Introduction:

Often, although by no means exclusively, the real first clue to a fascinating nurse history is found by the auction of badge sets - sometimes (though rarely) with accompanying memorabilia. Imagine then my excitement when, casually searching ebay, I struck the most amazing seam of gold that I have seen so far. Fate was smiling upon me I thought. I was dumbstruck. A complete set of memorabilia, GNC and hospital badge, certificates (GNC, training school, midwifery training school, letters - even a signed card from WWII Field Marshall Montgomery), photographs, birth certificate et al - of Amy Ann Braddick - a hospital Matron, no less!

Ann Braddick's nursing career spanned at least 37 years from the date she commenced training in 1931 at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. She finally retired as Matron of St John's Hospital, Towbridge, wiltshire, having previously been an Assistant Matron at Melksham Hospital, also in Wiltshire. She also served during WWII as a member of QAIMNS(R) (Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service) with the 21st British Army Group.
 
I lost the auction!

Happily as it has turned out, as the collection went to a possible relative of Ann Braddick who lives in Canada, and who has kindly supplied and allowed the use of his material, including his own photographs from the auctioned Lot. He is currently researching, with the aid of our own Sue Barker (researching the Civilian Nursing Career), Miss Braddick's history. We hope to publish this later here on schoolsofnursing as he has volunteered that too. A gentleman.

I say that I lost the auction 'happily' for a simple reason. Acquiring the belongings of a person which are wanted by a relative is not a way in which I would want to be seen to behave! If someone bought your mother's wedding ring at auction, unless you were the seller, how would you feel?.... Need I say more?

One of the problems at auctions is that you may never know who you are bidding against, whatever your personal feelings. We will be adding the photographs of Ann Braddick's memorabilia, badges and WWII campaign medals to our website gallery in the near future.

12/02/11

Research on the nursing career of Amy Ann Braddick at Wiltshire and Swindon Archives (Post-war career)

The available records for Melksham Hospital contain only one reference to AAB i.e. that of her resignation. There are no photographs of the hospital and no evidence to show when AAB began her employment there. However reference to length of service in the 1967 Minutes for Bradford-on-Avon Hospital indicates she started her job at Melksham in about 1947. This would have been at the Spa Road building, constructed in 1938. The Minutes below show AAB ceased her employment at Melksham as Assistant Matron on 31^st December 1950. She started her new job as Matron of Bradford-on-Avon Hospital the following day. Note 81(a) is evidence of the reasonably small size of Melksham hospital, with 108 admissions and 98 discharges over a 2 month period.

 The minutes of the League of Friends of Bradford-on-Avon Hospital demonstrate how highly AAB was regarded at the time of her retirement in 1967. The £50 collected for her leaving gift would have been the equivalent of at least £700 today.

Extracts from the available records at Wiltshire and Swindon Archives.

Melksham Hospital Sub-Committee of the West Wilts Hospitals Management Committee Minutes 6^th December 1950

At a meeting of the Melksham Hospital Sub-Committee of the West Wilts Hospitals Management Committee, held at the Melksham Hospital on Wednesday 6^th December ,1950,

81. Matron’s Report. The Matron’s Report was submitted, as follows: -

(a)  Statistics. Period 1^st October to 30^th November, 1950.

Inpatients.                        Male                Female            Children         Total

Admissions                      44                       45                     19               108

Discharges.                      42                       38                     18                   98

Deaths.                                3                         6                       1                   10

Patients remaining          13                        16                      -                   29

Operations – 10 major, 11 intermediate, and 56 minor.

Outpatients.

                  Clinics.

New outpatients – 137               Casualties – 134

Total attendances – 291             Daily dressings – 815

(b)  Staff.

 

83. Communications from the Management Committee. The Sub-Committee were informed:-

(e) Sister A.A. Braddick. That the Management Committee had appointed Sister A.A. Braddick, Assistant Matron of the Hospital, as Matron of the Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital, with effect from the 1^st January, 1951.

On behalf of the Sub-Committee, The Chairman congratulated Sister Braddick on her appointment, and wished her well in her new sphere of duty.

Bradford-on-Avon District and Maternity Hospitals Sub-Committee of the West Wilts Hospitals Management Committee Minutes 12^th December 1950

At a meeting of the Bradford-on Avon District and Maternity Hospitals Sub-Committee of the West Wilts Hospitals Management Committee, held at the Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital, on Tuesday, the 12^th December, 1950.

Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital 

107. Appointment of Matron. It was reported that the Management Committee  had confirmed the appointment of Miss A. Braddick, Assistant Matron of the Melksham Hospital, as Matron, with effect from the 1^st January, 1951. The Chairman introduced Miss Braddick and welcomed her on her first attendance at a meeting of the Sub-Committee.

108. Matron’s Report. 

(a)  Staff. Miss Braddick reported that she was endeavouring to obtain trained nursing staff with a view to re-opening the Hospital on the 1^st January 1951. Two answers only to advertisements had been received and although numerous enquiries had been made, so far no appointments had been made.

(b)  Sluice Accommodation – First Floor. Miss Braddick referred to the absence of any facilities for sluicing and disinfection of bedpans on the first floor wards and strongly urged that this need be met with the least delay, possibly by the conversion of existing lavatory accommodation or in place of one of the two bathrooms available on this floor. It was

Resolved:- That this matter be referred to the Building Sub-Committee.

         c) Staff Dining Room and Provision of Casualty Room. Miss Braddick

submitted for consideration proposals that on completion of the

alterations, the old kitchen should be used as a staff dining room, and the

children’s ward on the ground floor should be adapted as a casualty

department, the children’s beds being transferred to the first floor wards

with a slight reduction in the overall bed accommodation. The windows of

the ward accommodating children would probably require guard rails
.

 Bradfordon-Avon Hospital Management Committee Minutes 22^nd March 1967

 7. Reports of the House Committees. The following reports of the House Committees were received and adopted, subject to the amendments comments shown:-

(a)  Bradford-on-Avon Hospitals House Committee (7^th March, 1967).

Arising therefrom:-

Retirement of Miss A.A. Braddick, Matron, Bradford-on-Avon district Hospital (Minute no.8 refers). The Committee noted the appreciative remarks of Mr Barrow on the excellent service rendered by Miss Braddick, in his report on the presentation ceremony to her at the conclusion of the last meeting of the House Committee.

8. Retirement of Miss A.A. Braddick – Matron, Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman of the Management Committee made a presentation to Miss Braddick on the occasion of her retirement following a period of service as Matron extending over 16 years and also service as Deputy Matron at Melksham Hospital making a continuous period of service in the group extending over 19 years. The Chairman in wishing Miss Braddick a long and happy retirement paid tribute to the wonderful service she had rendered to the Hospital and the residents of the area it serves. Mr Barrow also spoke in appreciation of the cooperation he had received from Miss Braddick at all times.

 Miss Braddick thanked the Committee for the generous gift and thanked the members for their loyal support and help at all times. She had been most happy in her work. She also expressed appreciation of the help and cooperation she had always received from the Group Secretary and his Staff.

Minutes of the Bradford-on-Avon League of Friends

 7^th February 1967

 Presentation to Miss A.A. Braddick.

It was reported that the Matron of the District Hos. was retiring on the 31^st March. It was proposed by Mrs Harries that £20 to £25 should be spent on a gift. Mr Sawyer seconded this motion and approved that the money should come out of the funds. This was agreed unanimously.

20 March 1967

Mr President then turned to the subject of Matron’s retirement and said there was a great deal of sorrow felt at Miss Braddick’s leaving the Hospital after over 16 years of service. He had not had any experience of Matron’s professional service but from hearsay he had heard how wonderful she had served the Public. Mr President asked if anyone would like to add their comments.

Mr Chrystal said he had not been unfortunate to have been a Patient but as a member of the Sub-Comm and its Chairman, he could not speak too highly of Miss Braddick’s calm and practical sense. She had done a wonderful job – we are very much the poorer for her going; but he personally wished her a happy retirement.

Mrs Thomas reminded the Committee that when the Hospital was on fire Matron did everything she could for the Patients welfare and also that she had an Outpatients department working by 4pm.

Mrs Moulton said she was very sorry that Matron was going.

Miss Kirkham, the Matron of Berryfield said she was very sorry that Matron was going.

Mr President resumed his address by thanking the people who had spoken words in praise of Matron. He now had much pleasure in presenting Matron with a Gift from the Town’s people and the Committee Members.

Note of Thanks. Matron was extremely pleased to receive a Crocodile Skin handbag and a cheque. She thanked everyone for this wonderful gift which was just what she wanted. She thanked the League of Friends for the great help they had been to her, and thanked everyone for the nice things they had said about her. She would come back to the town occasionally and pay visits. Mr President thanked the officers and Committee.

? April 1967

Presentation Gift to Miss A.A. Braddick.

It was reported that this gift had not been bought with the Funds of the League. Mrs Rodway, with the Treasurer and Secretary had decided that this action did not conform to the Rules of the Constitution. There had been a Public Subscription in the town and each member of the Committee had donated various sums from 10/- to 2gns 1. The amount had totaled £50 approx. Mr Barrow reported that 18/6d 2 which had remained from the House Committee’s subscription Fund had been transferred to the League account. Matron would receive a cheque for the amount outstanding in due course.

1 10/- = 10 shillings

   2gns = 2 guineas

 2 18/6d = 18 shillings and 6 pence

Pre-decimalisation of the UK currency in 1971, there were 20 shillings in £1 and 12 pence in 1 shilling. A guinea was £1 and 1 shilling.

Sister Braddick, Assistant Matron, has resigned, and will be leaving here on the 31^st December.

Amy Ann BRADDICK, SRN

Sister, (later Lieutenant), Queen Alexandra’s Military Imperial

Nursing Service (R);

Matron, Civilian Nursing Service

Lot Details:

(Two) Defence Medal, War Medal, 1939-45; both unnamed as issued, British issue

(nickel), on original ribbon, complete with original War Office box of issue, addressed to

Miss A. A. Braddick, Melkshan, (postmarked 1949); along with the badge of Queen

Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve), on original ribbon and

suspending pin, and the badge of the General Nursing Council of England and Wales,

engraved on the reverse: A.A. BRADDICK, S.R.N., 80508, 22-11-35; badge is produced

by well-established Birmingham-firm of Thomas Fattorini &

Sons, hallmarked for 1935. The lot also comes with a large

number of original certificates and other documents relating

to Braddick’s career, including: diploma from her three-year

nursing certification training at Southmead Hospital (Bristol),

certifications from the General Nursing Council and Central

Midwives Board, a portrait (c.1942) in the uniform of the

QAIMNS( R), a retirement letter, and more.

Personal Details:

Date of Birth: 13 January 1906

Place of Birth: Martock, Somerset, England

Father: George Braddick, c. 1859, Cloyton,

Devonshire, England; occupation: agricultural labourer.

Mother: Amey A. Braddick, c. 1864, Martock,

Somerset, England

Date of Death: 27 December 2004

Place of Death: Yeovilton, Somerset, England.

Sister Amy Ann Braddick,

QAIMNS ( R), c. 1942

Detailed Biography

Date Event Remarks

1906 Jan 13 - born, Martock, County Somerset,

England.  

- father, George, was an agricultural

labourer, born in Colyton, Devonshire;

- named after her mother; had 6 sistersand 2 brothers.

1911 April 2 - census shows as living at 90 North

Street, Martock, Somerset.

c. 1916-18 - brother showed as having served in

Royal Berkshire Regiment.

- 45507 A.CPL G. BRADDICK. R.

BERKS. R.; Victory Medal

included in lot.

1919 Jan 21 - certified copy of birth certificate

obtained for the purpose of

“employment in labour”.

- address still indicated as North

Street, Martock, Somerset.

1932 - commences three year Nursing

Certification Training at the

Southmead Hospital, Bristol,

1935 October - writes the “Final State Examination

for the General Register of Nurses”.

1935 Nov 22 - granted title “Registered Nurse” by

the General Nursing Council for

England and Wales.

- GNC Registration No: 80508

- included with the lot were

receipts from the GNC for the

Annual Retention fee of 2s for

1936 to1940.

1935 Dec 10 - Nurses Certificate of Training

granted by Southmead Hospital,

Bristol.

- rated as having an “excellent”

“character and conduct”;

- studied the following disciplines:

i. Anatomy & Physiology;

ii. Medical Nursing;

iii. Surgical Nursing.

1936 Nov 21 - certified by the Central Midwives

Board.

- CMB Registration No: 97393

1941 May 30 - appointed “Sister” in the QAIMNS (

R); granted service Number: 206738

- London Gazette

16 Dec 1941, p. 7097

In 1902, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established by Royal Warrant, and was named

after Queen Alexandra, who became its President. In 1949, the QAIMNS became a corps in the British Army and was

renamed as the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

In 1941 nursing sisters were awarded badges of rank from Lieutenant through to Brigadier when an emergency commission

was granted. Previously they all had officer status though had no distinction of rank and were not permitted to wear badges

of rank. This was approved by Queen Mary on the 15 March and given approval by King George VI on the 30 April 1941

1942 - serving in Ceylon. - included with the lot were:

i. a hand-carved box marked “Ceylon”

“1942" with the badge of the QAIMNS (

R) carved into the top, and “Sister

Braddick property” faintly visible (written

in pencil) on the bottom; and

ii. a portrait of Braddick in her QAIMNS

uniform with the studio mark: “Colonial

Photo Company, Ceylon”.

1946 - thanked by Field Marshal

Montgomery, for service with 21 Army

Group, British Army of the Rhine.

The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army

Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943

under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) and was assigned to Operation

Overlord, the invasion of Europe. The 21st Army Group operated in Northern France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the

Netherlands and Germany from June 1944 till the end of the war in Europe in 1945, after which it was re-designated the

British Army of the Rhine.                               

1946 Feb -June - 4 months training at the Bristol

Royal Infirmary in medical

housekeeping

- training included management of Nurse’s

Home; Laundry and Linen Room; Stores;

Hospital Kitchen; and Matron’s Office.

1949 - two medals for service in WWII

delivered to: The Hospital, Spa Road,

Melkshan

Defence Medal; 1939-45 War Medal;

original ribbons and box of issue; with

complimentary note from Under Sec of

State for War.

1966 Nov 28 - given £1000 in the will of Nellie

Granderton, who died 26 Sep 1966 at

Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital.

1968 March 31 - retires from nursing as Matron of

Bradford-on-Avon District Hospital.

2004 Dec 27 - dies, age 98, Ivelhurst Nursing

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