The Voluntary Aid Detachment
At the height of the 1909 invasion scare the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) were formed to provide field nursing services. Unlike the Territorial Force, formed the previous year, the VAD included both men and women - and boys and girls over 17 - though the men and women were in separate units: 1st Berkshire Detachment for the men and the 8th for the women. These had different roles with the women predominantly acting as nursing auxiliaries and the men as stretcher bearers. A VAD unit was formed in Englefield in 1910 and set about preparing to accommodate up to 30 wounded. Mrs Benyon was the Commandant and started to create a store of things that would be needed: bed jackets, nightshirts, bandages, sheets, pillow cases and non-perishable medical requisites and stores.
Initially about 22 men signed to join the VAD but some did not continue and in 1911 Mrs Benyon asked for more volunteers. This appeal must have succeeded because 18 out of a possible 21 men took part in an exercise in the Upper Park in April that year. Twelve out of 23 volunteers attended a display of stretcher drill and shelter-making at Bradfield in September 1912.
The report of a War Office inspection in 1912 reads:
"Improvisation of simple appliances, very good. Preparation of ward, excellent. Cooking and preparation of invalid diets, very good. This is a very fine detachment, and has reached a high degree of efficiency and development. Six fully equipped beds were shown in use and also operating room (very good). Pack Store, Laundry, Provision Store, etc, First Aid and Nursing were practised very well indeed, and there a very full and proper appreciation of the functions and general routine and internal working of a Hospital. Everything is ready worked out for 25 beds and extra Patients, especially Convalescents, could be dealt with. Uniform and discipline and tone all excellent."
In May 1914 at the annual inspection all members were present and the inspecting officer, Maj Maurice RAMC, was impressed by such an up to date detachment. The ambulance wagons had all been fitted-out by members of the detachment and Maj Maurice was especially taken by the invention, by Fred Cox, of a system to minimise jolting of the patient during transport.
Once the War started and Englefield House became a hospital the female members of the VAD served as nursing auxiliaries and those men that were still available as orderlies and stretcher bearers.
© 2021 Richard J Smith