Description
British War and Victory Medal, Staff Nurse Hilda Alice Daisy Matthews, later Swindall, Queen Alexandra’s Military Nursing Service, who served a year in Egypt from 1915-6 before being invalided from Paratyphoid Fever.
She was rather unhappy with having to end her service early, having to resign her yearly contract in July 1916 having been unfit for further service still suffering the lingering effects of Paratyphoid being unable to renew for another year.
When her service was again requested upon recovery, as Nurses were desperately needed for home service, however she specifically requested in various letters that if she were to rejoin the QAIMNSR that she wished to be posted back to Egypt, however her request was denied as there were other nurses on the foreign service waiting list.
Officially impressed: “S/Nurse H. Matthews. Q.A.I.M.N.S.”
Confidential report from the 31st General Hospital, Port Said, 10th June 1916, Matron Cheetham:
“Staff Nurse Hilda Matthews has worked with me since 13th March 1916 and has always given great satisfaction, she is exceedingly kind and attentive to her patients and is hardworking and conscientious. I can thoroughly recommend her for further employment.”
Hilda Alice Daisy Swindall, nee Matthews, was born on the 14th September 1886 in Stoke Newington, London into a large family with 5 sisters and 1 brother, being raised by their mother Elizabeth Mary Matthews.
In 1911 she was working in Wolverhampton and the Wolves and Staffs General Hospital on Cleveland Road as a Hospital Nurse.
After some training she returned to London and became a qualified Midwife, being shown on the “Midwives Roll” of 1915 as having enrolled on 21st February 1914, passing her C.M.B. Examination and living in Clissold Park, London.
She Married Frederick W. Swindall during late 1924 and became Hilda Swindall.
She died in Bridge, Kent, during 1973 aged 88.
