Miss Annie Margaret O’LOUGHLIN trained at the Bucknell Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, 1931-1999 and the Smithdown Road Hospital, Liverpool, 1939-1941.
Sister Annie Margaret O’LOUGHLIN Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (Reserve) (QAIMNSR) was killed in action when HMHS Newfoundland was bombed off the Salerno beaches, in the Mediterranean1 2.
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Rose Anne (known as Rosa during her nursing career), was born in Lurgan, Co. Armagh on August 10th 18861. Following a period as a book keeper she trained as a nurse at the Mater Infirmorum, Belfast, between January 1909 and January 19131. She than trained as a District Nurse at St Lawrence’s House, Dublin, which was the training institution for Catholic nurses at that time1. She enlisted into the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (Reserve) in June 19152, as a Staff Nurse.
Nurse McGibbon embarked on the Aquitania for Suez, leaving Southampton on the 9th November 1915 and arrived in Egypt on the 27th November. In Egypt she joined 18 Stationary Hospital. In November 2016 she joined 21 General Hospital in Alexandria, and in December 2017 she was appointed an Acting Sister. In June 1918 she was admitted to 19 General Hospital and had an appendicectomy. She appeared to recover but then became very unwell and was readmitted. After investigations she was invalided back to the UK on the Hospital Ship Wandilla. She was sent home on sick leave, and died at home on 6th March 19192.
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When Margery Loughnan was born in October 1888 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, her father, Alfred, was 30, and her mother, Mildred, was 31. She had three brothers and five sisters1,2. In 1911 she was a Governess at a house near her family in Croydon3. She trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital, London 1913-1916, joining the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) (QAIMNS(R))in April 19164.
Margery Loughnan was a Staff Nurse in the QAIMNS(R) serving mostly in hospitals in the UK, with one posting to the Hospital Ship Karylan4. Her postings are listed on a copper plate.
Two of her sisters, Kathleen and Isabel served overseas with the Red Cross as VADs5. Her brother Edmund served as a telegraphist in the Royal Navy6.
Staff Nurse Loughnan transferred from the Reserve to the Regular Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service on the 2nd May 19197. She had numerous postings during this period8,9,10, being promoted to Sister in 192611. She was in India at the start of World War Two.
By 1941 she was a Matron (acting Principal Matron) and was awarded the Royal Red Cross12. She was confirmed as a Principal Matron in 194213. In 1944 she was made an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services in India14. Her citation reads:
For her conspicuously successful administration of the Nursing Services of the Eastern Army throughout its formation and action and especially during the period (June – October 43) under review. In spite of initial shortages of personnel and of the low standard of training of many of the A.N.S., she has raised the general standard of nursing throughout the Army area to a satisfactory level. By continued personal contact she has directed and improved nursing in hard pressed outstations and always provided nursing staffs for forward units as soon as these could be posted. By her cheerfully firm handling of some 750 members she has most ably administered the Nursing Service of the Eastern Army.
She served with the 14th Army. This was a multinational force comprising units from Commonwealth countries during World War II. Many of its units were from the Indian Army as well as British units and there were also significant contributions from West and East African divisions within the British Army. It was often referred to as the “Forgotten Army” because its operations in the Burma Campaign were overlooked by the contemporary press, and remained more obscure than those of the corresponding formations in Europe for long after the war.
In June 1946 she was retired from her post as Principal Matron, but was then re-employed as a Matron16. She was reconfirmed as Principal Matron, and given the honorary title Chief Principal Matron in 194717,18.
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Indian Copper Tray bearing all of Margery Loughnan’s postings
QAIMNS(R)
QAIMNS
Emma FLECK was from Dervock, Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland1. She trained as a nurse at the Kent County Mental Hospital, 1934-1939, and the Central Middlesex Hospital 1939-19412.
Sister Emma FLECK joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve )in March 1945. She served in India, the Far East, and on the Hospital Ship HMHS Somersetshire2. She died on November 22nd 1947 and is commemorated on the Brookwood Memorial, Panel 22, Column 21 2. She is also remembered on the Dervock & District War Memorial 1939-19453. She was the daughter of James and Emma Fleck, of Dervock, Co. Antrim in Northern Ireland1.
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Sister DOWLING, N. Gwen, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) (QAIMNSR) was serving at the 20th Combined General Hospital, Singapore. She left Singapore on theSS Kuala, which was sunk by Japanese bombers on February 14, 1942.
“… reached Padang and was evacuated with six other nurses … gave evidence to 1943 enquiry …went on to serve in Quetta1 … “.
She is one of the few nurses to have reached home from the sinking of the SS Kuala and the SS Tanjong Pinang.
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Florence May CURRIER was born in St Georges, Wellington in Shropshire, 14 May 18891 2 3. Her father was an Engineer’s Clerk1. By the 1911 Census she was employed as a domestic servant near to home2.
She trained as a nurse at the Oldham Royal Infirmary may 1913 – May 1916, and was employed there before volunteering for service with the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve)3.
After joining the QAIMNSR in February 1917, Staff Nurse Florence May CURRIER was posted to the Military Hospital, Kinmal Park Camp (Kinmel Park Camp was built in 1914 as a training camp for Lord Kitchener’s Army in preparation for serving in the First World War. It had its own branch railway line connecting to the main line at Foryd Station in Rhyl, North Wales)3. Her report in September 1918 stated:
Staff Nurse F. Currier Q.A.I.M.N.S.R. has worked at this hospital for one year and six months. She is kind and willing but lacks experience in ward management and needs to work under supervision3.
She was posted to the BEF in France in September 1918, working mainly at 2 General Hospital in Le Havre. Her report from this hospital stated:
S/N Currier has served in this hospital since 12.9.18 as S/Nurse Medical Section and Night Duty. Her professional ability is up to the average. Administrative capacity good. Temper good. Tact and judgement good. Energetic, reliable and punctual in all her duties. S/N Currier has not done any charge duty since coming to France. With experience she will make a good Sister3.
She was demobilised in July 19193. Whilst she was in Le Havre, Sir John Lavery painted a picture of her along with a VAD. This picture is in the Imperial War Museum – “Le Havre, 1919: Nurse Billam and Sister Currier” (wrongly titled as Sister Currier)4.
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206068 Sister COWARD, Laura, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was serving in Singapore in 1942. She left Singapore on the SS Kuala, which was sunk by Japanese bombers on February 14, 1942.
… not seen by any survivor since first attack on ship. Believed killed by a direct hit on her cabin1 …
She died at sea February 14, 1942, and her name is recorded on the Singapore Memorial Column 1132.
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Dorothy Maud Chandler was born in Epsom on 2nd January 18861,2. She contracted Rheumatic Fever as a child which damaged her heart2. She trained as a nurse at the Epsom Union Workhouse Infirmary2,3, 1910-1914. She was accepted into the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) on the 14th January 19152.
Most of her military service was at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank, London2. In April -May of 1917 she was sent on temporary duty to France. First to 26 General Hospital and then to 1 BRC Hospital to learn about a new way of dealing with wounds, the Carrel-Dakin method. On 15th November 1917 she died of a cerebral embolism at the Hospital for QAIMNS Sisters, Vincent Square, London2. Her death was linked to a damaged mitral valve caused by Rheumatic Fever she had as a child2.
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Note: A prominent French surgeon, Dr. Alexis Carrel, was working in a temporary field hospital and lab near the forest of Compiegne in France, just six and a half miles from the front. Carrel realized that the greatest surgical need was a better method of sterilising wounds, so he and English chemist Henry D. Dakin developed a system that would irrigate wounds with a sterilising solution – saving soldiers’ lives and limbs. Dakin developed the solution, while Carrel developed an apparatus to deliver it.
Sister BOSTOCK, V Muriel, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) (QAIMNSR) was in Singapore in 1942, but it is not known in what capacity. She left Singapore on the SS Kuala, which was sunk by Japanese bombers on February 14, 1942.
” … reached Singkep and then Eastern Sumatra with Nurse Edith Wood, and Padang where they boarded a Dutch cargo vessel, reaching Columbo on March 6, 19421 … “.
She is one of the few nurses to have reached home from the sinking of the SS Kuala and the SS Tanjong Pinang.
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Elizabeth Mabel Bickerdike was born about 1873 in Bombay, India. Her father was an East India merchant. The 1881 Census showed her living with her family in Surrey, England1 as did the census for 18912 and she was educated at the Girls High School, Croydon. She trained as a nurse at the Infirmary in Bolton, Lancashire, and then worked at the Borough Fever Hospital, Croydon. She enlisted in the Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service (Reserve) on the 13th October, 18993.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal Rolls show her as having served at No.2 General Hospital, Pretoria4; at No.5 General Hospital, Wynberg5; at No.8 General Hospital, Bloemfontein6, and at No.19 General Hospital, Pretoria7, arriving home to Southampton on the Targus on April 30th, 1901.
She joined the QAIMNS in 19038 and in February 1903 was in the list of the first 12 nurses to be posted as “Staff Nurses” to the Herbert Hospital, Woolwich. In February 1904 she was posted to the troopship Plassy for “Indian troopship duty” and returned to Woolwich in April 1904. She was posted to Alton and in January 1906 to the Military Hospital, Portsmouth. She resigned in July 1906 and became a private nurse with the Registered Nurses Society. The 1911 Census showed her working as a hospital nurse at the Mount Vernon Hospital for Consumption, London9.
She rejoined the QAIMNS at the start of WW1 becoming an Assistant Matron. She saw service in a number of places. In Egypt, she was at the engagement at Agadir on the 26th February, 1916. She was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) in 191810.
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