Ethel Masker
VAD. General Service
Early life:
Ethel Masker was the only surviving child of Arthur and Gertrude Margaret Masker nee Hall, who had married on 7th November 1889 at Calverley Parish Church. Arthur was from Keighley and worked as a manager for a machine broker company, a job he appears to have had for all of his working life. Gertrude was from Shipley. Ethel was born on 10th April 1890, and baptised 18th May that year, also in Calverley at St. Wilfred's Church.
Ethel Masker's baptism
Arthur and Gertrude had another daughter, Alice, who died aged six/eight months in 1892.
By 1891 the family had moved to Keighley, the 1891 census shows the living at 6 North Brunswick Street. By 1901 they had moved to 3 Gordon Street in Keighley and were still there by the time of the 1911 census. By this time Ethel was 20 years old, though did not have an occupation listed.
War service:
Ethel worked as a VAD during World War One for four hours per day, in general service at Spencer Street Auxiliary Military Hospital, from 1st March 1917 and was still serving at the time of the record's completion, by which time she had worked 2,800 hours.
Later life:
At some point after the family moved to Riddlesden and lived at 9 Howbeck Avenue. Ethel never married. In 1939 she lived with her mother - her occupation was 'Unpaid domestic duties', her mother being 'Incapacitated'. An Assistant Nurse, named Annie lived with them.
The 1939 Register
Ethel died, while still living at Howbeck Avenue, on 21st March 1968.
Source information:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1935
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
