Just a quick hello from a beginner!!!

[Andreab]

I have been dabbling with family history for a few months now and I am concentrating on my paternal grandmother's family. Her maiden name was Fryer Kelsey and she came from north London. I am particularly interested in finding out more about a cousin of hers, a Mabel Fryer Kelsey (DOB:01.12.1907 - DOD: 1969). She was a nurse during WW2 and according to family members she received a medal/decoration for her services, possibly the Legion of Honour or the Croix de Guerre. It is also believed that she was taken POW maybe in France or Italy. I have attached a photo of her (she's the one above the cross). The reverse of the photo is noted M Fryer Kelsey -  Oxford. Is it possible to identify the type of uniform she is wearing from the picture? Any info anyone may have about the Fryer Kelseys would be most appreciated.
AndreaB


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[Andreab]

With refrence to my previous posting re Mabel Fryer Kelsey the attached photo is much clearer. Thanks for looking.
AndreaB

Moderator Comment: topics merged

[oldtimer]

Hi Andrea!!

Welcome to Rootschat! A friendly place to be! But beware - it is addictive 

I think you might have more luck if you re-post your photo and question on to the WW2 site. It might get missed here. ^(*)

Best of luck! Judy


^(*) Moderator Comment: moved 

[scrimnet]

Well at first glance she appears to be a civillian Nurse, possibly a senior staff Nurse. Obviously a trained nurse as she has a nice silver buckle.

The women in the rear appear to be ATS or similar.

There are a couple of us here on rootschat with a big interest in things nursie!

Would it be possible to upload the pic via something like www.photobucket.com pse? Although the first pic is dark, the second is light, and as  a pdf, quite impossible for me to "fiddle" with the contrast etc whilst at work!!!

[millymcb]

Hi Andrea...Welcome!

Here''s a jpeg for you Scrimnet. Havn't been able to do much with the contrast on it though.

Milly

 

[Andreab]

Milly, hear's a link to the photo. I've not done this before so hope it works.

http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd33/ABrownsdon/

ABrownsdon

[scrimnet]

Oooh well done you two!

I still say she is a civvy, and it appears to be a blue dress. Deffo not a QAIMNS, as it would be a grey one (hence "Grey Mafia"  )

Could be somewhere warm, as some of the girls appear to be wearing full whites...ie tropical dress ( can be worn in Med area during summer).

It maybe that a new cadre of staff has appeared and is a welcome / setting up of new facility type piccie

[Andreab]

The photo is noted on the back "M Fryer Kelsey - Oxford".
I know there is/was a military hospital and examination center there during the war so perhaps that is where it was taken.

[scrimnet]

The photo is noted on the back "M Fryer Kelsey - Oxford".
I know there is/was a military hospital and examination centre there during the war so perhaps that is where it was taken.

There is a Territorial Field Hospital squadron in Oxford.

It may be that this shows some of the TANS (Territorial Army Nursing Service) ready for the off in the days before it became 202 Fd Hosp as it is now...

From what I know of this TA Centre, I can recall no steps such as those in the pic, but some stuff may have been demolished of course

it may also be that along with most other places in the country, all sorts of places were turned into War Hospitals...Many of the mentally ill were turfed out of the "lunatic asylums" as they were turned into hospitals for the wounded...