The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War

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The Voluntary Aid Detachment The Voluntary Aid Detachment was formed in 1909. Looking for help with Family History Research?      Please read our Family History FAQ's Thanks to everyone who attended our event We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. Dec 2011     Please note we currently have a large backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great Those known to have served with The Voluntary Aid Detachment during The Great War Select a story link or scroll down to browse those stories hosted on this site. V.A.D. Cecile Bailey Read their Story. Helen Grace Brownrigg MID Read their Story. Nurse Cole Helen Grace Brownrigg MID Helen Grace Brownrigg was a V.A.D. nurse in WW1. She was attached to Surrey Detachment 56 when she was posted to France to the military hospitals at Harfleur and Étaples from 1915 to 1919. In 1917 she was mentioned in despatches and was awarded two scarlet efficiency stripes. She served under the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John. She became an Associate of the Royal Red Cross in 1919 and continued to work for the Red Cross in peacetime for many years. Helen kept a scrap book of her experiences in France, with numerous photos and mementos. The latter includes poems by Pte. A.E.Tilsley of 40 Stationary Hospital, Harfleur which won a prize in 1917: 'Harfleur in Spring''Harfleur in Summer''Harfleur in Autumn' 'Harfleur in Winter' - also songs such as 'Sing me to Sleep' (Pte. J.H.Jackson, 4th Platoon, 44th Labour Company, B.E.F.)and 'There's Nobody Home in Blighty' (Sgt. H.W.Ellereton, 44th Canadians)- also lots of cuttings about the awards and bravery of women at war, and examples of German bombing of Red Cross Hospitals, contrary to the rules of war. One cutting of 9th February 1920 expressed surprise that 'Oldhams ABC of the Great War' (E.W.Colbrook) gave the impression that WW1 was almost exclusively a masculine affair, with no mention of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service or their Matron-in-Chief, Dame Ethel Becher, the Territorial Force Nursing Sisters and their chief, Dame Sidney Browne, or even the principal matron in France, Dame Maud McCarthy. Only Nurse Cavell was mentioned by name but...'women did so much in the war that probably they could justify an 'ABC' of their own'. The scrapbook also contains her card for a Progressive Whist Drive, a Christmas Greetings Card [1918-19] (R.A.M.C.)and the signatures of staff and patients (No. 5 Ward, 40 Stationary Hospital, Harfleur) on Armistice Day in 1918. There is also a menu card for a postwar reunion in February 1920 at the Florence Restaurant in Rupert Street, London, with former colleagues and relatives. Helen Grace Brownrigg was my great aunt and she died in 1964 aged 80.

Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? If so please let us know. Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?" We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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