Nursing in a Crisis: Irene Lawley and the Escrick Park Auxiliary Military Hospital

‘No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any definition of what a nurse should be than this – ‘devoted and obedient’. This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse. It would not do for a policeman.’ – Florence Nightingale

Every year on the 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) promotes Nurses Day to encourage awareness of the professionalism and work of nursing staff, and to educate and assist health workers.

Nightingale’s life stands as testament to her belief that nursing should be seen as a profession; that the work could be improved by the education of those undertaking it, and by the application of new learning to established methods. At a time when there were very few professional roles a woman could fill, and nursing was seen as unqualified ‘women’s work’, Nightingale should be seen as an activist for women’s rights; someone who fought against the commonly held belief that nursing took no skill but only required a caring temperament.

This year, the ICN are asking people to say ‘thank you’ to nurses around the world whose work is leading the fight to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We present the following as a big ‘thank you’ to all the hard-working and highly trained nursing staff around the world. But we especially say ‘thank you’ to those in Hull, many of whom have been an integral part of our University of Hull student community.

Whilst working on a new source guide exploring archives held at Hull History Centre on the subject of medicine, I became fascinated with the life of Irene Constance Lawley, later Mrs Colin Forbes Adam. Born 7 May 1889 to the 3^rd Baron Wenlock of Escrick Park, she came from an aristocratic family of good reputation. Her father died when she was 22 and left her an inheritance of £20,000. However, her interests tended away from the trappings of high society and towards the care of the sick. She undertook training as a nurse with the St John’s Ambulance Association. Lawley would later be given the ‘Lady of Grace’ medal by the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem for her work in this area; the same medal awarded to Florence Nightingale in 1904.

A ward showing patients and nurses at the Escrick Park Auxiliary Military Hospital 

When war broke out in 1914, Escrick Park was set up as a military hospital for wounded officers. Lawley helped run the hospital, being responsible for the nursing staff stationed at there. She was a prolific letter writer, and some 380 letters, telegrams and postcards sent to her have survived [U DDFA3/6/45]. The missives record the memories and thanks of officers who were treated by her and the nurses at Escrick.

The correspondence reveals that patients were provided with entertainment as well as care during their time at Escrick. The nurses appear to have staged a theatrical play, whilst the more able-bodied patients were able to participate in tennis and cricket matches: Harold J. Williams of 8 The Groves Stockton-On-Tees, discusses his memories of rehearsals for the play, as well as a tennis tournament, and enquires how the show went [U DDFA3/6/45/5 and 300]; Arnold W. Cockburn of Cole Orton Hall in Leicester, discusses the nurses kindness in putting on the show [U DDFA3/6/45/87]; whilst J. Crompton of Cardigan Road in Bridlington asks whether there will be another cricket match in the near future [U DDFA3/6/45/90].

Evidence shows that Lawley wrote extensively to enquire after the progress of former patients, often sending them small gifts: Victor H. Nunn writes from Beckett’s Park Hospital in Leeds to update her on his recovery, exploring the new hospital by wheelchair, his desire to be back at Escrick, and thanks her for her letter and chocolates [U DDFA3/6/45/210]; Walter J. Blake of 51 Friar Gate in Derby, thanks her for a newspaper cutting and a pocket diary sent as a gift, and updates her on his return to civilian life with his wife and new-born son [U DDFA3/6/45/72]; Will Alison of the 3^rd Battalion The Royal Scots, discusses a pencil sent by her as a gift, as well as his being stationed in Dublin, [U DDFA3/6/45/50]; whilst William A. Cliffe of 97 Jalland Street in Hull, thanks her for sending a wedding present and expresses his wish to meet her again [U DDFA3/6/45/100].

Postcard sent by Sargent F. Peattie updating Lawley on his health.

She continued a correspondence with one particular individual for several months [U DDFA3/6/45/75-83]. Nine letters, sent to her by ‘Bert’ between November 1917 and January 1918, reveal that he had been a patient of hers, but had been transferred to Beckitt’s Park Hospital in Leeds to undergo an operation for a severe head injury. In the letters, Bert discusses conditions at Beckitt’s Park, his health, visits from friends, flowers and fruit received from Lawley, his wish to be back at Escrick Park and to see herself and the other nurses, and a planned visit by her to see him. The existence of this interchange, and others which are similar, clearly demonstrates the very sincere interest that Lawley had in the welfare of those who had been in her care.

It seems that her former patients were also keen to hear of her own progress and wellbeing. The surviving evidence shows that she received telegrams from former patients on her birthday. It also shows that when news of the pending closure of Escrick Park as a military hospital was reported in the papers, Lawley received several enquiries about this and her own welfare.

On the occasion of her being awarded the ‘Lady of Grace’ medal for her nursing work, Lawley received several letters of congratulations: Agnes Jekyll of Munstead House in Godalming, writes to congratulate her after seeing a newspaper announcement about the honour, and discusses her hard work as a nurse [U DDFA3/6/45/11]; whilst Leonard Wright, a lieutenant in the RAF, notes how he saw her mentioned in ‘The Pictorial’ [U DDFA3/6/45/12].

Throughout the letters in this collection, it is very clear that her former patients were extremely grateful for the care and kindness with which she had nursed them. Memories of her kindness are shared and thank you presents are sent to her: W. Gaunt writes from Lord Furness Hospital in Harrogate and encloses presents for her and the sisters in thanks for his time at Escrick [U DDFA3/6/45/119]; whilst Roland B. Phillipson of Woodbank, Dalkey in Co. Dublin, encloses photograph albums as a gift to say thank you, at the same time offering to send on his laundry and boots for her to sort out [U DDFA3/6/45/220]!

Part of a letter sent to update Lawley on a former patient's progress and to thank her for sending a present.

But perhaps the biggest sign of the regard in which Lawley was held can be seen in the presentation of a diamond star. This was given to her by former patients as a symbol of gratitude for her care and kindness during their time at Escrick Park. The star is referred to in letters written by L. Douglas Patrick of Lyndale in Southend-on-Sea, A. Raines of Hartburn Lodge in Stockton-on-Tees, Reginald G.A. Cox of Queen’s College in Cambridge, Captain H.S. Parkinson of Duckworth Grove in Bradford, and C.R. Clifford of Henry Street in Sunderland [U DDFA3/6/45/29, 41, 42, 44, and 45]. Unfortunately, the jewel was not deposited with the rest of Lawley’s papers!

So to finish, just as the former residents of Escrick Park wrote to thank Lawley for her hard work, care and attention; we write this as a thank you to everyone currently involved in the nursing profession on Nurses Day 2020.

Claire, Archivist (Hull University Archives)