Annie Jane Raine (1894-1980)
One of four sisters who served as VAD nurses at the 7th VAD hospital in Brancepeth
Annie Jane Raine was born on 24 January 1894 in Stockley, Durham. She was the second of four daughters born to John and Ellen Ryle Raine nee Dunn. John and Ellen married in 1888 and had a total of four sons and four daughters. John was working as a farmer in 1901 at Pack House Farm in Stockley and by 1911 the family had moved and were living and farming at Nafferton Farm in Brancepeth. At the time of this census Annie was working as a dressmaker’s apprentice.
On 10 May 1915, the same day as her older sister Hilda, Annie began working as a nurse at what would have been the family’s local Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) hospital. This was known as the 7th VAD hospital and was located at Brancepeth Castle. Annie continued nursing at this hospital until 12 October 1916. Annie’s two younger sisters Sarah and Mary later joined Annie and Hilda to nurse at the same hospital. There is no record of any of their brothers serving during the war.
Records show that Annie trained to be a nurse between 1916 and 1919 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. She was registered on 16 February 1923 in London and is listed on the nurse register for 1925. On these records her permanent address is still listed as Nafferton, Durham.
In the first few months of 1927 Annie married Otto Gruber Wilde in Durham. Otto was a medical practitioner, originally from Ireland. Annie and Otto went on to have three children; Maureen, Eileen and Neville.
Annie’s husband, Otto, travelled and worked in Ghana during the 1920s and 1930s. Passenger lists to and from the West Coast of Africa show Annie too spent periods of time in West Africa with her husband between 1930 and 1932. By 1937 the family had returned from Africa and was living in Epsom, Surrey, with Otto working as a general practitioner. They were still living in Epsom at the time of the 1939 census. Annie’s death was registered in Westminster in June 1980.
Civil Parish: Brancepeth
Birth date: 24-Jan-1894
Death date: 1980
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Pack House Farm, Stockley (1901 census)
Nafferton Farm, Brancepeth (1911 census, Red Cross nursing records)
Ashley Lodge, Epsom, Surrey (1937 Electoral Register)
13 Ashley Lodge, Epsom, Surrey (1939 Register)
Education: Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle – Nurse training
Employment: Dressmaker’s apprentice (1911 census)
Nurse (1925 nurse register)
Family: Parents: John Raine, Ellen Ryle Raine nee Dunn
Siblings: Hilda Raine, John Richard Raine, Sarah Greenwell Raine, Mary Hannah Raine, George William Raine, Joseph Raine, Thomas Ryle Raine
Spouse: Otto Gruber Wilde
Children: Maureen Helen Patricia Wilde, Eileen Bridget Wilde, Neville P Wilde
Military service:
VAD nurse - 7th VAD hospital, Brancepeth
Gender: Female
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham
