Doris Fort
Nursing Sister, St. John's Ambulance Brigade
Doris Fort was born on 6th June 1896 to Herbert Fort, a monumental mason and Emma Fort nee Martin, a grocer from Norfolk. I believe she was a twin, as on 12th July that year she was baptised along with Fred Rushton Fort – the baptism record from St. Stephen's Church in Steeton shows the same parents’ names.
Doris and Fred Rushton's baptism record
I believe Fred may have died in infancy as he is not on the census records, although I have been unable to locate a record of his death.
By 1901 Doris has a younger brother, Harry Martin Fort. They lived at 8 Keighley Road, Silsden, and remain at this address in 1911. By this time Doris is 14 and working in a printing works.
Doris worked at Morton Banks War Hospital from 7th October 1916 until November 1918 as a nursing sister, including bed making and other ward duties, for St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. She did this voluntarily in her own time and paid all of her own expenses for rail fares, laundry and uniform costs.
She did not marry. By 1939 she and her father lived at 23 Tufton Street in Silsden until his death in 1940, and her death on 3rd February 1950 at The Duke of York Home in Bradford.
Th 1939 Register
Her brother Harry had married and had a son, Ronald and they appear to have been close to Doris. They lived next door, and her estate passed to them.
Doris was buried at Silsden Cemetery.
Sources:
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Findagrave.com
