Page 24 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

22 The Gazette QARANC Association
‘Works of many hands:
Nurses autograph books and military hospital culture in and after WW1’
Autograph books have been popular over the centuries in one form or another. As source material for research they have, in the main, been overlooked. Researching the archive held at the Museum of Military Medicine is a wonderful opportunity to delve into the world of the QAIMNS, QAIMNS(R) and the VAD nurses and their patients of the Great War.
The main purpose of the research is to explore the nurse patient relationship through the medium of the autograph album and to add to our knowledge of nursing in the Great War. This research is unusual in that it crosses different disciplines. It comes under the School of English, Communication and Philosophy (ENCAP) at Cardiff University but there are historical and social science elements that need to be considered. This has meant that I have been able to indulge my love of
history of The Great War and combine it with my experience as a QA.
Currently 25 autograph books have been selected from the archive and my first job was to scan the books and audit their content. As expected the books contain typical entries of the ‘Roses are Red’ and ‘By Hook or by Crook’ variety. Alongside these is a wealth of unique entries
that enable us to see how
the QA or VAD was viewed
by her patients, and entries
nurses made themselves
that enable us to see their
desires and fears about
their abilities to care for their
patients to a high standard. Contributions from patients reflect the trust they place in these nurses and some entries suggest hoped- for romantic attachments. Alongside this there is also some detective work
required to find out more about the background of these nurses and in some instances I have had to search for clues in the books as to who the nurse was. Other materials such as diaries and photograph albums support this research and bring the nurse to life.
Tantalising entries, when explored, lead to magical finds. Whilst I was cataloguing the various entries in Sister Lidstone’s album I encountered a short entry from Dorothy Cackett. The entry is annotated as ‘Blendecques (Pas de Calais) 1916’; it would appear that both came across each other in France, though there is no indication they actually worked together. Sister Lidstone’s album indicates she worked at 4th and 7th Stationary Hospitals, the Casino and Camiers. Betty Olive
Tantalising entries, when explored, lead to magical finds
Military Medical Revolution
How the UK’s Defence Medical Services transformed in conflict, 1990–2015
Written by Colonel David Vassallo FRCSEd MA L/RAMC
Foreword by Lieutenant General Louis Lillywhite CB MBE
An inspiring analysis of life-saving advances in military medicine and how these are catalysing better trauma care worldwide.
ISBN 978-0-9927980-2-4 paperback
ISBN 978-0-9927980-3-1 hardback
RRP £15 Also available in hardback
Available via
the Museum of Military Medicine (www.museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk) and main bookshops