AINSWORTH, Lilian
Biography
Lilian AINSWORTH was born in Newrath, Kilkenny, Ireland, about 1872[1]. She trained as a nurse at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester and joined the Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service (Reserve) on February 4th, 1898[2].
Nursing Service in the Boer War (1899-1902)
Sister Lilian Ainsworth travelled to South Africa with No. 10 General Hospital in the Hospital Ship Avoca[3], leaving England on March 12th, 1900. She served with No. 10 General Hospital at Norvals Pont[4], as well as with No. 8 General Hospital, Bloemfontein[5], and No. 5 Stationary Hospital, Bloemfontein[6]. The nursing press noted that she had held the position of Sister at the Chelsea Infirmary, before going to South Africa, and was reappointed there on her return[7] .
Nursing Service during WW1 (1914-1919)
The 1911 Census shows her living at home in Birkenhead and designated as a Sister Army Nursing Service Reserve[1]. She was mobilised as Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (Reserve) in May 1915[8], and was posted as Sister to the Sidney Hall Military Hospital, Weymouth.
After a lapse of several weeks, in which the Sidney Hall Military Hospital at Weymouth has been left without a Resident Matron, and in spite of the shameful neglect and death of the poor soldier Gribbin, the War Office has at last sent down a proper staff of trained nurses and orderlies. A correspondent states that “riot” is the only word to describe the complete disorganisation of the place. As hundreds of trained nurses are waiting for Army nursing work,. one wonders why this hospital has been neglected so long[9].
She was then transferred to Egypt on July 19th, 1915. She moved between Egypt, Iraq and India, becoming ill on a number of occasions. In 1918 she was invalided to India with dysentery, and in 1919 she was returned to the UK. At Millbank, on September,11, 1919 she was found unfit for service[8].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The National Archives: England Census: RG 14/21989 1911 Birkenhead
- ↑ War Office (1900) Nominal Roll of Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service (Reserve) as at 30th September
- ↑ The Times, March 13, 1900 p6b&6c
- ↑ The National Archives: WO 100/229 Queen’s South Africa Medal Roll p62 created at No10 General Hospital, Norvals Pont; dated July 15, 1901
- ↑ The National Archives: WO 100/229 Queen’s South Africa Medal Roll p55 created at No8 General Hospital, Bloemfontein; dated August 4, 1901
- ↑ The National Archives: WO 100/229 Queen’s South Africa Medal Roll p95 created at No. 5 Stationary Hospital, Bloemfontein; dated August 28, 1901
- ↑ The British Journal of Nursing (1902) Vol.29, 20th September p231
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The National Archives: WO 399/43
- ↑ The British Journal of Nursing, May 15th 1915, p411
