Photograph of Brigid Duff from Dublin | Ireland | who worked as a nurse in WWI
Photograph
CONTRIBUTOR
Bridin Gilroy
DATE
-
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
3
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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Nurse Ella Brigid McCarthy
7 Items
My husband's aunt, Ella Brigid McCarthy was born on 21 May 1886 to Charles and Elizabeth McCarthy, Tomnahely, Gorey, Co. Wexford in Ireland. She went to England to pursue nursing studies and qualified as a nurse at a young age. She took up her first post in Chorlton Union Hospitals, Manchester sometime in 1901. A surviving letter of reference for Nurse McCarthy dated 15 May 1904 says that, apart from qualifications in medical and surgical nursing, she 'holds a certificate in Midwifery of the Obstetrical Society of London.' She returned home to Tomnahely around 1909 and worked in Gorey Union workhouse infirmary as a night nurse. In 1915 she volunteered for Red Cross work and she was sent in May to Egypt. She assisted for some time at the base hospitals at Malta and Alexandria and was attached to one of the hospital ships off the Gallipoli peninsula. When the British forces withdrew from the Dardanelles, her ship was the last to leave the area. She returned to the hospital at Alexandria. In 1917 she returned home briefly from the Dardanelles where she had been eye-witness to engagements with the Turks and could see shells from the warships falling into the trenches. Apart from her nursing qualifications she held a certificate qualifying her as a dispensing chemist. She passed away on 29 December 1932 at Tomnahely and is interred in Kilcavan cemetery. || Photograph of Elle Brigid McCarthy in uniform; McCarthy family; handwritten letter from J.N Rawson re testimonial of Nurse McCarthy's probationary period at Chorlton Union Hospital, May 1904; testimonial from Chorlton Union Hospital, August 1904; letter from Sr Monica, St John of God convent Gorey to Nurse McCarthy; reference from resident medical officer, Withington Hospitals Manchester, Nov 1916; Ella Brigid McCarthy's medals; Passport and cigarette box. || || Ella Brigid McCarthy || Ella Brigid McCarthy in uniform || Photograph || || McCarthy family || Photo of the McCarthy family. Ella Brigid is 2nd from right at back. Her mother and Ella's two brothers, James and Patrick passed away during the war. Both boys were nineteen years old when they died, presumably from TB. || Ella McCarthy's family || Remembrance || Photograph || || Ella Brigid McCarthy - references || Letters of reference for Ella Brigid McCarthy || Letter || || Sr Monica to Nurse McCarthy, 1909 || Letter || Letter from Sr M Monica, St John of God Convent, Gorey || || Letter || Letter from Sr M Monica, St John of God Convent, Gorey, p2 || Letter from Sr M Monica, St John of God Convent, Gorey || || Ella McCarthy's medals || Ella Brigid McCarthy's medals || Medal || From left to right: Victory Medal; Queen Alexandria's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Medal; British War Medal; 1914 Star Medal || || Ella McCarthy's medals and cigarette box || Ella Brigid McCarthy's medals and cigarette box || Memorabilia
monument of the Belgian Soldiers of WWI who died in France
1 Item
monument of the Belgian Soldiers of WWI who died in France, where also Cyriel Camiel Lesage has been buried