Did you know Agatha Christie was a VAD in WWI? Accounts of women’s nursing experiences in World War One

 Vera Brittain –Testament of Youth

First published in 1928, Vera Brittain’s account of her wartime experiences and how she became a pacifist was one of a handful of books which broke the silence over the First World War. She relates how she lost her brother, fiancée and friends while working as a V.A.D. (she trained at Camberwell). A passionate account, it stands as a moving memoir and epitaph for a “lost” wartime generation. Since it first appeared, it has become an ‘A’ Level literature text book, a television series (twice) and a film. Still resonating with successive younger generations, it has stood the test of time. Available in Lewisham Libraries.

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Dorothea Crewdson- Dorothea’s War: a First World War Nurse tells her story

Born Bristol 1886, raised in Nottingham. 1911 became a VAD in British Red Cross and passed her exams the next year. She began by helping out at local hospitals or serving tea and buns to wounded soldiers on hospital trains. In May 1915, she was stationed in Le Treport, northern France and spent the rest of the war working in different field hospitals. Although not a fully trained nurse, the military was under great pressure to relax the rules and allow women like Dorothea to serve in  military hospitals in France. Despite over 40 military hospitals in France by April 1915, they could not cope with the high numbers of casualties. She began at No.16 Stationary hospital, Le Treport, France. In 1918, Dorothea was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. She died in France in 1919 while still working as a nurse after contracting peritonitis. Her dairies were published by her nephew in 2013. Available in Lewisham Libraries.

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Erica Nadin-Snelling -Matron at War: the story of Katy Beaufoy (1869-1918)

Sister Katy Beaufoy was born in Birmingham and served in both the Boer War and was a QUAIMNs nursing sister then Matron on His Majesty’s Hospital Ships in World War I. She kept a war time diary of her service and excerpts have been published from 1915-1917, together with some letters to her family. The dangers of nursing service at sea are revealed as are the details of daily life. Katy was officially reported missing believed drowned after the hospital ship Glenart Castle was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat on 26th February 1918. Her medals include the Dead Woman’s Penny and the medal for reorganising the Queen of Italy’s nursing service. Available in Lewisham Libraries.

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Agatha Christie –Autobiography.

Before she became a bestselling crime writer, Agatha Christie joined the VAD in 1914. She served in a Devon hospital in Torquay.

She began by doing first aid courses in early 1914 followed by practical work visits to local hospitals.

‘That was intimidating because the regular nurses, who were in a hurry and had a lot to do, despised us thoroughly.’

Initially she was a ward maid, a reserve force, before she became a V.A.D. She also had pharmaceutical lessons from a local chemist to help her prepare for examinations.

Later her medical service stood her in good stead. She worked as a hospital dispenser in World War II. Doubtless this is where she gained her knowledge of poisons which feature as a murder method in so many of her crime novels. Available in Lewisham Libraries.

Julie Robinson, Local Studies Librarian
Enquiries:local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk

Treating Tommy: a day in the life of a British Military Hospital in World War One

During the First World War, the military hospital day in hospitals like Lewisham Military Hospital usually began at 6.00am. If able, men would make their beds and wash themselves.

The men had to wear a special hospital uniform. This was a blue jacket and trousers, a white shirt and a red tie. You can see the men wearing hospital uniform in the photograph below.

Patients wearing hospital uniform at Lewisham Military Hospital. ⒸLewisham Local History and Archives Centre.

 Breakfast was at 7.30am. Porridge, tea and eggs. Eggs were often donated by local residents who kept hens. Presumably they were keen to support the war effort.

After breakfast, those patients who were able helped to clean up the ward and do the washing up. Hygiene was essential to prevent disease and infection. Dressings were also changed in the mornings.

 

11am. Doctor’s inspection. After this patients were free to exercise in the hospital grounds until 1.00pm when lunch was served.

Lunch was usually meat, vegetables and a pudding.

In the afternoon, patients would have free time. They might visit the local town or attend parties hosted by local charities. Concerts and gramophone recitals would also have taken place. At Lewisham Military Hospital some patients were even treated to a motor car outing!

Article from the Kentish Mercury. ⒸLewisham Local History and Archives Centre.

About 7.00pm patients were served supper. A typical supper would have been cocoa, bread and butter.

Most patients recovered and many would have been sent back to the front lines to continue fighting.

Others did not survive. On 25 May 1915, the Kentish Mercury reported the first funeral of a soldier at Lewisham Military Hospital.

First funeral of a soldier from Lewisham Military Hospital.ⒸLewisham Local History and Archives Centre.

Julie Robinson, Local Studies Librarian, Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre.
Enquiries:local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk

Treating Tommy: from the Front Line to Lewisham Military Hospital in World War One

The First World War quickly produced devastating injuries on the battlefield which posed a real challenge to treat. Survival depended on quick medical intervention. The wounded were often moved several times.

Regimental Aid Post (RAP)

Initially, the walking wounded tried to reach the nearest RAP, while others were carried by stretcher bearers. RAPs were often set up in trenches or abandoned buildings typically, 2---300 yards of the front line. There, they would be treated by a regimental medical officer (RMO). The RMOs were qualified doctors but knew little about treating war wounds. RMO’s administered pain relief, anti-tetanus injection and a basic dressing. Sometimes stretcher bearers trained in First Aid helped out.

Evacuation

Evacuation began from the RAP and continued to advanced dressing stations (ADS) further away from the front line where soldiers could be treated. Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) were next up the line and were the first static units a casualty would encounter. CCSs often moved, casualties being moved back to base hospitals in France and Flanders.

Medical personnel

As well as Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) doctors, military medical staff included the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) and the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs) . Other ad hoc organisations not under military control such as First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) and the Society of Friends –Friends Ambulance Unit, (FAU), Quakers and conscientious objectors, also made a contribution. QAIMNS sisters were sent to France in 1914 and their numbers increased after that as the need for experienced nursing staff increased.

Nursing staff and patients, Lewisham Military Hospital. ⒸLewisham Local History and Archives Centre

Hospitals in France and Flanders

There were two types of base hospital stationary and general. They were mainly located in large towns or ports, notably Boulogne and Etaples. Unofficial, voluntary hospitals supplemented these RAMC units but were not officially approved by the military authorities. The work was hard and time off for doctors and nurses was usually only given in cases of illness.

Transport

Transporting the wounded was a real challenge and barges were eventually used to transport men direct to hospital ships due to pressure on the railways. Once at a British port, casualties were transferred to an ambulance service train and sent to a receiving station. Receiving stations were local hospitals such as Lewisham Military Hospital. They were the last stop on a wounded soldier’s medical journey.

Lewisham Military Hospital

In 1915, the Lewisham Workhouse Infirmary was cleared to make way for expected wartime casualties. The hospital was then renamed Lewisham Military Hospital. It cared for officers, ranks and German POWs. It was headed by Dr Frederick Sherman Toogood who was given the temporary rank of Major with the Royal Army Medical Corps. The Hospital Workhouse Infirmaries were ideal for conversion into military hospitals as they often had gardens and other amenities for the staff and patients.

Lewisham Military Hospital had beds for 24 officers and 838 rank and file. They also had provision for shell-shocked officers. The first wounded arrived in May 1915, including some injured during the infamous gas attack at Ypres when chemical weapons were first used on a large scale.

The hospital treated those who needed more specialist treatment or who needed a longer period of time to recover.

The first patients would be walking wounded in cars followed by stretcher cases carried by ambulance.

Once at the hospital, the men would wash, uniforms fumigated and replaced with a hospital military suit. The hospital suit was a blue jacket and trousers with a white shirt and a red tie.

Patients details were taken and then they were taken to the wards.

After the war, the hospital reverted to civilian use in 1919. Eventually it became University Lewisham Hospital.

Julie Robinson, Local Studies Librarian

Enquiries: local.studies@lewisham.gov.uk