Mary Elizabeth Cook (1878-)
Hedley Hope born woman served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse
Mary Elizabeth Cook was born in the last few months of 1878 in Hedley Hope, County Durham. She was baptised on 8 December of the same year at Wesleyan Methodist Church in Tow Law. Her father was John Watson Cook, originally from Etherley. Her mother was Margaret Ann Cook nee Fairless, originally from Auckland, County Durham. Mary’s parents married in the first few months of 1878. Mary was the eldest of ten children born to the couple, one of whom died before the time of the 1911 census. Of the children listed on census records, Margaret had five brothers and two sisters.
In 1881 the Cook family were living in Hedley Hope and Mary’s father is listed as a check weighman at a colliery. Sources suggest that in 1891 Margaret was living with her aunt and uncle with her younger sister Annie in Hedley Hope. By 1901 Margaret had returned to live with her parents and siblings. The family were living at Binchester Hall in Bishop Auckland, a substantial property with 11 rooms. John was now listed as a mining engineer. In 1911 Mary was still living at Binchester Hall with her parents and four of her siblings.
On 21 May 1917 Mary began serving as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse. She was involved in nursing at the 2nd Northern General Hospital, commonly known as Beckett’s Park Hospital, in Leeds. She continued to serve at this hospital until 16 July 1918.
Leodis: a photographic archive of Leeds, 2nd Northern General Hospital:
http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=20031118_14048403&DISPLAY=FULL
Civil Parish: Bishop Auckland
Birth date: 1878
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Hedley Hope, County Durham (1881 and 1891 censuses)
Binchester Hall, Bishop Auckland (1901 and 1911 censuses)
Family: Parents: John Watson Cook, Mary Ann Cook
Siblings: George Cook, Annie Edith Cook, Thomas Charles Cook, Arthur Cook, Susanna Florence Cook, John Watson Cook, Frederick Albert Victor Cook
Military service:
VAD nurse
2nd General Hospital, Leeds
Gender: Female
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham