ELIZABETH PRATT 1890–1974
Elizabeth Pratt (left)
Photograph from Cutler Collection
Born: 27th September 1890 in Tibshelf, Derbyshire
Marriage: Arthur Midgley Buxton on 30th August 1921 at Tibshelf Parish Church
Daughter: Margaret Bettina Jane born 7th November 1922 in Worksop, Notts
Died: 11th February 1974 in Nottingham district, age 84
Before the First World War
In 1891 Elizabeth, 8 months, was living at Hills Field, Tibshelf, with her father Joseph, 34, a coal miner, mother Emma, 32, sisters H.H. (Hannah?), 9, Mary, 5, and Jane, 3.
By 1901 Elizabeth, 10, was living on Addison Street, Tibshelf with her parents and siblings Mary, 15, Florence, 8, Joseph, 5, Grace, 3, and Katherine, 11 months. Another sister, Emma, was born in 1903.
In 1911 Elizabeth was one of eleven servants in the household of Thomas Clayhills and family, brewer and solicitor, at ‘Brinkburn’, Brinkburn Road, Darlington.
During the war
Elizabeth moved to Radcliffe on Trent at some point between 1911 and 1918 to work as a cook/housekeeper at Lamcote House, the home of Lt. Colonel Charles Birkin and Mrs Claire Birkin. The start date of her employment is unknown. According to Pam Priestland, she was a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) member during the war (Priestland, P. (1989) Radcliffe-on-Trent 1837 to 1920 Nottingham: Ashbracken). Although no details of her V.A.D. duties are available as her Red Cross record card has not survived, the above photograph shows her in a Red Cross uniform.
We do not know whether Elizabeth undertook her Red Cross training elsewhere before coming to Lamcote House or whether she was trained in Radcliffe on Trent. It is possible that she extended her duties of cook/housekeeper for the Birkins by working as a V.A.D. when Mrs Birkin opened her home as Lamcote Auxiliary Hospital for Officers in April 1918 under the auspices of the Red Cross. Twenty beds were provided for officers and the hospital remained open until April 1919.
After the war
Elizabeth married Arthur Midgley Buxton from Radcliffe on Trent on 30th August 1921 at Tibshelf Parish Church. Arthur served as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery during the war. Elizabeth’s residence was given as 11 Addison Street, Tibshelf. Arthur was a police constable living at 40 Priorswell Road, Worksop. Their daughter Margaret Bettina Jane was born in Worksop on 7th November 1922.
In 1939 the family were living at 14 Cambridge Road, West Bridgford. Arthur was a police constable and Elizabeth was engaged in ‘unpaid domestic duties’.
Elizabeth died on 11th February 1974 in Nottingham district, age 84. Arthur died on 16th April 1979 in West Bridgford, age 87.
For more information about Lamcote Auxiliary Hospital and Claire Birkin see her biography in the section on Radcliffe Women.