Eileen Bailey
Eileen Bailey was born in Western Australia but moved to Melbourne, Victoria when she was very young. She became engaged when she was 28 years of age, and went to serve in WW1 during her time engaged. (2017, British Red Cross)
Eileen was one of many nurses who joined the army, in which they were all different with their own personalities. (2017, The Fairest Force 3, The VAD)
Miss Eileen Brooke Bailey, aged 28 was born in 1888, Albany Western Australia. She was the daughter of George Herbert Bailey and Isabel Agnes nee Gibson. She was requested in Melbourne, 27th of September 1916 to serve as one of the 13 Red Cross VADs (Voluntary Aid Department). Eileen was requested by the Chairman of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society to serve as probationers in military hospitals in England. Served 20th of November 1916 to the 20th of June 1918 in the University War Hospital, Southampton; and worked in the war hospital July the 31st 1918, to the 20th of October 1918. In August 1916 a farewell afternoon tea was given by the president of the Voluntary Aid Committee, before she sailed to England to fulfil her duties as a V.A.D. nurse, under the Red Cross. (2013, Grave Secrets)
Eileen Bailey’s legal documents (2017, British Red Cross)
Eileen was one of the three women orderlies for assisting, and “nursing in the British Red Cross” in 1916, along with Miss Helen Fisher from Hobart. Eileen and Helen were both trained in the general hospital in 1916, along with Miss Douglas from Launceston. The names were sent to the Governor of the registered societies, then sent to lady Helen Munro Ferguson who was the head of the Australian branch of the British Red Cross society. Lady Helen was the one to make the final pick, and in her final pick was Eileen along with the nurses she trained with. She left Melbourne on September the 27th 1916 to serve in the war hospital, unfortunately the exact hospital is unknown. (2013, Grave Secrets)
On Tuesday, January 21st 1917 an order was given by the commandant and officers of the first V.A.D. for Eileen Bailey to change homes (where you are stationed to do your work). Mrs. W. W Giblin was Commandant to welcome Eileen to her new ‘home’, in England. In September, Eileen had started to engage with nursing in military hospitals, as a Voluntary Nurse. (2013, Grave Secrets)
As a voluntary nurse Eileen Bailey had to wear a very strict uniform; it had an apron with the Red Cross on it and a light blue dress. Many women did not like wearing the exact same uniform as everyone else, and so they decided to make little adjustments to their uniform to remain as an individual person. The Higher Ups disproved of this, and created strict rules to wear the correct uniform. (2017, Scarlet Finders)
Eileen had a very diverse range of experience when it came to working. She had a hard time when it came to hard work, and was very glad to come home after nursing during the war. The day she came home the hostess (Mrs. W. W Giblin) had Eileen Bailey as a guest in the drawing room. It was beautifully decorated crimson carnations, a dainty supper was served in the dining room and the table was very nicely decorated with large white flowers. (2013, Grave Secrets)
She finished her service by receiving one Scarlet Efficiency Stripe on the 20th of December 1917. “The Efficiency Stripe” was given to nurses after they have completed thirteen straight months of voluntary nursing in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service and the Territorial Force Nursing Service only. You would not automatically get this award for doing thirteen months of service, you had to be seen worthy of getting this great honour. (2013, Grave Secrets; 2017, The Fairest Force 3, The VAD)
The Efficiency Stripe was a scarlet bar worn on the right arm, below to shoulder on the indoor uniform only. After a second year of service you would be eligible for a second scarlet stripe. The stripe was awarded mainly for distinction between the receiver and the other nurses. (2017, The Fairest Force 3, The VAD)
After years of hard work Eileen returned to Australia in 1919. (2013, Grave Secrets)
In 1958 Hobart, Tasmania, Eileen unfortunately died 69 years of age (the date of her death is unknown). Eileen Bailey was cremated at Comelian Bay Cemetery on the 12th of May 1958 with no burial record. (2013, Grave Secrets)
Reference List
(2013). Australian Nurses in WW1. Available: http://www.1nurses.gravesecrets.net/ba.html . (Date accessed 7/9/17).
British Red Cross. (n/d). Miss Eileen Brooke Bailey Available: http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War/Card?hosp=australia&id=8549 . (Date accessed 8/9/17).
Identifying VAD Uniform. Available: http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/157.html. (Date accessed 11/9/17).
The Fairest Force 3. The VAD. Available: http://www.fairestforce.co.uk/5.html. (Date accessed 11/9/17).