VAD Jean Campbell
Surgical Nursing Duties
Jean Sinclair Campbell, taken while on duty at St. Luke’s Auxiliary Hospital. Photo kindly provided by Jean’s great great niece, Ruth Kirkby
Jean Sinclair Campbell was the youngest of four daughters of Henry Johnstone Campbell and Mary Campbell nee Sonnenschein, both of London. Mary’s father was from Moravia in what was then Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic) and her mother was German – both were naturalised British Subjects. Her brothers were renowned scholars, one of them founding the publishing firm Swan Sonnenscheim. Several family members changed their surname to Stallybrass in the lead up to the war due to anti-German hostility.
Henry was a consulting physician and surgeon, and he and Mary were married in Croydon in 1889. Jean was born on 18th February 1899.
In 1901 the family lived at 36 Manningham Lane in Bradford, the house was named Eldon Mount. Jean lived with her parents and older sisters Sarah Elizabeth Mary (aged 11), Margaret Sinclair (aged nine) and Helen Johnstone (aged five). All three sisters were born in London, suggesting they had moved to Bradford in more recent years. There were also five servants at the house at this time.
The Campbell family as shown on the 1901 census
In 1911, still at Eldon Mount, all four daughters remained at the family home. Sarah was a music student and Margaret an art student. Helen and Jean were at school.
Henry Johnstone Campbell worked as a physician at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bradford during the war. It had opened in December 1915. Jean worked there as a VAD, and in September 1918 transferred to Morton Banks War Hospital, undertaking surgical nursing duties and remained there until March 1919. While at St. Luke’s, Jean compiled photo albums and scrap books complete with photographs of colleagues and soldiers, poems and art work. Her sisters Margaret and Hele also worked as VADs at St. Luke’s.
At some point after the conclusion of the ward, the Campbell family relocated to Dartmouth in Devon. Jean was living alone at 3 Warfleet Road, working as a chauffeuse at the time of the 1939 Register. It is noted here that during the Second World War she worked as an ambulance driver for the ARP.
Jean on the 1939 Register
Jean never married or had children, and died in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells on 22nd August 1980.
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
England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
