English nurses sent to the boer war 1899-1902

[pampoen]

Hi are there any lists available of nurses who served in the second Boer War? I am looking to see if the name Constance Harriett Groom appears on the list. I have a letter of reference written for her saying she nursed at Addington hospital in Durban South Africa from 1903-1905. In those early days did women train as nurses or did they just volunteer and get sent over to serve in the army hospitals?

[km1971]

The Boer War ended in 1902. So she would not have received a Boer War medal if she arrived in 1903. Have you checked the passenger lists?

The first nurses to go were trained sisters. This link may hekp - http://britisharmynurses.com/wiki/index.php?title=Keiron

Ken

[pampoen]

Hi Ken that explains a lot thank you. What I referred to was that she was a nurse from what I can see during the Boer war which gave her the experience to work in a hospital in Durban from 1903-1905. What I need is proof she came over by boat somewhere between 1899-1902. I have traced the rest of the family travelling by ship to South Africa except her. If she nursed during the Boer war would Sh receive a medal? If so where are these records kept?

[km1971]

You can download it. It is big - 125.5Mb - so if you are on a restricted internet subscription be careful.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=wo100%2F229

Ignore the fact it says it is 0Mb

I could not find it on a subscription site.

Ken

[pampoen]

Ken no problem to download but do I have to pay for the records as it says add to basket?

Thanks Derek

[km1971]

Hi Derek

There is no cost

Ken

[pampoen]

Thank you

[ShaunJ]

Regarding passenger lists, there is the possibility that she travelled by the overland rail route to a Mediterranean port and then by steamer through the Suez canal to Durban. It would be quicker that way and it would avoid the Bay of Biscay.  In that case she would not appear on UK departure passenger lists.

[pampoen]

Shaun that could be the case however the family had 8 members, the parents brought two by ship leaving four behind. Then two brothers travelled out together. Another sister and brother followed on their own later leaving my elusive Constance the only one not recorded on any shipping lists?