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Nora Grace Dillon (1888-1984)


Captain of 1st Seaham Girl Guides worked as a VAD nurse in England and France


Nora Grace Dillon was born on 25 January 1888 in Putney, Surrey and was baptised on 26 Feb 1888 in Wandsworth. Her parents were Malcolm Henry Lloyd Dillon, originally from Rossett in Wales, and Clara Elizabeth Palmer from Cambridgeshire. Nora was the only girl born to the couple; she had one older brother and two younger brothers.

In 1891 the family were living at 12 Bunstock Road in Putney and Malcolm was working as a bank accountant. By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Newcastle, living at 17 Victoria Square in Jesmond. Malcolm was now working as a secretary to an iron and ship building company. By 1911, the family had moved to Dene House at Seaham Harbour, a substantial property with 12 rooms, and they employed four servants. Malcolm was working as a managing director of a public coal mining company. Nora was their only child still living at home at this time.

In 1911 Nora became captain of the 1st Seaham Girl Guides, one of the first Girl Guide troops formed in County Durham. In October 1913 a new headquarters for these guides was built in the grounds of her family home of Dene House. She is remembered as a ‘pioneer’ in guiding, the Seaham company being one of the first in the country to go camping. She became the district commissioner for Seaham in 1917 and continued to be involved in guiding for the remainder of her life. More information on her involvement in the Girl Guides and a photo of Nora can be found at http://www.girlguidingdurhamsouth.org.uk/media/History/ALL_OUR_STORIES.pdf

In February 1915 Nora was involved in the opening of the 13th Voluntary Aid (VA) hospital in Dawdon, which was for the use of the ‘8th Reserve’ Durham Light Infantry (DLI) [second line of the 8th Battalion], 1300 of whom were stationed in the area. Correspondence from Nora on 21 February describes the hospital as having ten beds which “had been in constant use since its opening about a fortnight ago”. Nora worked at this hospital as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse, undertaking role of commandant between February and September 1915. She was an honorary serving sister of St John.

On 9 September 1915 Nora went to France to serve in Etaples with the VAD as part of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. She continued to serve in France until 3 March 1916. After returning from France, she again worked at the 13th Durham VAD hospital from July 1916. In September 1917 she began work at the 25th VAD hospital in Ashburne in Sunderland. She was again working as a commandant and her service records show she continued to work in this hospital till 12 May 1919.

Nora was awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class Medal for her work in England and France, which was bestowed on her by the King at Buckingham Palace on 6 August 1919. This medal was awarded to army nurses who gave exceptional service, showed devotion to their duties and professional competency. Nora was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

After the war Nora remained heavily involved in guiding in the county, becoming county commissioner and later county president in 1936. She remained county president until her death in Cheshire on 11 December 1984 at the age of 96.

Civil Parish: Dawdon

Birth date: 25-Jan-1888

Death date: 11-Dec-1984

Armed force/civilian: Civilian

Residence: 12 Bunstock Road, Putney (1891 census)
17 Victoria Square, Jesmond (1901 census)
Dene House, Seaham Harbour (1911 census)

Organisation membership: Girl Guides

Employment: VAD nurse (1915-1919)

Family: Parents: Malcolm Henry Lloyd Dillon, Clara Elizabeth Dillon nee Palmer
Siblings: Cecil Meldon Dillon, Malcolm Alexander Meldon Dillon, Norman Margrave Dillon

Military service:

Commandant, 13th VAD hospital, Dawdon: February 1915 – September 1915, July 1916 – August 1917
Commandant 25th VAD hospital, Sunderland: September 1917 – May 1919
VAD nurse Etaples

Medal(s): St John’s War Service badge
Royal Red Cross 2nd Class
1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Gender: Female

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham | Girl Guiding Durham North and Durham South

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