We remember Ulster’s 11 forgotten VAD heroes from the Great War

History Hub Ulster’s (HHU) researcher Nigel Henderson recounted a little of Gertrude’s all-too-short life - as a nurse in Belfast and France during WWI and in a military hospital in London, where she died.

Gertrude’s body was returned to Belfast for burial in the City Cemetery following a service in Belmont Presbyterian Church where the Reverend MacDermott preached a heartfelt sermon: “Miss Taylor’s death reminds us that not all the heroes in the war were men; they were not all to be found among the fighters at the front…they faithfully performed their duties at the bedsides of the wounded and weary…but they were heroes and heroines all the same.”

Unusually for a woman, Gertrude’s gravestone was inscribed ‘Died in active service’.

And over a century later the Rev MacDermott’s words resonate just as powerfully for today’s heroic frontline workers battling against Covid-19.

“With the heightened appreciation of medical staff today,” says HHU’s Nigel Henderson “perhaps it is time to highlight Ulster’s forgotten or overlooked nurses of the Great War - those who served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment.”

Nigel has identified 11 local women who died whilst serving in hospitals with the VAD - and there may be many more -

“who are not commemorated by name on any memorial plaque, although some are commemorated on civic, church, club, or school memorials.”

Laura Marion Gailey from Bay View Terrace in Londonderry was serving at the 1st Western General Hospital at Fazakerly in Liverpool when she contracted measles, which developed into pneumonia.

Laura died on March 24 1917, aged 26, and is buried in the Kirkdale Cemetery in Liverpool.

She lay in an unmarked grave for nearly a hundred years until Mountjoy Women’s Orange Lodge No. 29 from Londonderry erected a headstone in March 2017.

She is the only woman commemorated on the Londonderry War Memorial.

Lizzie Neill Morrison from Killead County Antrim served with the Scottish Women’s Hospitals in the Balkans before joining the Voluntary Aid Detachment.

She died in London of influenza and pneumonia on July 2 1918, aged 30.

She is buried in the graveyard at Killead Presbyterian Church and is commemorated on the Crumlin District War Memorial.

Frances Shortt from Curran near Dungannon was serving at the Bermondsey Hospital when she died on December 26 1918 and is buried in the graveyard at Tullyniskan Parish Church in Newmills.

She is commemorated on the Dungannon War Memorial. Norah Ellen Dugan from Articlave in County Londonderry had only served three weeks at the Second Southern General Hospital in Birmingham when she died of pneumonia on July 26 1916.

Norah was 27 and is buried in the graveyard at Articlave Presbyterian Church.

Mary Louise Morrell from Articlave in County Londonderry served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment in Salonika.

She died of pulmonary tuberculosis on August 18 1919, aged 29, and is buried in the graveyard at St Paul’s Church of Ireland in Articlave.

Winifred Elizabeth Atkinson from Belfast was serving as a VAD Nurse at the Waverley Abbey Military Hospital in Farnham when she died of appendicitis on February 14 1917.

She was 19 and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery. Winifred is commemorated on the memorial plaques for Belfast Royal Academy and the Cliftonville Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club.

Alicia (Lily) Hamilton was born at Milltown in Dungannon but lived in Belfast from 1901. Lily served as a VAD Cook at Catterick Military Hospital in Yorkshire, where she died of pneumonia on November 28 1918, aged 31.

Lily received a military funeral to Carnmoney Cemetery but lay in an unmarked grave for nearly 100 years. When HHU’s Nigel Henderson located Lily’s grave he passed his research on to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and a headstone was erected in 2018.

He reckons it’s the only CWGC headstone for a VAD fatality in Northern Ireland.

Wilhelmina Maude Isabel Baily from Seymour Hill in Dunmurry served as a VAD nurse at military hospitals in Yorkshire, Salonika and Italy.

During her service, she was awarded two Scarlet Efficiency Stripes.

Wilhelmina was attached to the 38th Stationary Hospital when she died on 23rd September 1918, aged 40.

She is buried in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa and commemorated at the Charley family memorial at St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland graveyard in Drumbeg.

Margaret Cameron Young served as a VAD nurse at the 2nd General Hospital in France and died on July 30 1918, aged 25.

She is buried in the Terlincthun British Cemetery at Wimille in France and is commemorated on the family memorial in Shankill Graveyard.

She is also commemorated on the Roll of Honour for Newington Presbyterian Church.

Eliza Jane Martin was serving at a UVF Hospital in Belfast when she died of typhoid fever on June 13 1917, aged 21.

She is buried in Belfast City Cemetery and is commemorated on the memorial plaque in Belmont Presbyterian Church and on the Strandtown and District Unionist Club memorial.

The website of the British Red Cross Society (https://vad.redcross.org.uk/) can be searched for VAD record cards and if you have information about any other Ulster VADs who died in WWI please email details to History Hub Ulster ([email protected])

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