KATHLEEN BOYLE 1894–1971
Kathleen was born in Nottingham on 5th October 1894 and baptised on 2nd November 1894 at St Barnabas Roman Catholic Cathedral, Nottingham. In 1901 she was living at 7 Chaucer Villas, Nottingham with her father William, 36, provisions merchant, mother Emmeline, 39, brother William B, sister Mary E, 11, William senior’s brother Joseph, 30, chemist and druggist, nephew Joseph H, 2, and domestic servant Clotilda Holland.
In 1911 Kathleen, 16, was a boarder at the Roman Catholic school of Notre Dame, 96, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. Her parents, brother William Bernard, 24, commission agent and sister Mary Emmeline, 21, baby linen assistant were living at Bateman House, Water Lane, Radcliffe on Trent. Her father William was a provisions traveller. He is recorded as living at that address in the 1914 electoral register and Wright’s 1916 directory.
During the War
The following information about Kathleen Boyle has been extracted from transcribed Red Cross V.A.D. records, available at www.redcross.org.uk
Kathleen was a member of the Notts 94 Voluntary Aid Detachment of the Red Cross led by Commandant Claire Birkin of Lamcote House, Radcliffe on Trent. The Boyle family had moved back to Nottingham by the time Kathleen, 21, volunteered to serve as a V.A.D. on 14th September 1916. She was living at 158 Colwick Road Nottingham when she commenced work as a nurse at Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot. The hospital was named after the Duke of Cambridge who opened it in July 1879 to serve the various British Army camps in Aldershot Garrison. It was the first in the country to receive battle casualties directly from the Western Front during the war. Kathleen nursed there from 14th September 1916 to 14th April 1917 with pay of £20 per annum.
Kathleen then transferred to the 1st Western General, Liverpool, serving there from 1st May 1917 to 31st March 1919, her pay rising to £27.10.0 per annum by the time her engagement was terminated. The central hospital of the 1st Western General was at Fazakerley, Liverpool. There were also ‘sectional’ hospitals in and around Liverpool which were regarded as being wards of the 1st Western General Hospital. Before the war had ended, the hospital had on its books 38 officers, 325 N.C.O.s and men, 170 trained nurses, 340 V.A.D. nurses, 200 general service V.A.D.s and 250 women in other work. (Liverpool Courier 7th October 1919).
1921 Census
Address: 158 Colwick Road, Nottm
Employment: Secretary, Edward A Day, Wicker furniture Mfg.
Household: father William, unemployed Inspector of Gauges, Vicker, Maxim and Sons, mother Emmeline
After the War
She married Bernard J. Campion in 1932 in Nottingham. They had two daughters: Marie born in 1935 and Stella born in 1939. In the 1939 electoral register the family were living at 4 Kirkdale Road, Nottingham. Bernard was a fishmonger and Kathleen was engaged in domestic duties. Bernard died in 1962 in Nottingham, age 76.
Kathleen died on 28th October 1971 in Nottingham, age 77.
Other Information
Kathleen’s brother William Bernard Boyle was one of the first tenants of the council houses built on Shelford Road, Radcliffe on Trent after the war.
