Scottish Women's Hospitals

[Tonym]

From a list of 17 SWH casualties that I have seven do not appear to have a CWGC Ceritficate:-

DUNLOP, Jessie H.L. - Apparently served with Americans in Serbia. Should this disqualify her?

FANNIN, Teresa - GUY, Alice Annie - INGLIS, Elsie Maud (Founder) - Taken ill in Russia and retuened to

England died at home. Should this disqualify her?

LEIGHTON, Clara - McDOWELL, Matilda - UNDERWOOD, E.J. Mrs.

ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE?

Certificates exist for:- BURT, Mary :: CATON, Florence :: EARL, Agnes :: FRASER, Madge :: GRAY, Mary

JORDAN, Louisa :: MINSHULL, Augusta :: SMITH, Olive :: SUTHERLAND, Bessie ::

TOUGHILL, Caroline

Would welcome any ommissions to this list and, if possible photos of person and grave - For my own personal collection

Tonym

[royalredcross]

Jessie Dunlop did not serve with the Americans but with the America Unit. So called because a great deal of the funding for it came from the US. It was staffed by British women.

Norman

[Tonym]

Jessie Dunlop did not serve with the Americans but with the America Unit. So called because a great deal of the funding for it came from the US. It was staffed by British women.

Norman

So why would she not be a CWGC casualty or were they not recognised by the War Department?

Tony

[Jim Strawbridge]

Matilda McDowell IS recorded by the CWGC as Matilda MacDowell. But, as you say, the others do not have graves cared for by the CWGC. But the CWGC can only act when that have been officially asked to through the appropriate channels. They have no choice as to whom they commemorate and so I can only assume that the SWH listing to the MOD at the time was wanting. It is rather strange that some SWH graves are cared for by the CWGC and others are not and I have wondered about this myself. But the SWH are not alone in this as the VAD is very similar. In fact some that I know to have been SWH actually are recorded as VAD. But back to the question in hand. I am wondering if ONLY those who died overseas with the SWH have graves cared for by the CWGC. Unfortunately I do not know where the graves are for the non-CWGC ones except Elsie Inglis. She died immediately on her return from overseas and is buried in Edinburgh. But it may be that the return that was made at the time was on this basis and that would explain it.

[Tonym]

Thanks Jim

I tried various spelling alternatives with the names, I managed GREY instead of GUY, EARL instead of EARLE, the last thing I thought of was adding an 'a' to McDOWELL which should have been obvious. Pity about Elsie Englis!

However is my list of names complete or are there others?

Some while ago you assisted me with my quest to have Dorothy Marquerite Inman accepted as a War Casualty by drawing my attention to the York Minister Memorial. Do you know of the possibility of a published list of the names on that memorial?

Cheers, Tony

[Sue Light]

Tony

I have a feeling that there are several different things at play here. Firstly, the SWH was one of those civilian organisations which had to meet different criteria in order for them to be commemorated by CWGC. They had to die 'on duty' [never been sure exactly what that covers or how close to 'duty' they had to be], and they also had to die of a cause attributable to their war service. So in the case Elsie Inglis, she clearly suffered from an attributable illness, but I wonder if she was disqualified by being away from an actual theatre of war at the time of her death?

Secondly, the women who served with the SWH in the French sector of the Western Front e.g. Royaumont and Sallanches, came under the umbrella of the French Red Cross, and therefore were accountable to the French forces, and not the British. I suspect that their deaths would, in that case, not have been counted as British or Commonwealth, and would not have qualified for inclusion. I suspect this also covered VADs attached to the French Forces.

So they had to die 'on duty,' of causes attributable to their war service, and also in a sector under the control of the British...

I think...

I'm away from home at present, and no access to my bits and pieces, but I seem to remember that it was Teresa Fannin who died on the Leinster on her way to Royaumont? Not sure where that leaves her re: the 'criteria.' !

Sue

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Tony

I hope that this is of interest to you.

From THE QUALITY OF MERCY - Women at War Serbia 1915-18 by Monica Krippner (David & Charles 1980)

Page 51. Sisters Louisa Jordan and Minishull died of typhus along with Madge Neill-Fraser

Page 113 The forty five miles from Raska to Mitrovica were extremely difficult and hazardous becsouse of landslides and bridgeless mountain torrents where the water was rising every minute owing to heavy rain and snowfalls in the mountains. Caroline Toughill was riding on one of the few motor lorries when the edge of the narrow road caved in and the lorry tumbled down into the river below. Mrs Toughill was so seriously injured that she died soon after. Caroline Toughill seemed to have forsen her own death. A deeply religious person she was moved by the splendour of the scenery along that wild valley to exclaim 'Oh to be allowed to rest forever on such ahill and alone with God'. Remembering this, her friends looked for a worthy resting place. Above the village of Leposavic they found, on the summit of a conical hill, a tiny Byzantine church with a small cemetery nearby. Here Caroline Toughill was buried. Her friends made a wreath of moss and berries, Serbian surgeon carved a simple wooden cross, and the village priest conducted the funeral service. Officers, soldiers, Austrian prisoners, villagers and her unit all asembled in the lovely secluded spot to pay their tribute as the simple pine coffin was lowered into the grave.

From the same source is the photo below for which the caption reads:

The funeral in Salonika of Mrs.Harley, chief of the SWH Transport Column attached to the Serbian Army in 1916. She was killed by shrapnel at Monastir in 1917 and was buried in the Allied \War Cemetery, the only woman amongdt thousands of fallen soldiers

Dave

[HERITAGE PLUS]

From the same source (Page 196) relating to Mrs. Harley Head of the Girton and Newnham UNit SWH:

On the afternoon of 7 March (1917), after a busy day, Mrs.Harley was sitting by the window in her house having a cup of tea when a shell burst nearby. As a reflex action everyone threw themselves flat on the floor. Then Edith scrambled to her feet and saw her mother still in the chair. 'Mother, get down please!' she pleaded. But there was no response. Mrs Harley was already dead - a piece of shrapnel had struck her in the middle of the forehead as neatly as a wellaimed bullet.

The shock of Mrs. Harley's death reverberated throughout all the Allied camps and hospitals, and when her body in its unadorned pine coffin was brought by train to Salonika and placed in a large tent at he SWH Girton & Newnham hospital, an avalanche of wreaths came in from every allied unit and HQ. People of all nationalities, ranks and professions - soldiers, high ranking HQ staff, civic dignataries, hospital staff, French, iBritish, Serb and Greek - streamed through the austere army tent to pay their respects to this brave woman, killed on active service

Her funeral was impressive, conducted with full military honours and all the martial ceremony that she would have loved. Escorted by Serbian Royal Guards, British and French military bands, attende by Prince George of Serbia, the British Commander, General Sir George Milne, amd othr army chiefs, with FRench soldiers carrying huge laurel wreaths, Mrs. Harley was laud to rest in the Allied War Cemetery.

In Monastir a street was named after her, and in July 1917, during a splendid religious ceremony, the Serbs unveiled a memorial they had built over her grave. The inscription, roughly translated reads:

On your tomb instead of flowers

The gratitude of the Serbs will blossom

For your wonderful acts your name shall

Be known from generation to generation

[Tonym]

Sue

Thank you for your response. At least Elsie Inglis' work is not forgotten which is one consolation.

and

Thank you Dave. Excellent information that will certainly enhance their profiles, most grateful

Tony

[Jim Strawbridge]

However is my list of names complete or are there others?

Some while ago you assisted me with my quest to have Dorothy Marquerite Inman accepted as a War Casualty by drawing my attention to the York Minister Memorial. Do you know of the possibility of a published list of the names on that memorial?

I think that all of the names have been given. I took a photograph of each of the York Minster panels. I don't know if you think that this is a published list but if you send me direct your email address I will happily send you a copy. The Yorkshire Herald at the time of the dedication of the panels also gave a listing, Jim

[ericwebb]

Responding particularly to Sue: there is a bit of a mystery about Elsie Inglis's death and in fact its by no means clear that this was directly attributable to her War service. Her biographers all state that she died of Cancer, and indicate that she was aware she had this before ever she set out. Her death certificate however, of which someone has obtained a certified copy and posted it up on the Internet [attached here], says nothing of Cancer.

As the informant, G. Ward, was one of her fellow-doctors who returned with her from Rumania, whoever locally signed the certificate may well have taken Dr. Ward's word for it. There was a rush on to get her body to Edinburgh for the big official funeral. Cancer was still a 'dirty word'. Perhaps - for whatever reason - between them all they suppressed the truth - or perhaps her biographers - and perhaps Elsie herself - were mistaken, but somehow I don't think so. There's every indication that she had a wasting disease through the summer and autumn of 1917, although the conditions under which she lived and her exhausting schedule cannot have helped.

Best wishes all,

Dr Eric Webb

[Sue Light]

Responding particularly to Sue: there is a bit of a mystery about Elsie Inglis's death and in fact its by no means clear that this was directly attributable to her War service. Her biographers all state that she died of Cancer, and indicate that she was aware she had this before ever she set out. Her death certificate however, of which someone has obtained a certified copy and posted it up on the Internet [attached here], says nothing of Cancer.

Eric

Yes, I've read both sides, but whatever the truth, for the purposes of commemoration by the CWGC, her death certificate would have been taken as 'official.' So I was assuming that there must have been a different reason for her non-commemoration. I agree that suppression of the truth, for whatever reason, is quite likely.

Sue

[Peter (SA)]

I think that all of the names have been given. I took a photograph of each of the York Minster panels. I don't know if you think that this is a published list but if you send me direct your email address I will happily send you a copy. The Yorkshire Herald at the time of the dedication of the panels also gave a listing, Jim

[Tonym]

Sue

I have just got around to creating a profile for Teresa Fannin. Looking back at your post on 20th July (quoted below) I am not sure whether your comment about Teresa being on the Leinster was a definite comment or from memory as you were away from your notes. Can I take it that she was a passenger and can you say whether her body was recovered.

Tony

"I'm away from home at present, and no access to my bits and pieces, but I seem to remember that it was Teresa Fannin who died on the Leinster on her way to Royaumont? Not sure where that leaves her re: the 'criteria.' !

Sue"

[Sue Light]

Tony

The entry on the list of SWH women who served, from a copy of a document held at the Imperial War Museum says:

FANNIN Miss Teresa M. (Nurse) 10 October 1918 – On SS Leinster when torpedoed

Abbaye de Royaumont

It's not quite clear whether she was going to Royaumont for the first time, but there seems to be no indication that she had served earlier [unless anyone knows different]

Sue

[Tonym]

Sue

I suppose it is possible that if she had been already serving at Rouaymont and had been home on leave and was returning it is just possible that she may have fulfilled the qualification for recognition by the CWGC. Just a thought! Thanks anyway Sue, at least I have a reason for her death.

Tony

[royalredcross]

According to the SWH records, Teresa Fannin was drowned on the way to Royaumont. She does not appear to have had previous service.

Norman

[Tonym]

Thanks Norman

So we must assume that her good intentions did not last very long.

Tony

[Peter (SA)]

Hi Jim

Going back to your posting above of 21 July 2006 on the subject of the York Minster panels, the unveiling and the photographs you mentioned that you have taken, herewith details of an event held in South Africa at the time to commemorate their unveiling of the panels - as well as a request!

I have a cutting from a South African daily newspaper, the Cape Times, dated Thursday June 25 1925, which reported the following event:

"A beautiful and impressive memorial service in memory of the "Sisters of the Empire" who laid down their lives in the Great War was held in St. George's Cathederal yesterday afternoon ... The service, which was organised by the National Council of Women, was arranged to coincide with a similar ceremony in York Minster yesterday, when the famous "Five Sisters" window, which has recently been restored, was unveiled in memory of those women of the Empire who died on active service."

The article mentions that the names of 21 South African women were included on an oak tablet, placed near the window, and lists each of them, including that of my grandfather's sister, VAD Dorothea Kathleen Bolus.

She was based at the Military Hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town and volunteered - once age permitted - at the end of 1917. Then, 35 miles from Plymouth, the destination of the group of 35 VADs, she lost her life following a collision between the RMS Kenilworth Castle (passenger liner) and the Rival, a destroyer on 5 June 1918, which led to the explosion of its depth charges. The incident is described in the on-line Journal of the South African Military History Society [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol054kc.htm].

And to the request! Might it be at all possible to e-mail me photographs of the York Minster panels, or the one/s reflecting the names of the South African women the article refers to? I have included my e-mail address in my accompanying e-mail.

Much appreciated,

Peter (SA)

[Jim Strawbridge]

Hi Jim

And to the request! Might it be at all possible to e-mail me photographs of the York Minster panels, or the one/s reflecting the names of the South African women the article refers to? I have included my e-mail address in my accompanying e-mail.

Much appreciated,

Peter (SA)

Hello Peter, Photograph of panel 10, York Minster panel is on it's way. Jim

[grandpa's girl]

From my g.aunt's records

" Dr Beatrice McGregor assisted by Miss Panes (?) was in charge of our retreat from Mladenovetsc ( can't read her writing too well). I was in the Albanian retreat.

On Wednesday the 10th November 1915, seven Sisters left Rasha in Motor Ambulance A8. At 1230 that day the motor fell over a steep embankment . All were injured except for myself. My coils of hair absorbed the shock of the bump.Mrs Toughill ( had elderly relatives who lived at Ramsay Gardens, Edinburgh in 1916) received a fracture of the skull and Mrs Toughill and I were put on a munitions lorry and taken to a Red Cross Camp. There her head wound was dressed by a Serbian Major and I nursed her until she died on Sunday morning at 0420hrs. At 1630 of the same day she was buried in a cemetery on the top of a hill beside a lovely little ruined chapel at Leposavic.

The names I remember of those in the ambulance at the time were;

Mrs Toughill

Sister Rhind

Mr Jeftich the interpreter who was sitting beside the driver and so Mrs Jeftich would likely be inside the ambulance, although I don't remember her.

Sister West

Sister Rae"

I have addresses for some of the above and names and addresses of various other nursing staff.

Contact me if I can be of any help.

[MartinWills]

The Cemetery Registers note 4 SWH burials at Salonika (Lembet Rd) and 1 at Mikra.

[June Underwood]

Tonym

I was researching the WW1 headstones in Beaconsfield Cemetery, Bucks yesterday and came across the following inscription.

Elsie Janet Underwood, his wife

Born 3 April 1885

Died 21 October 1918

on duty at Sellanches (sic), France

She hath done what she could (St Mark 14 v8)

"In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" Isaiah 30 v15

On the other side of the stone I could only read the word Harold, as a holly tree had grown next to the stone and I could not even bend or move the branch.

On speaking to the South Bucks Registrars dept I was told that the other inscription was to Harold Stanley Underwood aged 39 died 30 Mar 1918 He lived at Sutherland, Baring Rd, Beaconsfield.

This must certainly be the Mrs EJ Underwood that you mentioned 2 years ago. Interesting that the house was called after a Scottish county, but why were they living in Bucks and who organised Elsie's inscription? I have emailed the Beaconsfield library to see if they have any more details of the couple.

It's a great coincidence too as my surname also is Underwood, but there is no family connection.

June

[KF Kelly]

Interesting item on BBC Scotland news today. Announcing that a memorial to Elsie Inglis is to be unveiled at Abbaye de Royaumont to mark 90 years since the end of the Great War.

Kevin

[June Underwood]

I've eventually heard back about Elsie Janet Underwood. My enquiry was passed from Beaconsfield Library to the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, and there is nothing they can suggest locally for further research apart from the local newspaper. I'll have a look at some time in the future and post if there is anything positive.

June