Monday 11 September 2017

Volunteer World War One nurses in Cornwall

 'Back to School' ... and sorting through notebooks after this last stage of Heart of Conflict, our project on Cornwall during World War One.
We found so many leads and stories - it's a shame if they go to waste.
Noting down details of these women who were attached to Redruth Officers Auxiliary Hospital at Scorrier House - before they disappear again into lost time ...
All were VADs - Voluntary Aid Detachments, all trained in First Aid and some in nursing, cooking, hygiene and sanitation.  The majority of VADs did volunteer with the hope of being nurses, and were trained by the Red Cross.  Voluntary Aid Detachments were formed by the Red Cross and the Order of St John (the St John Ambulance Association).

World War One nurse's uniform created at
the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro 
for  Heart of Conflict

  • Philippa Grylls Permewan, Chapel Street, Redruth.  Period of service 22/10/1917-18/1/1919.
    Worked one whole day/ week.  There was a doctor called William Permewan in Redruth at the time - and many other doctors in fact of the same name. Perhaps Philippa was a relation.
  • Mrs May Jago, Marazion. Assistant cook. 24/1/1918- 6/3/1918
  • Miss Ethel Olds, Letcha Vean, St Just. 5/1917-8/1917. Head cook, VA Hospital, Penzance
  • Miss Geraldine Peacock, c/o 112 Harley Street.  Truro Infirmary, March 2-November 15 1917. At Scorrier from 9/1/1918-31/12/1918
  • Helen Dorothy de Cerjat, engaged as a Red Cross volunteer 2/12/1917-20/2/1918
  • Margaret Rich, Lenfred House, Redruth - 7/1/1918-28/2/1918. Previously engaged at Camborne Auxiliary Military Hospital. Staff maid - 7/1/1918-30/11/1918 - at Scorrier. In charge of staff rooms. Worked 555 hours.
  • Mary Florence Willians, staff maid. 2/10/1917-18/1/1919. Collecting ward furniture and returning same. Staff maid one day/week
  • Elsie Mills, Torfrey, Par Station. March 2 1918-April 3 1918. Parlourmaid. Waiting tables etc. (This may be the T Mills in the photorgaph with L. Opie).
  • Mrs Lucy Opie, Penrose, Clinton Road, Redruth. 22/10/1917-13/4/1918. Matron, Nurses' hostel.
  • Sybil Molesworth St Aubyn
  • Major John Williams, Commandant. 22 October 1917- 11 January 1919.
(Sources: Red Cross WW1 archives).

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