RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: J.H on Monday 31 March 08 19:15 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I posted a message earlier but dnt think I put it in the correct section?
My grandma Lily Tomlinson (b-1895), was a V.A.D nurses assistant. I would love to hear from anyone who knows anything about them & their role.
She was born in Hull so could have served in a hospital in Yorkshire?
I have a photograph of her in a cape with nurses watch pinned to it & a cotton white nurses cap.
Thanks - Jan
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Hello Jan there are a couple of us Nursey types on here...And we have done a bit of digging on VADs before...
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,247299.msg1363306.html#msg1363306
Do post the pic though!!
I have some first hand stuff in a book and of course there is Vera Brittain...
And here is some int on them for you...
http://www.socyberty.com/History/Vera-Britain-and-Vad-Nursing-During-the-First-World-War.70533/2
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Hi Jan !
we have done a bit of digging on VADs before...
Don't overlook Scarletwoman's brill website here
http://greatwarnurses.blogspot.com/
Wendi :)
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Jan if your VAD served overseas she would have been entiled to a campaign medal.The Imperial War Museum has an information sheet about researching VAD`s during WW1,download from www.iwm.org.uk/uploading/pdf/Info40
Many VAD`s were members of Order of St John`s. www.sja.org.uk
other info on Vad`s try www.juroch.demon.co.uk/kentvad
Local branches of the Red Cross or St johns may still have annual report,minute books and membership information.
www.redcross.org.uk
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My V.A.D ancestor was Miss Lillie Barrass. She began service in nursing on 5 Aug 1914 and continued until 1 Aug 1917. Firstly, she was attached to 6th. Durham V.A. Hospital, Woodside, Darlington, which was one of the large houses given over by the owner for the benefit of the wounded and then she returned to her home town, Sunderland and had nursing duties at 4th Durham V.A. Hospital, Jeffrey Hall, Sunderland, which was a Church Hall now demolished. We know that she also worked as a nurse in France and we have a photograph of her in a nurse's/VAD uniform, with Radisson, Saskatchewan written on the photograph. We also have a medal of hers and although I noted an Imperial War Museum website on an earlier post referring to medals, the page was not available.
Any help gratefully received.
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http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/
Sue Light's stupendous site on all things nursing in WW1.
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The Red Cross website allows you to search for VAD nurses as well as other wartime personnel. (http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/Museum-and-archives/Resources-for-researchers/Volunteers-and-personnel-records)
A quick search brings up one record (http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War/Card?fname=Lily&sname=Tomlinson&id=209799&first=true&last=true) living at 8 New Row, Drayton Basset, Tamworth. Could this be your ancestor?
Failing that, I'm sure more searching with other variants would bring up any available information.
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Thank you MFW. I had already checked the Red Cross site and did manage to find info on Lillie's dates of service. The Tamworth lady is not her. Newburychap-I have now looked at Sue Light's site and as you say: "It is stupendous." It shows photographs of the Woodside hospital and a medal from Jefferey Hall and that is great. It also provides me with a glimpse of what Lillie's day as a VAD would consist. Thank you.
My next step is to try to trace her time in France, which must be from Aug 1917. Anyone know where I go next?
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Thank you so much for all your help.
I will certainly look at all the links you have given me.
Thank you again and kind regards
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On the off-chance, have a search of the London Gazette. My great-aunt was a VAD and was Mentioned in Dispatches - which I only discovered via a speculative search.