Red Cross in Gloucestershire, 1914-1919, The. WITH Manuscript minute book for the British Red Cross Society, Gloucestershire Branch.
INNER WORKINGS OF THE RED CROSS
[Nursing] The Red Cross In Gloucestershire During the War. An account of Voluntary Aid Work
carried out in Gloucestershire from October 1914 to March 31, 1919. Printed at the “Gloucestershire
Chronicle” Office, Bell Lane, Gloucester. [1919].
Together with:
Minute Book, Cirencester Detachment. British Red Cross Society, Gloucestershire Branch. Manuscript
ruled notebook, in varying hands, From Saturday 24th September 1910 through to January 15th 1915.
2 vols., 8vo.; green printed wrappers, with red cross symbol on upper cover; black limp cloth, neatly
rebacked, with red cross symbol on upper cover.
A fascinating provincial insight into the organization of the Red Cross at grass roots level, highlighting
the vital work that they, together with the VAD, carried out during WWI.
The President of the Gloucestershire Branch was no less a personage that the Duke of Beaufort at
Badminton House, and in his preface he gives fulsome praise and thanks to not only the ‘rank and file’
members of the branch, but to “V.A.D. members themselves, and the motor drivers, ambulance men,
orderlies, etc., but also all the “Service” workers, including kitchen workers, house workers, laundresses,
needlewomen and many others, too numerous to recapitulate, without whose little seen but constant work
our Hospitals could never have run so smoothly or attained such good results.” The report provides
detailed information about all the Officers of the branch, together with reports by both the executive and
finance committees, revealing the day to day running of the branch throughout the war. Of particular
interest, a page is devoted to each of the voluntary aid hospitals, and includes details of the staff, and the
numbers of patients treated. A large folding chart reveals “the number of patients in Auxiliary Hospitals
in Gloucestershire each month from October, 1914, to March, 1919, inclusive.” To fully commemorate
and recognise the work done, an extensive “Roll of Workers in and connected with Voluntary Aid
Hospitals in Gloucestershire during the war” is given. The evocative photographs include on of the
‘operating theatre at Naunton Park,” one of “Major Sinclair’s Universal Suspension Frame” supporting a
wounded solder, one of the Ambulance and Transport Staff at Cheltenham, as well as an x-ray photograph
showing a hand in relief and the bullet wound to the thumb.
Included together with this scarce account, is a detailed minute book from the Cirencester Detachment.
Beginning with the first entry on Saturday 24th September 1910 and running through to January 15th
1915, it provides a very personal insight into the day to day running of the organization. Often chaired by
the Countess of Bathurst, of Bathurst Estate and Cirencester Park, it is interesting to note the considerable
involvement and influence of several local ladies of influence. With the approach of war, attention turned
to the use of Bingham Hall as a hospital and so much time is given to the practical matters of improving
the sanitation, and of making it fit for purpose, with details of expenses incurred given, and some of the
obstacles overcome. A hint of the wider bureaucratic huddles to be crossed can also be found however,
and which is of particular interest. As the war gets ever closer, it becomes apparent that despite their
continued offers to be of assistance to the powers that be, the Cirencester detachment was left in a state of
limbo for some considerable time. Having spent considerable time and money on the hospital, and hired
staffed, at one point it appeared that all of their efforts had been in vain and indeed the staff were sent on
an enforced break, and the Matron, Mrs Swanwich, had even tendered her resignation. In the meeting of
December 4th, 1914, it was reported that the Medical Officer, Dr. Marshall had visited in person “Major
Morris & Col Ellis” at Salisbury, “who had the Voluntary Aid Detachments work
Print Inquire
