DUNCAN, Alice
Biography
Annie came from a large family. Born in Glasgow in 1878 and educated locally, she trained as a nurse at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, qualifying in 1903[1]. Her younger sister Jessie also trained as a nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and served in the QAIMNS(R)[2].
Nursing Service in WW1
On mobilisation in September 1914, she was posted to No. 2 General Hospital. At some point over the next few months, she was posted to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station where she became very ill. She injured her finger and was admitted with Inflamed Connective Tissue (ICT) of her finger on 20th July 1915[3]. The illness progressed to septicaemia, and she was placed on the ‘Dangerously Ill List’. The report on her condition was sent through the chain of command, and was noted in the diary of the Matron-in-Chief, France and Flanders[4]:
27.07.15 … To Abbeville. Found endless correspondence and learnt that Mrs. Duncan from 1 Casualty Clearing Station had Septicaemia.
06.08.15 … Then to Beauvall – 4 CCS partly under canvas, partly in buildings – first rate in every way. Got back 8pm to find that Miss Duncan had had a relapse – acute septicaemia. Her sister had been telegraphed for from Highland Casualty Clearing Station.
07.08.15 … Then to see how Miss Duncan was. Condition good, dangerously ill – looking very comfortable, quite sensible, no vomiting or diarrhoea, temp. not so high, arm opened again under anaesthetic, but not discharging.
Annie Duncan was returned to the UK for further treatment at the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank and at the Maryhill Military Hospital in Glasgow, before returning to France for duty in the summer of 1916. She had short postings at No. 12 General Hospital and No. 24 General Hospital before sent as Sister-in-Charge to No. 46 Casualty Clearing Station3. She spent some time working here, and had at least two visits from Maud McCarthy, Matron-in-Chief, France and Flanders[4]:
13.7.17 … To 46 CCS – saw the Sister in charge, Miss Duncan, and the CO. The hospital was taking in about 300 bad gas cases– eyes badly affected. The wards and quarters were in excellent order and things appeared to be working very smoothly.
22.10.17 … From there we went to 12, 46 and 64 CCS, all very busy also. I got the particulars from each Sister in charge of their staffs, and made a note of any of them it was considered advisable to move. The Messes in these units were equally satisfactory, the Sisters in charge being respectively Miss Mackay, QAIMNS at No.12, Miss Duncan, CHR at No.46 and Miss C. M. Williams, QAIMNS at No.64.
2.2.18 … 46 CCS: No.46 CCS re-opened today, with Miss A. Duncan, ARRC, CHR, in charge.
No. 46 Casualty Clearing Station was sited in Noyon, and became at risk when the German Army launched a massive offensive in the Spring of 1918. This unit along with a number of others supporting this part of the British front line became very busy and then had to close and move backwards. The movements of the nurses were noted by Maud McCarthy[4]:
Noyon: No.46 CCS (Sister i/c: Miss A. Duncan, CHR) 21.3.18: Staff of Advanced Operating Theatre reported. Work very heavy. 22.3.18 and 23.3.18: Over 7000 patients passed through. 24.3.18: Orders received for staff to proceed to 42 Stationary Hospital, Amiens, by car – afterwards cancelled. 25.3.18: Sisters left for Amiens by car at 8.30 a.m. and from there proceeded to Nurses’ Home, Abbeville. Subsequently re-posted to Boulogne area.
It was not long before Sister Annie Duncan was back as Sister-in-Charge of a Casualty Clearing Station, and before taking up her post she called in to the Matron-in-Chief[4]. She was to spend over a year with this unit, being mentioned several times in the diary of the Matron-in-Chief[4]:
13.5.18 … From there I went to 12 and 55 CCS at Longpre where I saw the Sisters in charge, Miss Duncan, CHR and Miss Foster, TFNS but not the OCs. These units are both side by side under canvas, the nursing staff being accommodated in billets. Everything seemed entirely satisfactory.
29.08.18 … Medaille des Epidemies: Received from DMS 4th Army copy of correspondence which he had forwarded to GHQ with reference to a French Decoration on behalf of A/Sister A. Duncan, QAIMNSR, the Medaille des Epidemies en vermeil.
7.11.18 … No.12 CCS, Lt. Col. Watson OC, who has recently taken over, Miss Duncan, CHR, Sister in Charge.
5.7.19 … From there we drove to 12 Casualty Clearing Station which is situated at Le Quesnoy. On our way there we passed through much devastated area. We inspected this Unit accompanied by the Sister in charge Miss Duncan QAIMNSR. Saw the OC Colonel Williamson who begged to be excused accompanying us around as he was exceedingly busy. This is an excellent Unit. The Sisters’ Quarters are in a large house at the back of the hospital, which was very clean and well managed. The Sister in charge manages the Mess herself.
In June 1919 she was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross[5]. As the war came to an end, she was posted for a short time to No. 57 Casualty Clearing Station before being demobilised in September 1919[3].
She wrote a report for the Matron-in-Chief BEF in 1919, as part of a collection of Reports
References
- ↑ United Kingdom and Ireland Nursing Registers, 1898-1969, 1950 p.110
- ↑ The National Archives: War Office 399/ 2403 Duncan, Jessie
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The National Archives: War Office 399/ 2393 Duncan, Annie
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 The National Archives, War Office 95/ 3988-91 The official war diary of the Matron-in-Chief, France and Flanders
- ↑ The London Gazette, Supplement, 31370 dated 3 June 1919, p.6839
The Médaille des Epidemies
The Médaille des Epidemies was established by decree on 31 March 1885, following the consequences of the serious cholera epidemic of 1884. The epidemic which raged that year, saw many devotees to fight against the disease.
The medal rewarded people who had particularly distinguished themselves by their devotion during periods of epidemic diseases by exposing themselves to the dangers of contamination, by giving care to patients suffering from contagious diseases.
Holders received an official diploma recalling the causes that had motivated the distinction. Although only one medal was originally created, the extension of its attribution to different ministries led to the creation of several models with similar characteristics. These medals had four levels, awarded according to the quality of the services rendered: Bronze, Silver, Vermeil, and Gold.
