May 1918
1st May
BLETCHLEY CEMETERY, Buckinghamshire, UK
SAUNDERS, Worker, (Assistant Cook), LILIAN. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. 1 May 1918. Age 25. Daughter of Mr and Mrs J Saunders, of Fenny Stratford. Grave Reference: Spec. Memorial.
5th May
WARNOCK, Nurse, ELIZABETH McMATH (DAISY). 10th (Glasgow) Detachment attd. 8th General Hospital, Voluntary Aid Detachment. Died of septicaemia, 5th May 1918. Age 31. Daughter of William and Mary Malcolm Elizabeth Muir Warnock, of 19, Westminster Terrace, Glasgow, late of Holytown, Lanarkshire. Buried St. Sever Cemetery, France, Grave Reference: Officers, B. 4. 23.
7th May
STREATHAM CEMETERY, London, United Kingdom
LATHAM, Forewoman, LOUISA FRANCES, 37124. Depot, Tank Corps (Wareham), Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Died of sickness, 7 May 1918. Age 39. Daughter of George and Catherine Latham, of
10th May
BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq
HOBBES, Sister, NARRELLE. Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. Buried at sea, 10 May 1918. Age 37. Daughter of the late J.F. and Margaret Hobbes of New South Wales, Australia. Grave Reference: Panel 43.
12th May
BIRMINGHAM (LODGE HILL) CEMETERY, Warwickshire, UK
Staff Nurse, BEATRICE GEORGINA FREDERICA FORBES of the Territorial Force Nursing Service, who died on 12th May 1918. Beatrice was buried in Birmingham Lodge Hill Cemetery in Warwickshire, UK - Grave Reference: Screen Wall. B10. 2. 225.
16th May
MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY, KALAMARIA, Greece
Staff Nurse, MARGARET ELLISON DUCKERS of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, who died on 16th May 1918 at the age of 25. Margaret’s parents were James Samuel and Jane Duckers, of "Edencroft," Wetheral, Carlisle. She was buried in Mikra British Cemetery, in Kalamaria, Greece - Grave Reference: 254.
17th May
EDINBURGH (WARRISTON) CEMETERY, Edinburgh, UK
Remembering Assistant Administrator (equivalent to the male rank of Officer) MARJORIE TRAILL MARTIN, Service No. O/1144, of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, who died on 17th May 1918 at the age of 26. Marjorie’s parents were the Rev. Alexander Martin, D.D. (Professor of Theology and Principal of New College, Edinburgh), and Jane Thorburn Martin. Marjorie was buried in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh - Grave Reference: K. 150.
19th May
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
MACDONALD, Nursing Sister, KATHERINE MAUDE MARY MACDONALD of the 1st Canadian Gen.eral Hospital. Katherine was with the Canadian Army Nursing Service. She was killed in action on 19th May 1918 at the age of 31. Her parents were Mary Maud and Angus Macdonald, of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Katherine was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, where you will find 19 other women who died in WW1. Katherine’s Grave Reference for anyone visiting Etaples Military Cemetery is XXVIII. L. 8.
20th May 1918
ST. ARILDA'S CHURCHYARD, Oldbury, Gloucestershire, UK
Phoebe Elizabeth MEADOWS, a VAD with the Territorial Force Nursing Service. Born 1889 died 20th May 1918. Phoebe’s parents were Charles and Phoebe Elizabeth Meadows. She was buried in St Arilda's Churchyard, Oldbury, Gloucestershire. Grave reference:B14.
21st May
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
Nursing Sister, GLADYS MAUDE MARY WAKE of the 1st Canadian General Hospital. Gladys was with the Canadian Army Nursing Service. She died of wounds received during an airraid by enemy aircraft on 21st May 1918 at the age of 34. Gladys’s parents were Gervas Fountayne Wake and Amy Rosamond Wake, of Compton Hill, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK. Gladys was born in Esqlaimault, British Columbia, Canada. She was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France , where you will find 19 other women who died or were killed during the First World War. The Grave Reference for Gladys Maude Mary Wake is XXVIII. L. 5.
23rd May
TRURO CEMETERY, NOVA SCOTIA, Nova Scotia, Canada
Remembering Nursing Sister, JESSIE A. JARVIS of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Jessie died of pneumonia on 23rd May 1918 at the age of 29. Her parents were George M Jarvis and Frances M. Jarvis, of 176, Bolsford St., Moncton, New Brunswick. Jessie was buried in Truro Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada. Grave Reference: L. 50. Div. C. Third grave from North end. I wonder if her grave receives any visitors?
24th May
RAWALPINDI WAR CEMETERY, Pakistan
Remembering Nurse RUTH MARY NODDER of the Territorial Force Nursing Service. Ruth died of sickness on 24th May 1918, at the age of 33. Her parents were the Rev. J. B. Nodder and Mrs. Nodder, of Ashover Rectory, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Ruth was buried in Rawalpindi War Cemetery, which is in Pakistan. Grave Reference: 3. A. 6. I wonder if her grave receives any visitors?
26th May
ASH CEMETERY, Surrey, United Kingdom
Remembering Mechanic Driver, Florence EMBLETON of the Women's Legion, who died on 26th May 1918. Florence was born in Yorkshire in 1888. Her parents were John Embleton, a Captain in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps,and his wife, Sarah Embleton. Florence had a brother Charles, b. 1891 in Egypt where his father was based at the time, and John, born in 1896. Charles also joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, served in France during WW1 and died on 20th July 1916. Florence and her family lived in York in 1901 and in Ash, Surrey, at the time of her death. During WW1 Florence initially served as a clerk and then nursed in Aldershot Hospital. Florence joined the Women’s League in 1917 and was a Motor Driver with No. 52 Motor Transport Corps, Army Service Corps, attached to the Army School of Sanitation. She was buried with full military honours in Ash Cemetery, Ash, Surrey, UK, Grave Reference: F. 15-1. Source: CWGC List of Female Casualties of the First World War and http://www.ashmuseum.org.uk/embleton.htm
28th May
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
Remembering Nursing Sister Margaret LOWE of the 1st Canadian Gen. Hosp., Canadian Army Nursing Service. Margaret was badly injured a German air raid on Etaples and died on 28th May 1918 at the age of 32. Her father was Thomas Lowe, of Binscarth, Manitoba, Canada. Margaret was buried with full military honours in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Reference: XXVIII. M. 9.
29th – 30th May 1918
The night of 29th - 30th May 1918 was particularly bad, as there were several German bombing raids on non-military targets such as hospitals. In spite of the hospitals being clearly marked with Red Crosses and situated some way away from the Front, they were still bombed by enemy aircraft. The diary of No.3 Canadian Stationary Hospital records: “The night was clear and bright. There should have been no difficulty in the airmen recognising it as a hospital. The hospital is well marked with red crosses, which airmen say are quite visible from the air. There is no doubt that the occupants of the aeroplane knew it was a hospital, for when the came back and dropped bombs a second time, the flames clearly illuminated the red crosses on the buildings.”
The women nurses, members of the QMAAC and volunteers killed during bombing raids on the night of 29th – 30th May 1918 were buried in the following cemeteries in France:
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France
Worker (equivalent to the rank of Private) MARY McLACHLAN BLAIKLEY, 31503. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Mary was killed on 30th May 1918. She was a niece of Robert Blalkley, of Brown's Land, Cartcosh, nr. Glasgow. Grave Reference: IV. C. 4.
Worker BEATRICE V. CAMPBELL, 31673, of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Beatrice was killed on 30th May 1918. Age 20. Daughter of the late John J. and Annie Morgan Campbell, of Cupar, Fife. Grave Reference: IV. C. 6.
Worker MARGARET SELINA CASWELL, 15703 of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Margaret was killed on 30th May 1918 at the age of 22. Her parents were Fredrick and Mary Jane Caswell, of Green Cross Farm, Churt, Farnham, Surrey. Grave Reference: IV. C. 1.
Worker CATHERINE CONNOR 34767 of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Catherine was killed on 30th May 1918. Grave Reference: IV. C. 9.
Worker JEANIE GRANT, 31918 of the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Killed by a bomb from an enemy aeroplane, 30 May 1918. Age 22. Daughter of Mrs. J. Grant, of "Burnfoot," Greengairs, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Grave Reference: IV. C. 7.
Worker, ANNIE ELIZABETH MOORES, 15695. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Killed in aerial attack on Abbeville, 30th May 1918 at the age of 27. Annie’s parents were Alfred and Mary Moores, of Charlton Lane, Ludwell, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Grave Reference: IV. C. 3.
Worker, ETHEL FRANCIS MARY PARKER, 9048. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Killed by a bomb at Abbeville, 30 May 1918. Age 21. Daughter of William George Parker, of 6, East St., Sturry Rd., Canterbury. Grave Reference: IV. C. 2.
Worker, ALICE THOMASSON, 35588. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. 30 May 1918. Grave Reference: IV. C. 8.
WATSON, Worker, JEANIE H. L., 34864. Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. 30 May 1918. Age 25. Daughter of Mrs. J. Oliphant, of 21, Park St., Cambuslang, Glasgow. Grave Reference: IV. C. 5.
BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT, Somme, France
Nursing Sister, D M Y. BALDWIN, of the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, Canadian Army Nursing Service. 30 May 1918. Grave Reference: III. A. 24.
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Nursing Sister, A. MacPHERSON, of the Canadian Army Nursing Service. 30 May 1918. Grave Reference: III. A. 26.
Nursing Sister, EDEN LYAL PRINGLE of the Canadian Army Nursing Service. Killed in enemy air raid, 30 May 1918. Age 25. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Pringle, of 2030, 12th Avenue East, Vancouver, British Columbia. Grave Reference: III. A. 25.
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
STEVENSON, Civilian, BERTHA GAVIN (BETTY). Betty was a volunteer with the Young Men's Christian Association. She was killed when the aircraft involved in the air raid on Etaples on the night of 30th May 1918 jettisoned his bombs in a field as he returned to base., Betty was 21 years old and had been in France since the beginning of the war. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France). Her parents were Arthur G. and Catherine Grace Stevenson, of Harrogate, Yorks. Betty was born in York. Grave Reference: XXVIII. M. 6. Betty is also remembered on Harrogate War Memorial.
30th May 1918
CAMBERWELL OLD CEMETERY, London, UK
Staff Nurse BERTHA VINTNER of the 2nd London General Hospital, a member of the Territorial Force Nursing Service. Bertha died on 30th May 1918. Daughter of Mrs. Vinter, of Wyndham Rd., Camberwell, London, UK. Bertha was buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery - Grave Reference: 101. 25354.
We will remember them
Source: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission List of Female Casualties of the First World War
