Nurse Ella Brigid McCarthy
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
Ella Brigid McCarthy - references
Letters of reference for Ella Brigid McCarthy
Letter
Sr Monica to Nurse McCarthy, 1909
Letter from Sr M Monica, St John of God Convent, Gorey
Letter from Sr M Monica, St John of God Convent, Gorey, p2
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
CONTRIBUTOR
May Redmond
DATE
1915 - 1918
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
7
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
Discover Similar Stories
Group photograph showing William McCarthy
1 Item
William McCarthy is the 2nd row, seated on chair, far right. Notes have only 2nd Row, far right but matching face with other photos it appears to be William 2nd row, seated, far right.
Erwin Billik sendet seiner Schwester Ella Ostergrüße
4 Items
Erwin Billik, der um (oder nach) 1893 geboren wurde, diente während des Ersten Weltkriegs als Musketier beim II. Ersatz-Bataillon des Infanterie-Regiments 24, III. Kompanie, I. Korps. Möglicherweise überlebte er den Krieg nicht, in meiner Familie wurde nie über ihn gesprochen. || Zwei Postkarten aus dem Besitz von Erwin Billik: (1) Feldpostkarte aus Nauen vom 19.04.1916 von Erwin Billik an seine Schwester Ella Billik in Posen, das Frontmotiv wurde vermutlich von Billik selbst gezeichnet: Vergeblicher Ansturm der Russen auf das Deutsche Osterei. 1916. E. Billik. Billik schreibt: Fröhliche Ostern sendet Dir Dein Bruder Erwin. Ich bin Ostern in Berlin fahre heute schon ab. (2) Fotopostkarte, auf der seine Kompanie abgebildet ist, aufgenommen am 01.05.1916, handschriftlich Büro-Beamte der Stempel Weiterleitungsstelle der Sammelstation Posen. Fernspr. 4058., wahrscheinlich ist Billik in der oberen Reihe der Zweite von rechts.