Angels of Mercy by Chris Schoeman

Author:Chris Schoeman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Why is it so important for us to acquire the skill of persuasion? The answer is simple: every day of our lives, we need to persuade someone of something, whether in the workplace or in our personal lives. Whether you are convincing a colleague to buy into a new initiative, pitching an important deal to a client or trying to convince your five-year-old to go to bed, you are persuading someone of something. And although we all persuade in one way or another, very few of us excel at it.
ISBN: 978-1-77022-500-8
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Published: 2013-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

8

Death in a foreign land

CLARA EVANS

‘We are all on rations of corned beef, bread, tea, coffee, sugar, and jam. As the food question never troubles me, I don’t mind the monotony; but some of the sisters don’t fancy these things, and would be glad to be home again. Many women don’t understand roughing it, as one is bound to do on active service, and are a nuisance all round in consequence. Fine ladies – professional or otherwise – are out of place here – rain, hail, wind, thunder, storm, and stress – or sun, sand, and flies – it’s all one to the right sort – but you are not asked by the elements to take your choice.’1

VISITORS TO ST JOHN’S CHURCH in St Helens, Lancashire, in the north-west of England, are likely to pause and admire three stained-glass windows in the foyer of the church. The first window depicts a South African battlefield against the backdrop of Bloemfontein. The second shows a ward in The London Hospital, while the third is an image of a nurse in an army nursing uniform – not some anonymous nurse, but rather a well-loved local by the name of Clara Evans. A few months after the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War, Clara set off for South Africa – though, tragically, she was never to return. Her nursing service is further commemorated in an engraving on the baptismal font: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of Clara Evans, presented by the Sunday School children 1900.’ The dedication is especially appropriate, as she had been a Sunday school teacher at the church.

Clara Evans was born in 1871 in the small village of St Helens, where she attended the local school. Like many other young people at the time, she was inspired by tales of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War. She grew up in a corner shop on Crossley Road opposite St John’s church, where she was to teach Sunday school. The surrounding area had been home to the Ravenhead Coal Mine, and was well known for its glass industry. Fortunately, the shop survived encroaching development, and may still be seen today.

Clara entered The London Hospital as a non-paying probationer on 30 April 1896 at the age of twenty-six, and she could not have wished for an institution with a greater tradition. Founded in September 1740 as The London Infirmary, it was renamed The London Hospital in 1748, and today it is located in Whitechapel.2

Entries for Clara Evans in the ‘London Hospital Register of Pupil Probationers, 1895–1896’, gives her address and other details: ‘Woodlands. St. Helen’s, Lancashire, age 26. Entered London Hospital Preliminary Nurse Training School, Tredegar House, Bow on 14 March, 1896. Previous occupation: Home duties. Previous hospital training: None.’ Under ‘Remarks’ is written: ‘Intelligent, ready & quick at seeing things. Bright & cheerful with capabilities for making a smart nurse.’3

In another register in the same archives, an entry reads: ‘Date of appointment as Probationer: 30 April 1896; age 26. Previous occupation: lived at home.

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