Person

Lenora Mowbray was born in 1892, one of seven children born to Thomas and Elsie Mowbray. Thomas had previously been married and had one son from this marriage who died before Lenora was born. Lenora was born in Cornsay and lived here until she was at least nine years old. Lenora’s mother died in 1907 and at the time of the 1911 census she is living in Birtley with her father and four of her siblings. Lenora’s father, Thomas, has several occupations listed on census records including a fireman, brickyard worker and colliery worker.

Between 1914 and 1917 Lenora undertook nursing training at High Teams Hospital in Gateshead. She was working as a ward sister at this hospital when she was accepted as a staff nurse by the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS). Following this acceptance in December 1917, Lenora was called up to begin her service with the TFNS on 6 February 1918 at the 1st General Hospital in London.

A medical report records Lenora began to suffer with sleeplessness and neuralgia [intense pain, especially in head or face] in November 1918. A tooth extraction gave no relief to this neuralgia, and symptoms of lack of energy and appetite were reported. These symptoms were severe enough for Lenora to request she be allowed to resign, describing herself as “being on the verge of a breakdown.” A medical board attributed these symptoms to the stress and strain of war service and decided Lenora was no longer fit for any further military service. Due to this, she finished her service with the TFNS on 30 January 1919. Lenora was awarded the silver war badge which was awarded to men and women honourably discharged due to wounds or illness from their time in service.

In November 1919 Lenora requested a testimonial of her service from a matron in the TFNS, perhaps suggesting Lenora wished to return to nursing at this time. The exact details are unclear but Lenora did return to nursing, her name appearing on nursing registers in years following the war. At the time of the 1939 Register Lenora is an assistant matron at Harton Lane General Hospital in South Shields. Lenora remained living on Harton Lane and died in March 1984, having remained unmarried.

Civil Parish: Birtley

Birth date: 25-Apr-1892

Death date: 22-Mar-1984

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: 251 School Street, Cornsay (1901 Census)
2 Hawks Hill Terrace, Birtley (1911 Census)
169 Harton Lane (General Hospital), South Shields (1939 Register)

Education: Nursing training – High Teams Hospital, Gateshead

Employment: Ward Sister – High Teams Hospital, Gateshead (Service Records)
Assistant Matron – Harton Lane General Hospital, South Shields (1939 Register)

Family: Parents: Thomas Mowbray, Elsie Mowbray nee Barnes
Siblings: Allan Mowbray, Norman Mowbray, Archie Mowbray, Florence Mowbray, Thomas Mowbray, Charles Mowbray

Military service:

Territorial Force Nursing Service
Staff Nurse
1st General Hospital, London

Medal(s): Silver War Badge

Gender: Female

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham