TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

Lilian's family details

Lilian Ann Widdicombe's paternal grandfather ¹ Thomas Widdicombe was born in Stoke Gabrielle, Devon c. 1804. He farmed 197 acres of land in the village and employed six labourers, a boy and three women. Thomas died on ² 4 Sep 1879.

Her paternal grandmother ¹Ann Widdicombe (née Rendle), was born in  Paignton, Devon c. 1807, and died in 1871.

Lilian's father, ³ James Widdicombe was born c. 1842 in Stoke Gabriel, Devon.  In 1871 he was farming 158 acres of land in the village, and was married to Lilian's mother ³ Mary Sparke Widdicombe (née Hannaford)  born c. 1845 in Rattery, Devon.

At this point Lilian's sister Mary, and brothers George and James Henry were living at the farm with their parents. The family were employing three farm labourers and a boy, and additionally had three servants (an indoor farm servant, a general labourer and a nurse).

Lilian  was ⁴ born c. 1883 in Cambridge. In ⁴ 1891 her parents and three of her siblings (Edward, Charles and John Henry) were living at Brooklands Farm in Cambridge (the Cambridge University Alumini records show John Henry was an Assistant Master at the University 1892-5).

In ⁵ 1901 Lillian, her mother and father (now retired), her sister-in-law Violet Maude Widdicombe and Violet's one year old son Edgar Faralees Widdicombe were living in Knapton, Norfolk. They had a nurse living with them.

Lilian's mother died in 1907, her death was registered in Exeter, Devon. Lilian's father James died in Teignmouth in June 1935.

In ⁶1911 Lilian Widdicombe was a visitor of Eliza Cleave and her mother Eliza Ellen Cleave at 51 Abbotsbury Road, Newton Abbot, Devon.

From 23rd November to April 1919, Lilian worked as a Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Q.A.I.M.N.S) nurse on detachment to VAD in Military Hospitals.

Lilian initially served at the Voluntary Aid Hospital Newton Abbot, then briefly at Sisters Hospital, Vincent Square, London before transferring to The Hospital Ship Brittanic. She later served at military hospitals in Devonport, Bournemouth and Trouville in France.

When Lilian engaged with VAD her address was 5, Belgrave Terrace, Teignmouth, Devon.

Lillian Ann Widdicombe's death was registered in Plymouth, Devon in the 3rd quarter of 1953. The death of her brother George was also registered at Plymouth in 1953. All of Lilian's siblings survived the First World War.

Lilian's name is spelled in different ways on the various documents, Lilley, Lillian or Lilian, her middle name is listed as Ann or Anne.

 Sources:
¹ 1861 census
² Death registered at Newton Abbot
³ 1871 census
⁴ 1891 census
⁵ 1901 Census
⁶ 1911 Census

The Matron-in-Chief, BEF visit to the new No. 72 hospital

There are two hospitals already established and a third unit in the making, all composed of 2500 beds, entirely hutted, with fine accommodation for officers, Nursing Sisters and men.

The hospital is built in self-contained blocks of 250 beds, each a little hospital in itself. Each unit has accommodation for 100 officers and the rest is for men. They have most splendid mess, dining rooms, kitchens, store-rooms, a great big reception hut and a good administrative block.

The Sisters’ quarters are first-rate in every respect – a great big mess and ante-room and accommodation for 125 people in cubicles, all under cover and connected by corridors. There are 4 bath-rooms only. All the out-houses, kitchens, etc. are first-rate, similar to those in our other units but larger in comparison.

The unit is lighted with electricity and heated with coal stoves, and when the road is made and they have got rid of the mud, it will be first-rate. It is situated on the top of a hill. At the time of the visit 72 General Hospital had 1600 patients and they were taking in at 73 General Hospital the next day. They are beginning to lay out the grounds and are going to have large vegetable gardens.”

The official diary of the Maud McCarthy, Matron-in-Chief, BEF
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Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Records

Date of engagement with VAD: 12th October 1916  to transfer.

Rank: Nurse.

Service rendered at:
Voluntary Aid Hospital Newton Abbot 23rd November 1914 to 1916
Sisters Hospital, Vincent Square, London.  12th October 1916 to transfer.
Hospital Ship, Britannic. October 1916 to transfer.
Military Hospital, Devonport 26th January 1917 - 26th July 1917.
Mont Dore Hospital, Bournemouth 5th September 1917 to transfer.
No. 72 General Hospital, Trouville, France. 22nd December 1917 to 23 February 1918
Women's Auxillary Hospital, France, 23rd February 1918 to April 1919