Guest tonyl.616 Posted 31 October , 2006 Share Posted 31 October , 2006 My late grandmothers elder sister, (Edith A Bettis), is listed on the memorial in York Minster as one of the eighteen Womens Forage Corps who lost their lives during the Great War. I am interested in finding out when, where and how she died. Can anyone point me in the right direction please to a website where this information is available. I have only recently joined this forum, so please accept my apologies if I am asking for the type of information that may already have been requested before, thanks in anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 31 October , 2006 Share Posted 31 October , 2006 Jim Strawbridge may be able to help you as he is researching all women - particularly those on the York panels. Send him an email or PM via the Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartoss Posted 1 November , 2006 Share Posted 1 November , 2006 Forage Corps worked alongside the Army Service Corps (ASC) producing forage - hay etc for the army on the Western Front. A forage Corps unit was 6 land girls commanded by a sergeant ASC. The book "Farming and Forestry on the Western Front" has a couple of photos and some information regarding tonnages etc. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 1 November , 2006 Share Posted 1 November , 2006 Sorry, Tony, but little to add on this one. I have sent a photograph of her name on the York Minster panels directly to you. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tonyl.616 Posted 2 November , 2006 Share Posted 2 November , 2006 Thank you to the people who have replied to my question, I now have a bit more information to work with. Cheers, Tony L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzamina Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 My late grandmothers elder sister, (Edith A Bettis), is listed on the memorial in York Minster as one of the eighteen Womens Forage Corps who lost their lives during the Great War. I am interested in finding out when, where and how she died. Can anyone point me in the right direction please to a website where this information is available. I have only recently joined this forum, so please accept my apologies if I am asking for the type of information that may already have been requested before, thanks in anticipation. I might have a list of those that died in service in the FC and how they died. Will look to see if her name is on my list. Do you have a picture of her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 When did she die Tony? Edith may have fallen victim to the a flu epidemic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzamina Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 She died of Pneumonia and her role was that of Quartermistress!! Am still doing a lot of research regadring the WFC so would love to know if you have any info regarding her uniform! see sheet below for death info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmania Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 In a nominal roll of members of the Womens Forage Corps who died it lists Quarter Mistress Edith Bettis as having died of pneumonia, her next of kin was Mrs Bettis, 31 Colchester Rd, Prittlewell, Southen-on-Sea. Unfortunately no date of death given. Aled alzamina - you got there before me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzamina Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 In a nominal roll of members of the Womens Forage Corps who died it lists Quarter Mistress Edith Bettis as having died of pneumonia, her next of kin was Mrs Bettis, 31 Colchester Rd, Prittlewell, Southen-on-Sea. Unfortunately no date of death given. Aled alzamina - you got there before me! LOL - I have a lot of documents regarding this area but need more photos etc! there is a book by Micheal young on the ASC which I am trying to get hold of as it has loads of info apparently....book is like hens teeth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomkinson Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 Depending on the date of death she may well have died in the great flu pandemic of 1918. There is a relatively new book on this subject (one of very few) called Living with Enza by Mark Honigsbaum. Very well worth a read. Cheers Mike Tomkinson Bradford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Johnson Posted 3 February , 2009 Share Posted 3 February , 2009 I agree. Pneumonia often set in after influenza and was listed as the cause of death. As she died in December Quarter 1918: Bettis Edith A 25 B. Stortford 3a 1469 I'd say it's almost positive that it was the pandemic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Strawbridge Posted 4 February , 2009 Share Posted 4 February , 2009 She died of Pneumonia and her role was that of Quartermistress!! Am still doing a lot of research regadring the WFC so would love to know if you have any info regarding her uniform! see sheet below for death info I have two questions that I hope that you can answer. 1) the list is not alphabetical. Is it listed as to earliest death to the latest? 2) is the list purely those attached to the Army Service Corps as I have a further 8 names of WFC casualties that are not on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomkinson Posted 4 February , 2009 Share Posted 4 February , 2009 For those interested in the uniform of the Womens Forage Corps can I refer you to the thread on Early Land Girls. Obviously I cannot say but the picture could equally be of Forage Corps women. It may help as I cannot believe the uniform would be that much different. Cheers Mike Tomkinson Bradford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzamina Posted 4 February , 2009 Share Posted 4 February , 2009 I have two questions that I hope that you can answer. 1) the list is not alphabetical. Is it listed as to earliest death to the latest? 2) is the list purely those attached to the Army Service Corps as I have a further 8 names of WFC casualties that are not on it? I have more names but only posted that page due to it being the most relevant! as for order, I have no idea, am assuming as date order. what is your interest in the WFC (if you don't mind me asking)? other deaths attached below Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomkinson Posted 4 February , 2009 Share Posted 4 February , 2009 Again the very high incidence of pneumonia/influenza would seem to indicate the flu pandemic (Spanish Flu) of 1918. That flu also tended very strongly to take young people who were generally fit in all other respects. A particularly tragic aspect of it. I refer those of you interested in knowing more to my earlier reference. Cheers Mike Tomkinson Bradford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alzamina Posted 4 February , 2009 Share Posted 4 February , 2009 For those interested in the uniform of the Womens Forage Corps can I refer you to the thread on Early Land Girls. Obviously I cannot say but the picture could equally be of Forage Corps women. It may help as I cannot believe the uniform would be that much different. Cheers Mike Tomkinson Bradford uniform and badging was pretty similar for the 'general' WFC girls however, there were ranks in the WFC and these wore service dress. Army Council Instruction in 1918 lists uniform issued as overalls jersey hat leggings (canvas and leather) or puttees (horse transport) clogs mackintosh (or greatcoat for HT,MT, Bailing hands) breeches boots (complete with laces) titles it is the details of the uniform I am now researching such as where were the badges of rank worn? What colour was the jersey, overalls and hat? Remember that these were employed by the Forage Dept of the War Office, The Board of Trade (Timber Supply) or The Board of Agriculture (Forestry) As WFC they could be, and were, charged with being AWOL f they did not turn up for work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomkinson Posted 6 February , 2009 Share Posted 6 February , 2009 I have had a good look at my photo post card. I can see no evidence of rank badges. The girls are look remarkably healthy and given that the other 'Canterbury' cards are from various times of the year it is difficult to ascertain the season. That they are not wearing great coat or macs might point to good weather. I did notice that the 2 girls on the far right are remarkably alike and possibly identical twins. Cheers Mike Tomkinson Bradford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gailgcs Posted 1 November , 2010 Share Posted 1 November , 2010 Edith Annie Bettis was my great granmother and I have just got her death certificate which states that she died of Influenza (Spanish flu). She is also down as a conductress and not a quartermistress of the army forage corps. I do not have any images of her and would be grateful for any information you have on the family. Her father was also involved as a munition worker during the Great War. with thanks for reading My late grandmothers elder sister, (Edith A Bettis), is listed on the memorial in York Minster as one of the eighteen Womens Forage Corps who lost their lives during the Great War. I am interested in finding out when, where and how she died. Can anyone point me in the right direction please to a website where this information is available. I have only recently joined this forum, so please accept my apologies if I am asking for the type of information that may already have been requested before, thanks in anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty VAD Posted 12 November , 2010 Share Posted 12 November , 2010 Sue, I've got a number of original photos of FC which are going in my book. The Overalls for farm work were the same tan colour as WLA and the dairy smock was white. Few badges shown on my photos but certainly happy to share. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 17 June , 2011 Share Posted 17 June , 2011 I've recently found a small article on the Women's Forage Corps which I've added to a page on my website (scroll down the page) - it might come in useful for someone as there's so little written on the W.F.C. Land and Water Extra, April 1919 Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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