Jessie Bain McLennan (1881-)
Stanhope woman served with Voluntary Aid Detachment in England and France
Jessie was born in Inverness, Scotland about 1881. In 1911, she lived at Croft Cottage, Stanhope with her younger sister, Mary, and her husband, Frederick Paterson. He worked as a dental technician. 30-year-old Jessie is recorded as a “dressmaker”.
By 1915, Jessie is recorded as living at “Strathnairn”, Stanhope. Jessie was then aged about 34 and was engaged as a voluntary aid nursing member at Etherley V.A. Hospital. She worked at the 17th Durham Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital between 25 May 1915 and 13 June 1915. She worked 130 hours.
According to her VAD record card, Jessie then went to work at the 4th Northern General Hospital in Lincoln, spending just over a year there (1 July 1916 – 12 July 1917). She was then transferred to the 59th General Hospital in St Omer, France where she worked until 14 April 1918. It seems likely that Jessie was transferred when the 59th General Hospital moved from St Omer to Rouen. During the rest of April and the whole of May 1918, she worked at the 24th General Hospital at Etaples. Her last posting was to the 3rd Stationery Hospital at Rouen where she served from 29 May 1918 to 9 March 1919. Jessie McLennan was officially demobilised on 24 March 1919. According to her entry on the medal index rolls, she was a VAD attached to the Territorial Force Nursing Service, rather than the more usual Red Cross or St John’s.
After the war it seems as if Jessie returned to Stanhope. She appears on the registers of electors for the town until 1928. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to trace Jessie any further. Any additional information about her would be gratefully received. You can either add a comment below or email:
[email protected]
Red Cross VAD record cards:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/en/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War
For more information about the 17th Durham VAD Hosptial:
The Fallen of SouthWest Durham website, page about Red House Hospital:
https://thefallenservicemenofsouthwestcountydurham.com/17th-durham-voluntary-aid-hospital-the-red-house-etherley-bishop-auckland/
Civil Parish: Stanhope
Birth date: 1881
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Croft Cottage, Stanhope (1911 census)
Strathnairn, Stanhope (1915-1919 VAD record card)
Paragon Street, Stanhope (1919 register of electors)
Butts House, Stanhope (1924 register of electors)
Medal(s): Mentioned in Despatches, 8 July 1919
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Female
Contributed by Kevin Richardson | Glenys Egglestone
