NAVAL NURSING IN WORLD WAR ONE. NAVAL NURSING IN WORLD WAR ONE.
Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS).
A QARNNS nurse in 1914.
Her patient is R. McWhirter, Ship's Carpenter of HMS Aboukir which was torpedoed on 22nd September 1914 by the German submarine U-9. He was quickly picked up by HMS Hogue which was soon also torpedoed. Then he was rescued by HMS Cressy which was torpedoed later the same day - three in a row on one day - lucky chap or Jonah?
In 1902, Queen Alexandra became the patron of the Royal Naval Nursing Service which changed its name to Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
In 1914, there were 69 sisters working at the naval hospitals. On mobilisation of the reserves in 1914, 200 members of the QARNNS Reserve Pool of Nursing Sisters, who worked at civilian hospitals were called up. QARNNS nurses were appointed to hospital ships including those just off shore during the Gallipoli campaign. Nine sisters were killed in the war and sixteen Royal Red Cross medals were awarded. The QARNNS staff at the home hospitals and those at Malta, Gibraltar and Hong Kong, were further assisted by nurses and ancillary members from the Voluntary Aid Detachments (see below).
Uniform.
With the change of name in 1902, came a change in uniform. The nursing sisters now wore navy blue dresses with scarlet cuffs and the red Geneva cross was moved from the right sleeve to the tippet. The frilled cap was replaced with the white veil headdress. A scarlet hooded navy blue cloak and a navy blue straw boater was worn outdoors.
The Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD).
The VAD had started in 1909 under the control of a joint committee of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Members had to have certificates in first aid and home nursing. At the beginning of the First World War, there were over 80,000 members. By the end of the war, there were 120,000 members in the organisation, with 12,000 VAD nurses working at military hospitals and 60,000 members working in auxiliary hospitals.
Most VADs came from the higher social classes and had a rude awakening when scrubbing out wards and toilets or nursing gas victims. VAD nurses worked in naval hospitals under the supervision of QARNNS nursing sisters.
Uniforms.
The VAD nurse uniform included a dark blue rough overcoat, a 'Sister Dora' cap and a full length apron with pockets and a red cross on the bib.
The Sick Berth Attendants Branch (SBA).
In addition to the regular Royal Navy sick berth staff, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) had some SBAs serving in it, these were sent to the Fleet on their call up. At the start of the First World War, there were around 5,000 men in the Sick Berth branch but by 1918 this number had grown to just over 15,000. The RNVR Reserve Pool of Doctors was also mobilised in August 1914 providing medical officers for the Fleet and the Royal Naval Division.
Uniforms.
After 1891, SBAs were issued with 'fore and aft rig' - single or double breasted blue cloth jackets and trouser with a blue peaked cap, rather than the 'square rig' or jumper and trousers of the seamen. A badge carrying a 'red Geneva cross' was worn on the right sleeve. This was the uniform for those in the Royal Navy, Royal Navy Reserves and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves. Those who joined the Royal Naval Division after 1914 wore khaki uniforms like the rest of the men.
St. John Ambulance Brigade RN Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserves.
A Lancashire detachment of the St. John Ambulance Brigade RN Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserves aboard ship in 1914.
This organisation was founded in 1900 at the special request of the Admiralty. At first there were not many members but by 1913 there were over one thousand reservists available. Like most of the naval reservists, over 850 of these men were called up for mobilisation on 1st August 1914. They were sent to naval hospitals and hospital ships, at home and overseas, many served on warships and some became the medical staff of the newly formed Royal Naval Division.
Uniforms.
When almost all of the men from the St. John Ambulance Brigade RN Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserves were called up in 1914, they did not get naval uniforms and they simply wore their St John uniforms. This uniform consisted of a blue single breasted jacket with a stand-up collar with five buttons bearing the St. John's cross. On the right sleeve, they had a badge with the words ' St. John Ambulance Brigade RN Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserves' on it. They wore a blue peaked cap with the white band and badge of the brigade on it. The white bands were soon discarded on active service. Later when they were issued naval kit they wore St John buttons instead of naval anchor button on their jackets. Later still in 1916, when they went with the Royal Naval Division to the Western Front, many St John's men wore blackened St. John buttons on their khaki uniforms.
Clark, Gregory. 'Doc' 100 year history of the Sick Berth Branch. HMSO, London, 1984.
Masson, Madeleine. A Pictorial History of Nursing. Hamlyn Publishing, Twickenham, 1985.
Royal Navy Medical Branch website.
QARNNS Association website (see nursing links page).
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