Voluntary Aid Detachment Archives - Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War

Emma G. Green

Surname: Green

Other names: Emma G.

Locations in this story:
Amberleaze Farm, Semley, Wiltshire
Mere, Wiltshire
Red Cross Hospital, Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset

Story:
(Miss) Emma G. Green was living at Amberleaze Farm, Semley, Wiltshire, when she was a member of the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) from 13th October 1915 until 6th March 1919. She was a Nurse at the Red Cross Hospital, Station Road, Gillingham, Dorset. This Hospital was set up in Miss Dunn's High School for Girls from 1914 to 1919 and came under the control of the Shaftesbury Division (Dorset/98) of the British Red Cross. It initially had 35 beds but this was eventually extended to 62. Being near the railway station it was a convenient point of reference. The only other facts known are that Emma was born in 1885 and died in the Mere, Wiltshire, Registry District in 1968.

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The National Archives

Agnes Esther Clarke

Surname: Clarke

Other names: Agnes Jessie

Locations in this story:
Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Little is known about (Miss) Agnes Esther Clarke except that she was born in 1893 and was either boarding or working for Lady Napier at Gunville House, Sedgehill, Wiltshire, when she worked as a (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Cook at the Red Cross Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire from June 1916 until August 1916. She remained in Wiltshire and died in Salisbury in 1979.

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The National Archives

Jessie Graham Elizabeth Tudhope

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Tudhope

Other names: Jessie Graham Elizabeth

Locations in this story:
New Lane House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Canada
South Africa
Fulham, London

Story:
Little is known about (Mrs) Jessie Graham Elizabeth Tudhope except that during her service with the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) she was boarding with a Mrs Butter, New Lane House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset. She had been born in South Africa in 1894 and lived for some time in Canada. Jessie was married to John H. Tudhope (who was a Captain serving with the Royal Air Force). She joined the VAD on 15th February 1917 and served until 25th June 1917. She was appointed to the Military Hospital, Fulham, London. She is known to have died on 14th January 1946.

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The National Archives

Mary Harris

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Harris

Other names: Mary

Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Bleke Street, Shaftesbury
Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire
Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Story:
Mary Harris was born in Shaftesbury in 1896, daughter of Dr. William James Harris and Kathleen Emily Harris née Howe. In 1901 the family were living at 37 Bell Street, but soon moved to "Avishayes" in Bleke Street. The 1903 Kelly's Directory describes Dr. Harris as "surgeon & hon. medical officer to the Westminster Memorial Cottage Hospital, & public vaccinator to the Shaftesbury district & medical officer to the Workhouse." Mary's brother Maurice William Sydney (b.1897) also served in the war, with the Middlesex Regiment.

Mary was living at "Avishayes" when she joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in the Autumn of 1916. She served as a Nurse at the Tisbury Red Cross War Hospital, Tisbury, Wiltshire, and at Longford Castle, Salisbury, Wiltshire, until August 1918 when she joined the Headquarters RAF Salisbury for motor driving. The date on which she completed her military service is not known. Research continues.

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Maurice William Sidney Harris
The National Archives

Oenone Grove

29th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Royal Air Force, Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Grove

Other names: Oenone

Locations in this story:
Berwick St. John, Wiltshire
Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire
St. Thomas Hospital, London
Mere, Wiltshire

Story:
Oenone Grove was born at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 1st March 1889, the daughter of Sir Walter John Grove, 2nd Baronet, and Agnes Geraldine Grove (née Fox-Pitt). She lived most of her civilian life at Sedgehill Manor, Sedgehill, Wiltshire. She joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) on 1st November 1917 and worked as a Nurse at 5th London General, St. Thomas Hospital, London until 30th May 1918. She left the Detachment to join the Royal Air Force on 21st June 1918 (Service No. 11807) and is understood to have served in the UK only - occupation unknown. She is likely to have been discharged by 1921 when the general stand down came into effect. She travelled extensively thereafter, frequently going between the UK, Canada and USA. She died on 21st January 1956 (Mere, Wiltshire, Registration District) and was buried on 21st January 1956 at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire.

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The National Archives

Elizabeth Bastalle Wilkins

25th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Wilkins

Other names: Elizabeth Bastalle

Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cottage Hospital, Chard, Somerset

Story:
Elizabeth Bastalle Wilkins was born on 24th Febrary 1883. There are no identifiable records as to her parents or previous residences. It is know that she was living at Pear Tree Cottage, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset, at the outbreak of war and she joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) as a trained nurse on 22nd March 1916 at a local unnamed hospital. She was quickly promoted to Sister in Charge and remained in service until 22nd March 1919. She was at that time still living in Stour Row. The 1939 Register shows her address as The Cottage Hospital, Chard, Somerset, where she was the Matron and single. There is no identifiable record of the date of her death.

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John Hastings

25th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Hastings

Other names: John

Locations in this story:
Downpatrick, Co. Down, Ireland
Wincombe Park, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Etaples, France
Boulogne, France

Story:
John Hastings was born in Downpatrick, Co. Down, Ireland, in 1862. He had retired as a Solicitor and moved to Wincombe Park, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire with his wife, Dorothy H. Hastings, whom he had married in 1902. Following the outbreak of war he joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Motor Ambulance Department and served in Etaples and Boulogne, France, between 17th March 1915 and April 1916 as an ambulance driver. He remained at Wincombe Park throughout and died in 1932.

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The National Archives

Gladys Elizabeth Nixon

25th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Nixon

Other names: Gladys Elizabeth

Locations in this story:
Bideford, Devon
South Kensington, London
Motcombe House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Hove, Sussex

Story:
Gladys Elizabeth Nixon was born in Bideford, Devon, on 14th August 1879, the daughter of Brinsley de Courcy Nixon and Suzanna Frances Evelyn Nixon (née Hampton). She married Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Stalbridge, at St. Jude's Church, South Kensington, London, on 10th November 1903. In August 1914, whilst living at Motcombe House, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, Baroness Grosvenor joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) and became President of the Sturminster Newton, Dorset, District until November 1916. She died at Hove, Sussex, on 20th March 1960.

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The National Archives

Edith Morse

24th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Morse

Other names: Edith

Locations in this story:
Copdock, Suffolk
Samford, Suffolk
The Rectory, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Red Cross Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Massandra Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset
Grata Quies Hospital, Bournemouth, Hampshire
Poole, Dorset
Norwich, Norfolk

Story:
Edith Morse was born at Copdock, Suffolk, on 13th June 1873, the daughter of Alfred Herbert Morse and Diana Ann Morse (née Gooch). She lived most of her early life in the Copdock area. She married Rev. Charles Edward Donne at Samford, Suffolk, in 1908. There are no obvious records of children. At the outbreak of war she was living at the Rectory, Compton Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset, where her husband had been appointed. She joined the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) in September 1918 and was still in service on 10th February 1919. She served as a Nurse at the Red Cross Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the Massandra Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, and the Grata Quies Hospital, Bournemouth, Hampshire. At the time of the 1939 Register she and her husband were living at Redmere, Crescent Road, Poole, Dorset. She died in Norwich, Norfolk, on 16th February 1956.

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The National Archives

Emmeline Dorothea Woodhouse

24th March 2020/in 1914-1918 Voluntary Aid Detachment /by Chris Stupples

Surname: Woodhouse

Other names: Emmeline Dorothea

Locations in this story:
Budleigh Salterton, Devon
St. John's Cottage, Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hammersmith, London
Mere, Wiltshire
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Emmeline Dorothea Woodhouse was born in Budleigh Salterton, Devon in 1876, the daughter of Rev. George Girdlestone Woodhouse and Emmeline Woodhouse (née Benson). She married Hugh Carl Forrester (a solicitor) at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 4th June 1897 and they set up home at St. John's Cottage, Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset. There are no records of any children. Hugh Forrester died in 1917. Emmeline served with the British Red Cross (Voluntary Aid Detachment) from 1918 until later in 1919. She provided services at the VAD Hospital Dorset 16, Mere, Wiltshire. She died in Hammersmith, London, on 15th June 1928.

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The National Archives