Sidcup's Nursing staff -what we know

While much is known about the surgical and medical staff at Sidcup, there is almost no information about the nursing and other ancillary staff.  

There is not even a list of the nurses. A partial reconstruction has been achieved thanks to a few family records, and the Red Cross archives. The 1921 Census, listing all resident staff and patients on Census Day noted 38 resident nurses, and a copy of the hospital’s Sports Day programme from 1921 adds a further 14 names.  

There are a number of photographs of nurses, which are not annotated with names, whose role in not just the physical needs, but also psychological support for patients, was substantial.

One nurse whose career has been well-documented is the hospital’s first Matron, Ethel Barber.  Born near Halifax, Yorkshire in 1972 she trained in Leeds, applied to join the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1903 and was posted to the Connaught Hospital, Aldershot. She had a brief tour overseas, but the climate did not suit her and she returned to the Cambridge Military Hospital in 1907. At the outbreak of war she went to France, serving in several different hospitals and was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal in 1917.  She was posted to the Queen’s Hospital as acting Matron in May 1917, and appears to have remained there until 1920, later serving at the Devonport Hospital.  She resigned from the QAIMNS in 1926 for family reasons.  She retired to Scarborough, living in private hotels until her death in 1960. She never married.  A full account of her life can be found at 148autumn-web.pub (cfhsweb.com).

Emily Bayne also served at Sidcup.  She had previously been at Aldershot, being photographed in the grounds of Gillies’ temporary convalescent house, Waverley Abbey.

Sister Mary Agar (b.1881) was part of the Canadian Contingent, compiling a photograph album of staff, patients and parts of the hospital at Sidcup which is now in the BAPRAS archives.

Sister Elizabeth McGee from Co. Mayo can be identified because she became a patient.  The notes record that she was hit in the face by a golf club and her nose was broken.

Nellie Cryer trained in Manchester from 1914, and her biographical note says she was one of the first nurses posted to Sidcup.  She married one of her Canadian patients.

Sister G. Edwards also compiled a photograph album, mainly of the Canadian staff and patients but including one of Captain Mendelson, who assisted Gillies with the writing of “Plastic Surgery of the Face”

Contributor: Andrew Bamji