Eileen Dora O'Brien
Nurse, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), British Red Cross
Date of Birth: 2nd January 1892
Place of Birth: Amritsar, Punjab, India
Date of Death: 14th December 1969 aged 77
Buried: Died in Woldingham, Surrey
Awarded a Voluntary Aid Detachment Scarlet and an Eff Stripe
VAD hat badge
Eileen Dora O'Brien was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India, on the 2nd January 1892.
Her mother was Mary O'Brien née Rodgers (1869-1951) and her was Donatus J. T. O' Brien (1860-1907).
Both of her parents were born in London, although her grandfather (Henry Montague Shallett O'Brien) had been born (and died) in Devon.
SOAS, University of London. All rights reserved.
In 1895 Eileen's father published a book " Grammar and Vocabulary of the Khowar Dialect (Chitrali), with Introductory Sketch of country and People (it was popular and reprinted).
During the late 1890s Eileen's father served in the Indian Army in campaigns in Eygpt and Afghanistan.
In September of 1902 Eileen's brother Henry Donough Robert O'Brien was born in Shanghai China.
By 1904 Eileen's father was Major D. J. T. O'Brien, Staff Corps of the 14th King's George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs, Bengal Infantry at the Ferozepore Depot. He died in 1907.
Hazeldene, 15 The Green Shaldon, Devon. Image Capture April 2009 ©2019 Google (cropped)
In 1911 Eileen, her widowed mother and her brother (Henry) Donough visited Eliza Florence Nash at Hazeldene, 15 The Green, Shaldon, Devon.
Eliza's daughters Gertrude Nash, and Joan Nash and her sister Florence Browning were also present.
Eileen was engaged with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) from 28th January 1918 to 25th April 1919.
Eileen was a professional nurse before the war so served with VAD at 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham and the 4th Southern General Hospital, Plymouth, Devon.
Eileen's home at 47 Ossington Street, London. Image Capture June 2019. © Google 2019 (cropped, perspective corrected)
When Eileen engaged with VAD in January 1918 she gave her permanent address as Hazeldene, Shaldon (where she had been staying with the Nash family).
Thomas William Nash of Hazeldene enlisted in 1916 with the Royal Engineers, Inland Waterways and Dock Companies. Thomas served in Italy where he was wounded, he survived the war.
Another VAD record shows Eileen's address as 47 Ossington Street. Bayswater, in 1918 and that she was part of the 16th London VAD Reserve.
In June 1921 Eileen married John Turvill who had been born in the Isle of Wight (1860-1963). They lived in Surrey and had four children, Daphne, John, James and Alan.
| Daphne Joan Turvill (1923–1996) | John Richard Turvill (1924–1996) |
| James Henry Turvill (1926–1948) | Alan Donough Turvill (1931–1997) |
The 1939 register shows Eileen and John living at "The Pleasaunce", in Northdown Road, (Woldingham District) Surrey. Eileen's occupation is listed as "Wife of Lloyds Insurance" and the notes read "ARP Red Cross Detachment.
Elieen's final home, The Blue Cedars, Lunghurst Road, Woldingham, Surrey.
Image Capture: October 2014 ©2019 Google (cropped)
Both Eileen and John travelled overseas several times in the years between 1923 - 1953. They travelled first class, on voyages to Indonesia, Portugal and New York.
Eileen's husband John died in 1953, they were both still living at "The Pleasance" at that point.
Later Eileen moved to a house nearby , Blue Cedars, Lunghurst Road, Woldingham, Surrey. That was her home address when she died on 14th December 1969 aged 77.
Pleasaunce means a secluded part of a garden laid out with trees, walks, etc.
Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Records
Date of engagement with VAD: 28th January 1918 to 25th April 1919.
Rank: Nurse.
Service rendered at:
1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham.
4th Southern General Hospital, Plymouth, Devon.
Honours awarded:
Awarded a Scarlet and an Eff Stripe.
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)
