Emma Greer
Surgical and Medical Nurse
Emma Greer was one of nine children born to William and Anne Greer nee O'Rourke of Gilford, Down in Northern Ireland. I believe she was the youngest of the nine, she was born on 19th November 1891. William was a mechanic by trade.
The family lived in Mill Street in Gilford at the time of the 1901 census - her older siblings that still lived at home were Thomas (25), William John (22), Eliza Jane (19) and Rose (16). They still lived at Mill Street in 1911. It is documented that two of Emma's siblings had died.
The VAD records show that Emma lived at The Hospital, Fell Lane from 21st November 1916 until 21st November 1919, firstly as a Junior Probationer Nurse, then Senior Probationer Nurse. Her nursing records show that she trained at this time at Keighley Union Infirmary.
Following the end of the First World War she continued in nursing, and went from Keighley to work at Newcastle Sanitorium, County Wicklow before undertaking midwifery training at St. Lawrence's Home in Dublin and then nursing in the community. She was appointed as a Queen's Nurse in October 1922, a role to which individual nurses who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice can apply. All nurses, health visitors and midwives with five years’ experience working in the community are eligible Those records show that she continued in this role until leaving in October 1933 and was awarded a bronze badge.
Queen's Nursing Institute Roll of Nurses
Queen's Nurse badge
Her nursing records show that she was well thought of with good report from her seniors. It also documents in other qualifications and remarks - "cyclist".
Emma never married, and continued to live in Northern Ireland - her last address was Coolnacran, Loughbrickland in County Down. She died at St. John of God Private Hospital in Newry on 21st August 1960 and left her estate to George Bernard Hodges, a Roman Catholic priest.
Sources:
Ireland, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1864-1958
Ireland, Census, 1901
Ireland, Census, 1911
UK and Ireland, Queen's Nursing Institute Roll of Nurses, 1891-1931
apps.proru.gov.uk / Northern Ireland, Will Calendar Index, 1858-1965
www.communitypractitioner.co.uk
