Tag Archives: Great War

New light on WWI Kings Weston auxiliary hospital. 

We’re very grateful for the following short report compiled by Ann Cunningham. Ann contacted us a short time ago and has helped add a new insight into the WWI years: 

In 1914 Kings Weston House became an auxiliary hospital for wounded soldiers in WW1. From 1914 to 1919 there were many nurses and workers who came here to help and support the injured. After doing some research, I have found the following nurses that worked at the house. There are 7 in total.

Miss Hilda Prance

From May 2nd 1915 until June 1918, Hilda was here for approx 18 months.

Miss Mabel C N Moore

From May 2nd 1915 until June 1919

Miss Frances Geraldine Moore

From May 2 1915 to January 1917

Miss Ethel M. J Moore

From May 3rd 1915 to January 1917

Miss Alice Maud Muriel Borase

From Nov 1st to 18th 1916

Miss Joan Badock

Worked for one year in 1916

Miss Ethel Maud Adams

March 1918 to March 1919. Ethel was a Ward sister and also a night duty nurse.

Ethel was born in 1879 in Long Stock, Hampshire, England. Her parents were James and Susan Adams. She has the following brothers and sisters. Sarah, Annie Elizabeth, John George, and Herbert Evans.

Soldiers and nurses pose on the garden steps of Kings Weston House.


Ethel has been documented as being a Pioneer Nurse. In 1887 the first register for professional nurses was founded. It was the first in the world. It was called  the Royal British Nurses’ Association (RBNA). Its aim was to provide a snapshot of the nurses training and qualifications.

Ethel has been documented as registering in 1915, at this time it was voluntary, but by 1919 it was compulsory and finally in this year the Nurses Registration Act became law.

Further information can be found about Ethel and other pioneer nurses at http://www.kingscollections.org

Anyone that is interested in learning more about the Red Cross, what they did, or simply wanting to search for other nurses can visit: www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War. Information has also been sourced from http://www.ancestry.co.uk

KWAG’s first World War exhibition boards can be viewed here

A view from an angle last enjoyed a generation ago; The garden front of Kings Weston over the recently relaid lawn after the ruins of QEH were recently removed.