. Clark, QAIMNSR 15 CCS can have her RRC replaced on payment of £1.15.0. This decoration had been lost with her kit owing to the military situation.

08.10.18
General Carr, DMS, L of C came to the office to sign recommendations for Honours and Mentions for the New Year’s Honours List. Total submitted for decoration: CBE – 5, OBE – 5, MBE – 4, Bar to RRC – 5, RRC – 41, ARRC – 173. Mention – 289.

21.10.18
Sister S. Hilling QAIMNSR: Forwarded to DGMS copy of letter received from the Matron of No.72 General Hospital referring to the death of Sister Hilling, QAIMNSR, recently Home Sister at that Unit, asking if it might be passed to the War Office in order that arrangements might be made for Mrs. Hilling to receive the ARRC which had been awarded to her daughter on 25.10.17 while serving on the Home Establishment.

11.12.18
Investiture: Received wire from Matron-in-Chief, War Office, stating that Investitures would take place on the 19th and 21st of this month, and asking if I was desirous of attending on either of these dates. Replied by wire that Matron Hagar, 22 General Hospital (Harvard Unit) who had been awarded the RRC and Sister H. J. Hinckley, who had been awarded the ARRC were anxious to attend the Investiture on the 21st.

Regards,

Alf McM
 

 

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf,

I guess there’s always some that miss out – I’ve noticed quite a few Staff Nurses similar to Miss Lyons who hadn’t been made Sister and had sent a letter to the Matron-in-Chief regarding the vagaries of promotion. Do you know if there is a medal roll existing for the R.R.C. & A.R.R.C.?

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  One of the problems Maud McCarthy had when selecting names was that numbers were to be allocated in proportion to the numbers of nurses in France for the nursing services of the U.K., Australia, NewZealand, Canada etc. For the U.K. the proportions applied to the various nursing services, and later on VAD's were added as well.

  There is the Register of the Royal Red Cross, which details all awards from 1883. The original, in several volumes, is held at The National Archives. It has not been digitised but it was transcribed by Sue Light a few years ago. It can be searched on Findmypast.

Regards,

Alf McM

[ZeZe]

Hi Alf,

Thanks for the info on the R.R.C. Register – now I know where to look.

Regards ZeZe

[alf mcm]

ZeZe,

  A couple of BRITTANIC nurses;

Sister May Muir SIMPSON 22/12/15 to 04/05/16 {WO 399/7584}

Sister Agnes MADDOX 22/12/15 to ? {transferred sick to HS LANCFRANC} {WO 399/13128}

Regards,

Alf McM