The Scottish Red Cross Hospital Ship - 'Saint Margaret of Scotland'

[alf mcm]

  A flag day organised by the Scottish Branch of the Red Cross Society in October 1915 was allocated to supplying equipment for a Hospital Ship. It was noted that personell would be Scottish men and women. I was curiopus to find out how 'Scottish' the peersonell actually were.

  The following article appeared in ‘The Scotsman’ of 12^th January 1916.

{Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

  The article below is probably typical of correspondence sent to various branches of the Scottish Branch of the Red Cross Society. It was published in ‘The Southern Reporter’ of 13^th January 1916.

{Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

 

  The ship chosen by the Admiralty was the R.M.S. BALANTIA. Sick berth ratings were to be provided by the Scottish Branch of the Red Cross Society, as shown below.   The following article appeared in ‘The Scotsman’ of 4^th February 1916. {Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

{Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

 

  These 20 men began their naval training at H.M.S VIVID II, a land base, from 4^th to 28^th February 1916. From the next day, until about 6^th March they completed their medical training at R.N. Hospital Plymouth. These men were allocated service numbers M18863 to M18882 inclusive.

  Once the BALANTIA had been converted to Hospital Ship SAINT MARGARET OF SCOTLAND she was opened to the public at the Broomielaw in Glasgow for 3 days. Details are shown below, from The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper on 18^th March 1916, although the article was widely repeated in many other newspapers.

{Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

  Also from the same article;-

{Image courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

  As mentioned above, the personell of the ship were to be Scottish.

{Image from Daily Record and Mail, 8^th March 1916, page 3, courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

 

MEDICAL OFFICERS

  The original medical officers were;-

Fleet Surgeon Charles Railton SHEWARD R.N.

Born in Negapatam, Madras, India on 23^rd May, 1869. Parents were English.

In Scotland in 1911 with Royal Navy.

104/92 Page 595

St. Margaret of Scotland ?1916 to 26/06/19

 

Temporary Surgeon Robert Sharp LAWSON R.N.

Born in Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland on 25^th March 1886.

ADM104/92 Page 595, ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland ?1916 to 03/05/16 and vice WYLIE 27/02/18 to ?/?/19

 

Temporary Surgeon William Alexander Hogg MCKERROW R.N.

Born in Workington, Cumberland, England on 11^th August 1884.

ADM104/92 Page 595

St. Margaret of Scotland ?1916 to 10/09/17

 

 

Temporary Surgeon James MATHESON R.N.

Born in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire in 1887. {recorded as Mathieson}.

ADM104/92 Page 595

St. Margaret of Scotland ?1916 to 27/02/18

 

 

Surgeon David Percival Dalbreck WILKIE, R.N.V.R.

Born in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland on 5^th November 1882.

ADM104/92 Page 595

St. Margaret of Scotland ?1916 to 19/11/17

 

Temporary Surgeon William Gifford WYLLIE R.N.

Born in Innerwick, East Lothian, Scotland on 1^st September 1889.

ADM104/92 Page 595

St. Margaret of Scotland 29/02/16 to 27/02/18

 

  As can be seen, only the 5 junior surgeons were Scottish born.

All the above would eventually replaced by those shown below, with Robert Sharp LAWSON leaving the ship and then returning. None of the replacements were born in Scotland.

Surgeon Commander Herbert Reginald Harry DENNY R.N.

Born in Lewisham, Kent on 15^th December 1876.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice SMYTH 08/07/19/19 to ?/?/19

 

Temporary Surgeon Abel EVANS R.N.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

Not born in Scotland.

St. Margaret of Scotland vice WILKIES 16/11/17 to ?/?/19

 

Temporary Surgeon Edward Austin GIBB R.N.

Born in York, Yorkshire, England in 1889.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice WATERSON 27/02/18 to ?/?/19

 

Temporary Surgeon John Bernard MUTCH R.N.

Born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England in April 1891.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice WILKINS 13/03/19 to ?/?/19

 

Temporary Surgeon Frederick Paul Nigel PARSONS R.N.

Born in Kingston, Cambridgeshire, England on 8^th October 1894.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice DAWSON 07/04/19 to 12/12/19

 

Surgeon Commander Thomas Aubrey SMYTH R.N.

Born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland in 1879.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice SHEWARD 26/06/19 to 08/07/19

 

Temporary Surgeon RICHARD WILKINS R.N.

Born in Longton, Lancashire, England in about 1883.

ADM104/94-1 Page 338

St. Margaret of Scotland vice McKERROW10/09/17 to 14/03/19

{NOTE – dates above marked ?1916 will be no earlier than 29/02/16, after commissioning of ship}.

 

SICK BERTH ATTENDANTS

  The requested 20 Sick Berth Attendants are listed below. It can be seen that they were all born in Scotland, with the exception of Gartley Stewart, who was born in South Africa, to a Scottish mother. I do not know where his father was born. The ship was to have a full complement of 30 Sick Berth Ratings. If anyone knows the names of the others, please let me know so that they can be added.

R.N.A.S.B.R. William Fraser ANDERSON, M18863

Born Uddingston, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 10^th June 1886.

St. Margaret of Scotland 06/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. Alexander Gillan BAIN, M18867

Born Govan Hill, Glasgow, Scotland on 8^th July 1889.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. George BELL, M18866

Born Strathaven, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 18^th April 1894.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. James BENNY, M18864

Born Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Scotland on 6^th February 1888.

St. Margaret of Scotland 05/03/16 to 25/12/18.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. David Howatson BICKERSTAFF, M18865

Born Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland on 28^th March 1887.

St. Margaret of Scotland 06/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. James DAVIDSON, M18868

Born Armadale, Linlithgowshire, Scotland on 6^th November 1892.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. John N. DOW, M18869

Born Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland on 24^th May 1890.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Thomas Taylor EDMISTON, M18870

Born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 19^th March 1889.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 27/02/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R David FREW, M18871

Born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 8^th December 1895.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Thomas GRANT, M18872

Born Pollokshaws, Renfrewshire, Scotland on 13^th February 1893.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 16/07/17.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R John HOWE, M18873

Born Denning, Stirlingshire, Scotland on 27^th June 1884.

St. Margaret of Scotland 29/02/16 to 07/06/16.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R William IRVINE, M18874

Born Glenmavis, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 6^th September 1887.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R James JOHNSTONE, M18875

Born Denning, Stirlingshire, Scotland on 4^th October 1885.

St. Margaret of Scotland 29/02/16 to 07/06/16.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R William MCKENZIE, M18876

Born St. Andrew, Dundee, Angus, Scotland on 7^th August 1876.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Hugh MCKERROW, M18880

Born Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 29^th September 1882.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Robert MORTON, M18881

Born Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 21^st October, 1876.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R William PATERSON, M18882

Born Darvel, Ayrshire, Scotland on 9^th December 1893.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R John Buchanan SHEARER, M18879

Born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 3^rd February 1880.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Gartley STEWART, M18878

Born Cape Colony, South Africa on 12^th September 1896. Mother Maggie ?, born in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland in 1871. Father, James Stewart, Police Constable, died at 1 Tennant Street, Capetown, South Africa on 31^st January 1904.  Gartley is recorded in 1921 Census {Scotland} as Gartly Stewart, Electrical Engineer.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 23/06/19.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R Andrew TAIT, M18877

Born Larkhall, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 6^th May 1876.

St. Margaret of Scotland 07/03/16 to 24/02/19.

 

  All of the above were born in Scotland, apart from Gartley Stewart, born in South Africa. 14 of them would stay with the ship until 23^rd June 1919, meaning that the sick berth ratings were predominantly Scottish for the whole time the ship was in service.

  They were joined by at least 3 other sick berth ratings who had joined the Navy at an earlier date. They were all Scottish and would all leave the ship to become Temporary Surgeons in the R.N.V.R.

R.N.A.S.B.R. William Milroy KENNEDY, M17869

 

Born in Barr, Ayrshire, Scotland on 11^h February 1897.

R.N.A.S.B.R. on St. Margaret of Scotland from 07/03/16 to 20/12/16. See service record.

Later Temporary Surgeon R.N.V.R.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. William Robert Paton TEMPLETON, M17863

Born in Dalserf, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 4^th November 1897.

R.N.A.S.B.R. on St. Margaret of Scotland from 07/03/16 to 20/12/16. See service record.

Later Temporary Surgeon R.N.V.R.

 

R.N.A.S.B.R. William Lofley TULLIS, M17856

Born in Newport, Fife, Scotland on 20^th March 1896.

R.N.A.S.B.R. on St. Margaret of Scotland from 07/03/16 to 20/12/16. See service record.

Later Temporary Surgeon R.N.V.R.

 

  The following joined the ship at a later date;-

R.N.A.S.B.R. Alfred John Prowse ELLIOTT, M17873

Born Ermington, Devonshire, England on 9^th March 1895.

R.N.A.S.B.R. on St. Margaret of Scotland from 01/01/18 to 25/06/19. See service record.

 

CHAPLAINS

Chaplain James Desmond MCCARTHY

On St. Margaret of Scotland from 08/03/16 to 28/01/18 {Transferred from H.S. DRINA}

 

Acting Chaplain Rev. Thomas Harry Lee JELLICOE {Naval Chaplain, Church of England, from 28^th January 1918}

Born in India 12^th February 1861, English father, British Indian mother. Cousin of Lord Jellicoe.

Served on St. Margaret of Scotland from 28/01/18 to May 1919.

{Image from The Daily Chronicle, 2^nd June 1919, page 3, courtesy of Findmypast/British Newspapers Archive}.

 

NURSES

  The ship was supposed to have a complement of 3 nurses. Initially there were only 2 due to Ethel Jane Fairbairn Robertson’s last minute cancellation, but Alice Mary Shrewsbury joined temporarily in May to take the number up to 3. Only one nurse, Annabella Ralph was born in Scotland. However the Admiralty had clearly made an attempt to have 3 Scottish nurses initially, although Gertrude Sanderson was not Scottish she had trained in Glasgow, :-

Nursing Sister Annabella RALPH, QARNNS

Born Rothes, Morayshire on 13^th July 1884

ADM161/163 from 28/09/15, ADM162/03, 162/138

Worked at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before enlisting.

St. Margaret of Scotland from 07/03/16 to 05/11/17

 

Nursing Sister Ethel Jane Fairbairn ROBERTSON, QARNNS

Born Dumfries, Dumfries-shire, Scotland in 1885

ADM161/156

Worked at Glasgow Infirmary before enlisting.

Appointment to St. Margaret of Scotland cancelled on 5^th March 1916, appointed to Haslar instead.

 

Nursing Sister Gertrude SANDERSON, QARNNSR

Born in Nottingham in about 1880.

ADM163/07, ADM163/33, ADM164/223

Worked at Glasgow Western Infirmary before enlisting.

St. Margaret of Scotland from 06/03/16 to 14/11/17 {sick}

Home address;- 86 Foxhall Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham.

 

Nursing Sister Alice Mary SHREWSBURY, QARNNS

Born 17^th August 1880 in March, Cambridgeshire, England

ADM161/137

 Trained at Guy’s Hospital, London.

St. Margaret of Scotland from 18/05/17 to 25/05/17 {possibly in transit to Malta} and then vice Robertson from 18/11/17 to ? {This record is confusing as there was no Robertson on St. Margaret of Scotland in November 1917}.

 

  At least another 6 nurses later served on St. Margaret, only Charlotte Carnegie Smith was born in Scotland. This means that only 2 out of 9 nurses were Scottish born;-

Nursing Sister Marguerite Kate GARDNER QARNNS

Born 20^th April 1883, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

ADM162/11, ADM162/59, ADM162/104, ADM161/157

St. Margaret of Scotland from after 08/08/17 to 29/11/19 {when ship was paid off}

 

Nursing Sister Alice Muriel MIDDLETON, QARNNSR

Born in England 1889

ADM163/19, ADM163/96, ADM163/101, ADM163/102, ADM164/153-154

Worked at Guy’s Hospital, London before enlisting.

  St. Margaret of Scotland vice Miss Waterhouse from 04/01/18 to just before 26/12/18. {discharged due to ill-discipline – Malta was to supply temporary replacement}.

 

Nursing Sister Elizabeth PRESTON, QARNNSR

Born Askrigg, Yorkshire, England in 1888.

ADM162/05, ADM162/89, ADM162/124, ADM165/147 {Vol. 4 page 147}

Worked at Bradford Royal Infirmary before enlisting.

Nominated to St Margaret of Scotland vice Charlotte C. Smith, from about 16/02/18 to 18/06/19.

 

Nursing Sister Charlotte Carnegie SMITH, QARNNSR

Born in Alva, Banffshire, Scotland in 1884.

ADM162/09, ADM162/136, ADM164/177-178

Born in Alva, Banffshire, Scotland in 1884.

Worked at Glasgow Victoria Infirmary before enlisting.

St. Margaret of Scotland from 23/07/17 to 16/02/18

 

Nursing Sister Florence ST. QUINTIN, QARNNSR

Born in Norwich, England 9th May 1899

ADM164/63-64

St. Margaret of Scotland from 03/07/19 to 29/11/19.

 

Nursing Sister Janet WATERHOUSE, QARNNSR

Born in Newport, Essex on 5^th March 1980

ADM162/09, ADM162/62, ADM162/97

Worked at Seamen’s Hospital before enlisting.

Lent to St. Margaret on 07/11/17. To return to Malta on arrival of Miss Middleton {04/01/18}.

   If anyone can add any names to those listed above, please let me know.

Regards,

Alf McM

Edited 8 January by alf mcm
Images added

[seaJane]

I have images of a couple of letters from Charlie Sheward to his mother from INM's archives – I'll post them here when I can lay hands on them.

sJ

[alf mcm]

That would be great sJ.

Regards,

Alf McM

[seaJane]

Alf,

Letter from the archives at INM Historic Collections. Seems to have been written from the Eastern Mediterranean. There are two letters from Charlie Sheward in the collection, but it looks as if I only photographed one - sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 January by seaJane

[seaJane]

The portrait of Charles Railton Sheward is a detail from a full-page group photograph of RNH HASLAR New Entry Medical Officers, June 1897, in an album in INM Historic Collections.

Let me know if you'd like me to check the album photographs for the other St Margaret's surgeons and I will have a look,

seaJane

PS: One final note: references to TNA files on St Margaret of Scotland, and a few details, will be found in Wawrynczak E, Wickenden J, Hospital ships of the Royal Navy in World War One. International Journal of Maritime History [forthcoming], 2025.

Edited 8 January by seaJane
PS

[alf mcm]

8 hours ago, seaJane said:

Alf,

Letter from the archives at INM Historic Collections. Seems to have been written from the Eastern Mediterranean. There are two letters from Charlie Sheward in the collection, but it looks as if I only photographed one - sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting the letter. It is very interesting. 'Charlie' was certainly not impressed with the captain of the Irenia.

Regards,

Alf McM

[alf mcm]

8 hours ago, seaJane said:

The portrait of Charles Railton Sheward is a detail from a full-page group photograph of RNH HASLAR New Entry Medical Officers, June 1897, in an album in INM Historic Collections.

Let me know if you'd like me to check the album photographs for the other St Margaret's surgeons and I will have a look,

seaJane

PS: One final note: references to TNA files on St Margaret of Scotland, and a few details, will be found in Wawrynczak E, Wickenden J, Hospital ships of the Royal Navy in World War One. International Journal of Maritime History [forthcoming], 2025.

Thanks again sJ,

  If you can find other photographs in the album that would be great. The article about Hospital Ships sounds interesting, I look forward to reading it.

Regards,

Alf McM

[rolt968]

I thought it might be interesting to see where the surgeons qualified:

Fleet Surgeon Charles Railton SHEWARD R.N. MB Mast Surg Edinburgh 1894

Temporary Surgeon Robert Sharp LAWSON R.N. MB Bac Surg Edinburgh 1911

Temporary Surgeon William Alexander Hogg MCKERROW R.N. MB Bac Surg Aberdeen 1906

 Temporary Surgeon James MATHESON R.N. MB Bac Surg Glasgow 1911

 Surgeon David Percival Dalbreck WILKIE, R.N.V.R. MB Bac Surg Edinburgh 1904

 Temporary Surgeon William Gifford WYLLIE R.N. MB ChB Edinburgh 1913

 Surgeon Commander Herbert Reginald Harry DENNY R.N. MRCS Eng 1899 LRCP Lond 1899

 Temporary Surgeon Abel EVANS R.N. MRCS Eng 1912 LRCP Lond 1912

 Temporary Surgeon Edward Austin GIBB R.N. MRCS Eng 1917 LRCP Lond 1917 (Registered 2 January 1918)

 Temporary Surgeon John Bernard MUTCH R.N. MB ChB Aberdeen 1917 (Registered 2 January 1918)

 Temporary Surgeon Frederick Paul Nigel PARSONS R.N. MRCS Eng 1918 LRCP Lond 1918 (Registered 27 November 1918)

 Surgeon Commander Thomas Aubrey SMYTH R.N. MB Bac Surg Edinburgh 1901

 Temporary Surgeon RICHARD WILKINS R.N. MB Bac Surg Edinburgh 1905

 Medical Registers, 1859-1943- ancestry

 

[alf mcm]

Very interesting rolt968,

  I noticed that 5 out of the 9 surgeons who were not born in Scotland decided to study medicine in Scotland. Perhaps this influenced their selection for service on 'St. Margaret of Scotland'?

Regards,

Alf McM

[seaJane]

Most of the surgeons listed, being temporary surgeons, didn't pass through Haslar when there was a formal photograph taken (the exception had first joined the service, then resigned); so I can only supply another 3 photographs. I apologise for the very dodgy quality, but these are crops from full folio-size pages. No longer having access to the albums themselves I can't take my own camera to them and zoom in, but if it would be useful for your research I can ask my successor...

William Alexander Hogg MCKERROW photographed at Haslar Nov 1908 Had been in full-time for a year 1908-9 before resigning, rejoined temporary 1914

Herbert Reginald Harry DENNY photographed Feb 1900

 

Thomas Aubrey SMYTH photographed Mar 1903

Best wishes,

seaJane

[alf mcm]

Thanks sJ,

Thanks for tasking time to look. These photos look good enough to identify these men.

Regards,

Alf McM

 

[seaJane]

My pleasure

[rolt968]

On 09/01/2025 at 19:59, alf mcm said:

Very interesting rolt968,

  I noticed that 5 out of the 9 surgeons who were not born in Scotland decided to study medicine in Scotland. Perhaps this influenced their selection for service on 'St. Margaret of Scotland'?

Regards,

Alf McM

I'm not clear entirely what I am thinking. Possibly the other way round - that the Scottish Red Cross might have made contact with the younger surgeons via the medical schools.

I have been doing some gentle research into the training of doctors at the time of WW1 and a bit earlier. I had an idea that it might have been more convenient for men in the north of England to qualify via the Scottish universities.

RM

[seaJane]

All through the history of the RNMS it's noticeable that a large percentage of both Army and Navy surgeons were Scots. Possibly something to do with the quality of the medical schools.

[alf mcm]

12 hours ago, rolt968 said:

I'm not clear entirely what I am thinking. Possibly the other way round - that the Scottish Red Cross might have made contact with the younger surgeons via the medical schools.

I have been doing some gentle research into the training of doctors at the time of WW1 and a bit earlier. I had an idea that it might have been more convenient for men in the north of England to qualify via the Scottish universities.

RM

RM,

  It's difficult to confirm how the younger surgeons came to serve on St. Margaret. They would have volunteered to join the Navy, perhaps requesting to serve on St. Margaret. The Navy may have consulted the Red Cross regarding candidates, or vice versa, but we will never know unless perhaps there are details in a personal record or in the newspapers.

I would agree about Scotland being more convenient for students from the north of England, and also Ireland.

Regards,

Alf McM

Edited 11 January by alf mcm

[alf mcm]

10 hours ago, seaJane said:

All through the history of the RNMS it's noticeable that a large percentage of both Army and Navy surgeons were Scots. Possibly something to do with the quality of the medical schools.

I would certainly agree with you.

Regards,

Alf McM

[rolt968]

13 hours ago, seaJane said:

All through the history of the RNMS it's noticeable that a large percentage of both Army and Navy surgeons were Scots. Possibly something to do with the quality of the medical schools.

I don't know if there were actually more qualifying places but I think there may have been more ways in which doctors/surgeons could qualify in Scotland at the beginning of the 20th century.