大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Val Bowers of the County Heritage Team on behalf of Mrs. Brenda Ann Baillie-Jeffries and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Hilda Mabel Baillie

Hilda Mabel Baillie - born 9th June 1899 - mother: Gertrudue Chase Baillie, Father: Frank Baillie.

Hilda was sent to live with Aunt Anne at the age of twelve years when the third son was born to Frank and Gertrude. Hilda attended a convent school where she remembers being hit on her childblained fingers for any misdemeaner. However she gained a good education and was sent to work in a solicitors office.

State regristration of nurses began in approximately 1920 and Hilda decided that she wanted to commence training in 1922 because her Aunt Anna was a nurse matron. Hilda completed her four years training as a State Registered Nurse in 1926.

At some time in her life she was in the Royal Flying Corp which became amalgamated with Navy/Army and Royal Air Force. Hilda became a Queen Alexandra Nurse gaining Luitenant status immediately.

Between the wars she remembers becoming a private nurse and attending and nursing an appendectomy which was performed on the kitchen table!

When the second world war began Hilda again became a Queen Alexandra Nurse in the Royal Navy and was in Portsmouth/Plymouth when heavy intensive bombing occurred. One of her patients was so fond of her and the work she was doing they drew a picture of her dated 1942. All her life she was very caring of everyone.

She had been a very adventurous lady, she went to South Africa on White Star Cruise Line ship to get married. She didn't like the look of it so she turned round and sailed back on the same ship.

Her niece Brenda was so impressed with her legacy that she also trained as a nurse.

At the age of 85 Hilda became more dependant and came to live with Brenda Ann Baillie-Jeffries and it was there that Hilda died just before her 90'th birthday in 1990.

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