I am in the process of researching female members of the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS). Specifically some of the tiny number of women who were awarded the TFNS Medal. I have found a list of recipients on the wonderful Scarlet Finders website (website link at the end of the blog). Millicent's name is at the beginning and is an unusal surname and so I decided to start from the top! What I didn't expect to find were letters written by her on her records and, with a wonderful stroke of luck - a letter she wrote to the mother of a soldier who died in her hospital. What a find! More on that later..............
A TFNS Mesal. Millicent was entitled to this because she served in the TFNS before the War
It is a fascinating story. But the most important aspect, to me, is that a woman who was matron of one of the busiest hospitals in the War and who was awarded the TFNS medal and the Royal Red Cross (and Bar) is barely mentioned across the whole of social media. Long forgotten, Millicent trained at the turn of the 20th century, nursed in the UK for 10 years, joined the TFNS firstly as a volunteer and then a member of the military nursing force (rising to Matron) and after 4 years returned to continue her nursing in London. She nursed for a total of 40 years. She wss clearly a remarkable woman. This is her story.
The Early Years
Millicent Annie Russell Acton was born on 5th January 1870 to Richard Russell Acton and Louise Shippham, one of 7 children.. Louise's great grandfather, Charles, established the now famous Shippham brand - known for it's fish and meat pastes. The business was based in Chichester and her father helped expand the business in the late 1800s. He introduced the distinctive "Shippham paste" jars. Even in the 50s and 60s, this brand wsa iconic in the UK.
Richard died in 1890 and her mother now a widow, was shown on the 1891 census as living on her own means. However, Richard left a relatively small amount of money. Two of her children were working - a son, Percy ws a clerk and Nora was a governess. Millicent was not working but within five years she was a nursing student at St Barts in London, where she trained from 1895 to 1898. Millicent must have been a very proficient nurse because within 3 years of finishing her training she was a Sister at the highly regarded Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London.
Nurses and patients Great Ormond Street 1902
Millicent was a nurse at the hospital at this time
Nurses at the hospital: 1902
By the time of the 1911 census, Millicent has been promoted to Matron andworked at the Lewisham Workhouse Infirmary. However, in 1910 she had joined the TFNS. This was a voluntary military service - it was unpaid and nurses were civilians who were to be mobilised in times of war. The nurses were to be 23 or older and have completed at least 3 years training in a recognised hospital - Millicent certainly fitted the bill! She was off to join the war effort.
The Great War
Nurses in the TFNS awaiting embarkation
I think Millicent is third from the right
Millicent was mobilised in early August 1914, at the very start of the war. She initially nursed at the 1st London General Hospital until embarking for Malta in May, one of 2280 nurses of the TFNS to serve abroad. She was to remain in Malta for four years. Vera Brittain served at the 1st London and later in Malta. I wonder if she and Millicent were aquainted?
Poem by Vera Brittain, written while at the 1st London
There is very little information about Millicent in her nursing record. Most of the documents concern her resignation from the force in 1919. I suspect that there was a much larger file that has been lost. There is much to be found online about the role of Malta in the Great War. It was known as "The Nurse of the Mediterranean.".Approximately 136,000 sick and wounded were treated in the various hospitals on the island.. By this time, Millicent had been promoted to matron. A contemporaneous book "The Nurse of the Meditteranean" by Albert
Mackinnon describes the matrons of the hospital in glowing terms, acknowledging the huge organisational skills and dedication required for some of the largest hospitals active during the War. The number of hospitals increased from 5 at the start of the War to 29 by the end. At its peak there were 913 nurses.
Valletta Hospital in 1918
I have found what I believe to be a photo of Millicent at her hospital in Malta. I am told that the woman in the glasses at the centre of the photo below is a Matron. She seems very similar to the nurse in the photo taken at the 1st London Hospital. Could this be Millicent? I hope so (but it's still a lovely photo, even if it is not her!).
Millicent?
It was while I was getting somewhat desperate for information on Millicent that I put a fairly pessimistic search string in google for "M Acton". To my joy, up popped a link to the an Australiam memorial site (link below). It simply had that an "M Acton" is mentioned in the file. What I found was an incredible link to Millicent.
The Australian Red Cross had received a letter from the mother of Malcolm Henry Simpson requesting information. It had fallen to the Matron of Mtarfa Hospital on Malta to answer it. One "M Acton". I know this is Millicent as there were several handwritten letters on her file. The handwriting matches. She is performing the terrible duty of informing loved ones of their loss. (I am not sure if it is his mother or a friend that she is replying to)
Below:
First three letters - from his mother and a reply to a friend's request for information
Malcolm had died of enteric fever on the 20th July 1915. He was 26 and a "wicker worker" from Victoria Australia. He had enlised in November 194- very early in the War.
In Millicent's letter she tells of his final hours (Sister Robertson says "he was delerious the whole time he was here " (1-2 days). ) She apologises for not having a photo of him or any other information. Another letter which ws sent to a friend of his gives details of his funeral. And I've discovered that the chaplain at the funeral service wrote the book that is in the link below!
Millicent's letter - I think this is her response to a friend's letter
Malcolm Henry Simpson has a Commonwealth War Grave at PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY Malta
"Forever with the Lord"
After the War
Millicent was discharged from the army in May 1919. Her file shows that she was desperate to stay on In Malta - she loves the island and does not want to return to England. One touching letter says she would be willing to move further East if she cannnot stay on Malta. She recieved a rather curt reply. She is no longer needed. She acknowledges this with an odd phrase "I suppose it should go to those that are living". Very sad.
Millicent was awarded a First Class Royal Red Cross medal in 1916 and a bar to it in 1918. She also received the TFNS medal.
Mentioned in the Gazette "Gazetted" 1918
The 1921 census finds Millicent still nursing! She has returned to the Lewisham Infirmary, where she worked 20 years previously. Even in 1939, aged 69, she describes her occupation as "State Registered Nurse and Midwife". I wonder if she is still working in the profession, 40 years after joining it
What a joy it has been to follow Millicent's life story - from what was probably quite a sheltered upbringing to a career working with children, in a work house infirmary to four years of dedicated hard work looking after injured and dying servicemen and also looking after the many nurses in her care. It is a travesty that she is lost to history.
Millicent died in 1962 in Folkstone aged 92. I hope she enjoyed her final years by the sea and realised that her life truly made a difference.
I am so pleased that Millicent's role as a matron is acknowledged in her death notice and that her medal is also mentioned.
You made a difference Millicent. RIP
What an exhilirating time I have had researching Millicent. Only another 200 nurses to go!
https://www.maltaramc.com/articles/contents/greatwar.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_Force_Nursing_Service
http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/
https://dn720005.ca.archive.org/0/items/maltanurseofmedi00mackuoft/maltanurseofmedi00mackuoft.pdf
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1660939
https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1059227/document/5647007.PDF
https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/packet-content/51262#https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/packet_images/0062/SRG76_1_0062_1.jpg
https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/packet-content/51262#https://sarcib.ww1.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/packet_images/0062/SRG76_1_0062_1.jpg
THIS LINK HAS COPIES OF THE LETTERS ABOVE - IN EASIER TO READ FORM!
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