LOUISA MARY EMILY SHERLOCK 1892–?
Before the War
Louisa was born in September quarter 1892 in Finchley, Middlesex and baptised on 4th December 1892. In 1901, age 8, she was living with her father Abraham John Bruce Sherlock, 45, solicitor, born in Powyke, Worcester, mother Louisa (nee Severn), 40, born in Nottingham, sisters Margaret E, 12, Katherine J, 9, Constance A, 5, Olive, 3, Aileen M, 1, and Gwendoline I, 3 months. The family were living at Powyke Lodge, Little Stanmore, Edgware with three servants: Annie Dale, cook, Ellen Robinson, housemaid and Maud Lambert, nurse. Her father was a solicitor with the firm Tarry, Sherlock & King of 17, Sergeant’s Inn, Fleet Street, London. Louisa’s brother James, 15, was a boarder at the Grammar School, Green Hill, Evesham.
Louisa’s father Abraham died on 27th May 1909 at Powyke Lodge. In 1911 Louisa, 18, her widowed mother, brother James Bruce Sherlock, 25, clerk to Messrs Thomas Cook & Son, travel agents, and all her sisters were still living there. No occupation was given for Louisa or her sisters of working age. The house had twelve rooms and there were two servants: Clara Britten, housemaid and Rose Woodman, cook. Louisa’s mother died on 26 October 1916, age 57.
During the War
The following information about Louisa Sherlock has been extracted from transcribed Red Cross V.A.D. records, available at www.redcross.org.uk
Louisa became a General Service member of the Notts 94 Voluntary Aid Detachment of the Red Cross during the war, of which Claire Birkin from Lamcote House, Radcliffe on Trent was Commandant. A General Service section of the V.A.Ds was established in September 1915, to carry out roles such as dispensers, clerks, cooks and storekeepers. The entry on Louisa’s Red Cross record card shows that she was living at The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Notts. Both of her parents had died and this was the home of her aunt Annie Smith whose daughter Annie Elfrieda was also a V.A.D. member of the Notts 94 Detachment (see her biography). Annie and Louisa were cousins; their mothers were sisters. Louisa worked full time as a laboratory assistant from 15th June 1918 to 28th February 1919 at the West Bridgford Military Hospital, with pay of £1.8.6 per week.
After the War
It has not been possible to trace her after the war as there are too many Louisa Sherlocks in available records to reach a definite conclusion.
Jane Gill Parr was born in 1830 in Nottingham. She married James Barrett Severn in 1853 in Bingham District. He died in 1870 then Jane married William Wodehouse in 1874 in Edgbaston. In 1881 she was living in Powick, Worcs.
Louisa Sherlock’s great-grandfather Thomas Parr was born in Cropwell Butler.
Annie Smith’s mother was Annie Severn. Annie was Louisa Severn’s sister. Annie Severn married Henry Smith in 1887 in Upton on Severn. Their daughter was Annie Elfrieda Smith.
