Nurses
Nurses in the war
· Over 2,000 women offered their services in 1914, many declining a salary, and from this list individuals were dispatched to areas of hostility including France, Belgium, Serbia and Gallipoli
· From 1915 onwards partially trained women from the VADs who were posted to undertake less technical duties joined them.
· VADs (voluntary aid detachment) had to be between 23 and 38 years old. Women under 23 were rarely registered as nurses with the Red Cross, but the rule was not enforced for women over 38 who had no diminished capacity.
· The number of volunteers increased dramatically in the early years of the First World War and by 1918 there were over 90,000 British Red Cross VADs.
· After the first few months, the general rule was that nurses were only sent abroad after they had served for at least two months under the Joint War Committee in an auxiliary hospital at home and had received a favourable report.
· After one year’s service with the Joint War Committee, the rate of pay was automatically increased by 16s. 8d. per month. This took effect from 1 July 1917 and applied to all nurses on the pay roll on 30 June 1916.
Traditional Uniform used
THE DRESS : Blue dress of specified material (red canton for commandants, blue lustre for members) to be in one length from throat to ankle, and sufficiently full to be worn, if needed, over ordinary dress. To be buttoned in front under a two-inch box pleat, slightly gathered in front at shoulder and neck and finished with one-inch-wide neck-band on which to fasten white or blue collar. The bottom of skirt to have a two-inch hem and two one-inch tucks.
The sleeves for the commandant to be a small bishop shape with a three-inch wrist-band and fastening with two buttons. The sleeves for a member shall not come below the elbow. Ground clearance (pre- 1917) four inches; (1917–1930) six inches.
THE HAT : A well starched "sister Dora" hat to be worn across the head. 1911–1915: “Sister Dora” pattern in one piece, having a three-inch hem to turn over in front, which is square, the other part being rounded, having a narrow hem and a flat material tape stitched round from hem, and 12 inches in from the edge, through which a narrow tape is run. 1915–1930 (during and after war period) : an oblong of white cambric or linen, unstarched, in two sizes, 28 inches by 19 inches, or 27 inches by 19 inches, hemstitched all round two inches from edge, placed centrally on the head, the front edge to be worn straight cross the forehead and the two corners of front edge brought straight round the head fastening at the back with plain safety pin over the folds
THE COLLAR : Stiff, white (on in some cases blue) , stand-up shaped, linen collar of the improved “Sister Victoria” pattern, fastened by one or two white studs or a soft turned-down collar of white linen fastened on the back, that may be worn with the working dress and fastened with a safety pin brooch bearing the Society’s emblem, viz. a shield with a red cross on white ground.
For the nurses, white linen over sleeves, 15 inches long, fastening at cuff with one button and with elastic at elbow. For the commandant, stiff white linen over sleeves, fastening with one white stud. This only refers to British red cross, in some cases blue and green were recognizable.
THE APRON: A white apron with the Red Cross emblem displayed on the front. Made of linen, with bib pleated in band and continuing in straps (without join), cut in three widths and pleated in band at sides. On both sides is a large square pocket stitched on, the front part of pocket having a narrow strip continuing upward and stitched in the two-inch waist-band, fastening at back with linen button, the straps crossing over and also buttoning about five inches from either side of center at the back. The Red Cross of Turkey twill, 42 inches in height and length, and of the authorized Geneva pattern, with each limb 12 inches square to be sewn on center of bib, the bottom of apron being finished with a two-inch hem. Length to be the same as overall.
THE BELT: A starched white linen belt, two and a half inches wide, starched, to be worn over apron
All uniform worn with black boots and black stockings.
· Over 2,000 women offered their services in 1914, many declining a salary, and from this list individuals were dispatched to areas of hostility including France, Belgium, Serbia and Gallipoli
· From 1915 onwards partially trained women from the VADs who were posted to undertake less technical duties joined them.
· VADs (voluntary aid detachment) had to be between 23 and 38 years old. Women under 23 were rarely registered as nurses with the Red Cross, but the rule was not enforced for women over 38 who had no diminished capacity.
· The number of volunteers increased dramatically in the early years of the First World War and by 1918 there were over 90,000 British Red Cross VADs.
· After the first few months, the general rule was that nurses were only sent abroad after they had served for at least two months under the Joint War Committee in an auxiliary hospital at home and had received a favourable report.
· After one year’s service with the Joint War Committee, the rate of pay was automatically increased by 16s. 8d. per month. This took effect from 1 July 1917 and applied to all nurses on the pay roll on 30 June 1916.
Traditional Uniform used
THE DRESS : Blue dress of specified material (red canton for commandants, blue lustre for members) to be in one length from throat to ankle, and sufficiently full to be worn, if needed, over ordinary dress. To be buttoned in front under a two-inch box pleat, slightly gathered in front at shoulder and neck and finished with one-inch-wide neck-band on which to fasten white or blue collar. The bottom of skirt to have a two-inch hem and two one-inch tucks.
The sleeves for the commandant to be a small bishop shape with a three-inch wrist-band and fastening with two buttons. The sleeves for a member shall not come below the elbow. Ground clearance (pre- 1917) four inches; (1917–1930) six inches.
THE HAT : A well starched "sister Dora" hat to be worn across the head. 1911–1915: “Sister Dora” pattern in one piece, having a three-inch hem to turn over in front, which is square, the other part being rounded, having a narrow hem and a flat material tape stitched round from hem, and 12 inches in from the edge, through which a narrow tape is run. 1915–1930 (during and after war period) : an oblong of white cambric or linen, unstarched, in two sizes, 28 inches by 19 inches, or 27 inches by 19 inches, hemstitched all round two inches from edge, placed centrally on the head, the front edge to be worn straight cross the forehead and the two corners of front edge brought straight round the head fastening at the back with plain safety pin over the folds
THE COLLAR : Stiff, white (on in some cases blue) , stand-up shaped, linen collar of the improved “Sister Victoria” pattern, fastened by one or two white studs or a soft turned-down collar of white linen fastened on the back, that may be worn with the working dress and fastened with a safety pin brooch bearing the Society’s emblem, viz. a shield with a red cross on white ground.
For the nurses, white linen over sleeves, 15 inches long, fastening at cuff with one button and with elastic at elbow. For the commandant, stiff white linen over sleeves, fastening with one white stud. This only refers to British red cross, in some cases blue and green were recognizable.
THE APRON: A white apron with the Red Cross emblem displayed on the front. Made of linen, with bib pleated in band and continuing in straps (without join), cut in three widths and pleated in band at sides. On both sides is a large square pocket stitched on, the front part of pocket having a narrow strip continuing upward and stitched in the two-inch waist-band, fastening at back with linen button, the straps crossing over and also buttoning about five inches from either side of center at the back. The Red Cross of Turkey twill, 42 inches in height and length, and of the authorized Geneva pattern, with each limb 12 inches square to be sewn on center of bib, the bottom of apron being finished with a two-inch hem. Length to be the same as overall.
THE BELT: A starched white linen belt, two and a half inches wide, starched, to be worn over apron
All uniform worn with black boots and black stockings.