TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

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Annette Constance Soames neé Fraser (formerly Jardine) was born on 16 August 1877, in  East Grinstead, Sussex.

Her mother was Mary Annette Fraser neé Briggs, daughter of Sir John Henry Briggs, of the Admiralty, Whitehall.

Annette's father was Lieutenant-Colonel George Leith Fraser Bengal Staff Corps, and Laird of Mearnes, Kincardineshire, Scotland.  Read more

In 1891 Annette, her parents and siblings Percy, Alice and Forbes were living in Hove, Sussex. Annette's father aged 64 had retired from the Army and the family had four servants living with them, Agnes Hemsley (a Cook), Sally Meads (Parlour-maid), Emma K Dowsett (Housemaid) and Eugenie P Doyasbere (Children's Maid).

In 1897 Annette married Robert Jardine, a Barrister born c. 1869 in Agra, India (his father was in the Indian Civil Service).

During WW1 Annette was engaged with the British Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). Initially she worked at the VAD Garland Hospital in London then at the Teignmouth Everest Officer's Hospital in Teignmouth. She worked full-time as a Quartermaster. When she joined VAD she gave her permanent address as 69, Cadogan Place, London SW.

Captain Norman Fraser DSO. © IWM (HU 122394)

Annette's brother Percy William Norman Fraser DSO, Captain 2nd Bn Cameron Highlanders was killed in Action in Belgium on the 22 February 1915. Read More

Her brother Forbes Leith Fraser (MiD) was a Captain of the Seaforth Highlanders attached to Sir John French's Staff (he survived the war and in WW2 was Chief Intelligence Officer of the Air Raid Precautions Dept).

Annette and her husband Robert lived for many years at 69, Cadogan Place, Belgravia, London  (it was still Robert's home when he died in 1930).

In 1934, Annette married Arthur Granville Soames OBE , Captain (retired) of the Coldstream Guards, and they are shown living at Duckings, Sussex, in 1939 with Helen E Beattie, Lady's Maid - Retired, Arthur R Mathews, Butler and Minnie A Buick (Blundy), cook.

Annette Constance Soames died in London on the 2nd September 1963 aged 87.

The Everest Officer's Hospital

Lord and Lady Cable purchased the Treverven Estate (on Exeter Road, Teignmouth, now part of Teignmouth Community School) and opened it as the Everest Hospital. (whilst the Everest Hospital was being built a hut for wounded soldiers was erected in the grounds of the original Teignmouth Hospital). Lady Cable contributed most liberally to its upkeep.

Their daughter, Lady Weston Alexander (née Cable), became Matron / Commandant of the instutuition. It was used by convalescing officers.

  Everest Officer's Hospital,  part of the Treverven Estate (now part of Teignmouth Community School). From the Teign Heritage Collection

Lieutenant Bertram William Brown Blight (a bank clerk in Ashburton before the war) was one of the officers who stayed at Everest. He  was also one of the first men to receive extensive and plastic surgery at the end of the First World War.

A German machine gun crew, probably of the 18th Infantry Regiment, manning their Maxim machine gun. © IWM (Q 87923)

Bertram was serving with the 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment near Ypres, when he was hit by machine gun bullets. His nose, teeth and part of his face were shot away. He was thought to be dead and left on a pile of bodies.

A German soldier noticed he was wearing a gold masonic ring and looked closer and realised that Bertram was alive.

Bertram was taken prisoner and was later returned to England where his injuries were then treated.

His face was rebuilt with 12 surgeries using techniques pioneered by Dr Harold Gillies.

Bertram attended several hospitals then was sent to the Everest Officer's hospital where he was nearer to family, he was deemed unfit for active service abroad but could serve at home.

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Cards

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Card. ©2018 British Red Cross (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK)

Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Card. ©2018 British Red Cross (CC BY-NC 2.0 UK)