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To view a clip from the Imperial War Museum of William receiving his medal from the King please click here: (Flash player required so will not work from an iPad. Fast Forward to 3:20ish and watch).
William Henry (middle), Mayor, Alderman W.A. Henshall (right) and Mayor's Chaplain,
Archdeacon of Blackburn Ven. C.H. Lambert. Northern Daily Telegraph, June 22nd 1956
Blackburn lost one of its most distinguised sons when William died suddenly, aged 69 years, at his home in Bold Street, Blackburn, 13th August, 1959. His funeral took place at Pleasington Crematorium Monday 17th August, 1959.
Acknowledgements: With grateful thanks to Mr Raymond Walsh for allowing Cotton Town to use work published in “The Four Blackburn V.C.s" by H.L. Kirby and R R Walsh in order to compile this article.
Thank-you also to William's family for information regarding the Imperial War Museum's clip of William Henry receiving the Victoria Cross.
Catherine (Katie Johnson)
Katie (Catherine) Johnson
Nurse
Date of Engagement: 25.08.1915
Date of Discharge: 25.02.1919
Catherine Johnson was the eldest daughter of James and Catherine. Catherine, who was born in Blackburn during 1894, had three younger sisters, Mary (b. 1900), Josephine (b. 1903) and Harriet (b.1906). Her father was a police constable at Blackburn; he joined the force in 1891. By the time of the 1911 census he had attained the position of Sergeant and, by 1920, when he retired, he had attained the rank of Inspector. The family residence in 1911 was 83 Lynwood-road but later they were to remove to 42, New Bank-road.
When the First World broke out in 1914, Catherine was 21 years old, and, soon after, volunteered to work at “Ellerslie" where she probably have obtained experience working as a nurse. On the 25th August 1915, she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D).
The Voluntary Aid Detachment was formed in August 1909 by Lord Keogh, being organised by the Red Cross.
When Catherine signed up, she used the name of Katie. Already having nursing experience, she was sent to the 1st General Hospital, Liverpool as an Auxiliary Nurse. Working here provided an opportunity for her to gain more nursing experience. On the 22nd July, 1916 she was sent to No. 1 General Hospital in Britanny, France. The newspaper report below gives more detail of Katie's service. Katie served with the V.A.D. until 25th February 1919. In 1920, she was awarded the Victory Medal and the British Medal.
From “The Blackburn Times", September 29th, 1919
Mentioned in Despatches
Blackburn Nurse Honoured
Miss Katie Johnson, eldest daughter of Inspector James Johnson, of New Bank-road, Blackburn, has returned home after strenuous service with V.A.D. in France, and as previously mentioned in these columns, she has had the honour of being mentioned by Lord Haig in his last official dispatch. The work has had a marked effect on her general health, but with rest she is gradually recovering. Nurse Johnson volunteered for service at “Ellerslie" in the early days of the war, and after some months she was transferred to a large hospital in Manchester. She was always anxious to cross the water to the scene of actual hostilities, and eventually she was accepted for active service. She spent three years in France in different hospitals. At first, she was stationed at No. 1 General hospital in Britanny and later was transferred to No. 6 stationary which came under fire of the Germans and had to be hastily evacuated during the enemy advance of March of last year. The wounded men were got away safely, and on that occasion Nurse Johnson did very useful work. AT this period, she was attached to the third Army Corps. She has nursed Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and a few Frenchmen as well as the British “Tommy" regarding whom she speaks of in the highest praise. She has found the British soldiers manly and brave, and she has a decided preference for them above all the others.
Whilst in Blackburn she has received a letter from the Matron-in-Chief attached to the British Expeditionary Force, congratulating her on her honour. The Matron-in-Chief with the British Expeditionary Force, France and Flanders, 1914-1919 was Dame Emma Maud McCarthy.
By the start of the war there were over 2,500 aid detachments and about 74,000 members, two thirds of which were women and young girls. They were all trained in first aid and home nursing, hygiene and cookery; the men were also trained in first aid in the field and stretcher bearing. To begin with women were not allowed to nurse on the front line but were accepted as workers in canteens. By 1915, with the growing shortage of nurses it was decided Female volunteers over the age of twenty-three with more than three months hospital experience were accepted for overseas service.
By 1916 on the home front some 8000 nurses were looking after 126,000 hospital beds, and abroad, 4,000 nurses with 93,000 beds. By the end of the war 80,000 V.A.D. members, both paid and unpaid were working in hospitals.
Research undertaken by Stephen Smith, Community History Volunteer at Blackburn Central Library.
1885-1966
A Blackburn VAD nurse that served in Egypt during WW1
Compiled by Dr Andrew Cronshaw
Griffith Humphry (uncle), two brothers(?), Ann Ellen (aunt) and Henrietta Davies.
Studio photograph dated in pencil July 1898
Griffith Humphry Davies c.1913 Ann Ellen Davies c.1885
Dr Griffith Humphry Davies (1853 - 1923)
Dr Griffith Humphry Davies, son of Humphry Davies, was born in Wisconsin, USA in 1853. His parents were Welsh farmers whom had emigrated. Griffith came to Britain in 1871 and studied Medicine at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities. In 1876-77 he was house surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and later practiced in Nottingham. He specialised on Ophthalmology at Moorfield Hospital, London. After a visit to Paris, he came to Blackburn in 1883. A year later he became the first honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon at Blackburn Royal infirmary. Griffith married Ann Ellen Ramsbottom at Holy Trinity Church, Blackburn on 25 April 1886. At this time, they were both aged 32 and Ann had an income from property and investments and had been living with her sister at 7 Sunny Bank, Shear Brow, Blackburn. In 1904 Griffith retired but was appointed honorary consulting surgeon, a position he held until his death in 1922.
The family travelled to America in May 1906.
Ann Ellen Davies front left at a fund-raising bazaar, perhaps to raise money
for the church or for Blackburn Royal Infirmary c.1910
Henrietta Davies, possibly one in from right on the front row, Girls High School, Blackburn
In 1891, Henrietta aged 5 was living with her Aunt Ann Ellen Davies and uncle Griffith Humphry Davies (an Ophthalmic Surgeon) and Alice Lawton a domestic servant, at 91 Preston New Road, Blackburn.
British Military Hospital No. 17, Alexandria, Egypt c.1916
The tents may have provided accommodation for the nurses.
British Military Hospital No. 17, Alexandria, Egypt c.1916
Henrietta is shown by the Arrow.
There appear to be 3 VAD nurses in the group with the Red Cross on their apron.
Henrietta Davies outside an unknown convalescent home/hospital, c.1919.
On the second picture Henrietta is on the second row on the right.
A smokey view over Blackburn, c.1919.
Two views over Blackburn
https://victorianweb.org/history/empire/egypt/alexandria/7.html