The autograph book of VAD Nurse May Benson and a portrait by Fred Brooke
Title in English
VAD nurse May Benson and her autograph book
May Benson, a cousin of my husband, was born in Paris to an English family in 1892. During the war, May was trained by the Red Cross to become a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse at Cornwall Hall Hospital in Sevenoaks, Kent. May's father was Head Lad to Harry Andrews, a racehorse trainer in France. During her time at Cornwall Hall, May collected poems, drawings and messages from the soldiers she treated. According to one of the historians at the WW1 Roadshow in Wantage, her VAD nurse book is one of the best he has ever seen. It is believed May also volunteered as a VAD at the start of World War II.
Summary description of items
These include an autograph book kept by May and a series of postcards mainly from World War I and two from World War II. Note Fred Brooke painted her portrait in the album.
Transcription status
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| Edit | 38 % | |
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| Complete | 48 % |
- ID
- 18154
- Number of items
- 120
- Person
- May Benson
- Languages
- English, Français
- Keywords
- Medical, Women
- Location
- Sevenoaks
- Contributor
- Jane Andrews
- Collection day
- WA01
