Now, somewhere I know there will be a full collection of the Nurses’ League Journal, for the Kensington Infirmary covering the years of the Great War.
That said the journal doesn’t seem to have made its way into the National Archives at Kew, which carries a fascinating archive of records from the hospital dating back to 1872.*
The Kensington Infirmary was part of the Kensington Workhouse, which was added to and developed from 1871 onward and was run by the Kensington Board of Guardians until 1930.
After which, “the Kensington Workhouse became known as Kensington Institution in 1912 and Kensington Infirmary became St Mary Abbot's Hospital in 1923.
In 1930 when the London County Council took over the two hospitals, St Mary Abbot's Hospital was designated a type A hospital for the acute sick, and Kensington Institution became a type B hospital for the chronic sick”, and continued until its closure in 1992.*
The journal dates from 1915, and was issue no. 3, and although it is the only edition, it offers up a detailed insight into that first full year of war.
Writing a foreward, Miss H.A. Alsop, the Matron of the Kensington Infirmary wrote, “Since August 1914, when this terrible War, started, upwards of 300 Voluntary Workers have passed through the wards of this infirmary.
From what I have seen of these ladies I cannot speak too highly of them.
Their interested, kindly manner in the wards, their willingness to do the most menial duties, and their gratitude for any little help we have been able to give them is most encouraging.
We read so much, or did a little while ago, against V.A.D.,’s that it is an agreeable surprise to find them all so exceedingly useful. ......... Many have come from quite a long distance to be here early in the morning.
Some have given up a holiday, which they really needed, just to get a few weeks practical experience, and some have come to forget their own sadness in helping others”.
Included also was a tribute to the Edith Cavell, who was executed by the German authorities, a range of period adverts, and a list of staff, which in the fullness of time will provide a very useful area of research, throwing much light on the working of the Infirmary during war time.
Leaving me just to thank David Harrop who acquired the journal and kindly shared it with me.
Location; Kensington Infirmary
Pictures; Nurses’ League Journal, 1915, courtesy of David Harrop
*St Mary Abbot’s Hospital, formerlyThe Kensington Infirmary , National Archives, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/24b00e58-476c-47f0-bcfd-cf78b626cb3b
The Kensington Infirmary was part of the Kensington Workhouse, which was added to and developed from 1871 onward and was run by the Kensington Board of Guardians until 1930.
After which, “the Kensington Workhouse became known as Kensington Institution in 1912 and Kensington Infirmary became St Mary Abbot's Hospital in 1923.
In 1930 when the London County Council took over the two hospitals, St Mary Abbot's Hospital was designated a type A hospital for the acute sick, and Kensington Institution became a type B hospital for the chronic sick”, and continued until its closure in 1992.*
The journal dates from 1915, and was issue no. 3, and although it is the only edition, it offers up a detailed insight into that first full year of war.
From what I have seen of these ladies I cannot speak too highly of them.
Their interested, kindly manner in the wards, their willingness to do the most menial duties, and their gratitude for any little help we have been able to give them is most encouraging.
We read so much, or did a little while ago, against V.A.D.,’s that it is an agreeable surprise to find them all so exceedingly useful. ......... Many have come from quite a long distance to be here early in the morning.
Some have given up a holiday, which they really needed, just to get a few weeks practical experience, and some have come to forget their own sadness in helping others”.
Included also was a tribute to the Edith Cavell, who was executed by the German authorities, a range of period adverts, and a list of staff, which in the fullness of time will provide a very useful area of research, throwing much light on the working of the Infirmary during war time.
Location; Kensington Infirmary
Pictures; Nurses’ League Journal, 1915, courtesy of David Harrop
*St Mary Abbot’s Hospital, formerlyThe Kensington Infirmary , National Archives, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/24b00e58-476c-47f0-bcfd-cf78b626cb3b
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