| Description | DOB: 1910
DOD: UNKNOWN
Born in a Wiltshire village.
Sixteenth child of a carrier and coal merchant and the twelfth child of his second wife, a former parlour maid.
Grew up in a working-class family with limited means.
Attended village school from 1915 to 1922.
Won a scholarship and attended secondary school until 1926.
Began work at age 17 in domestic service as a children’s maid, nanny, and personal maid.
Trained as a nurse from 1929 to 1933.
Lived in India before WWII and later in Cyprus.
In the 1950s resumed part-time nursing.
Later preparing to emigrate to Australia.
Married to a professional soldier.
No mention of children.
Skilled in sewing, mending, embroidery, making curtains, lacework, and dressmaking.
Engaged in nursing as a profession and later part-time.
No specific leisure hobbies are detailed.
First job interview in London at age 17; felt intimidated but was accepted for the post (1927).
Experience of strict domestic service rules, including meticulous dress codes and house protocols.
Worked in a large London household, befriended another young maid.
Served a particularly demanding employer who required elaborate morning and evening dressing rituals.
Suffered under the hierarchy and stress of domestic service, including incidents of accidents and strict discipline.
Worked in a household with thirteen staff, including travel to Claridge’s hotel in London.
Participated in Christmas traditions of servant gift-giving (received meagre gifts like socks or artificial flower buttons).
Refused transfer to a Scottish shooting lodge for household duties, leading to the end of domestic service employment.
Transitioned to nursing training thereafter.
The document is type-written.
Wiltshire, Domestic service,Children’s maid, Nanny, Personal maid, Housekeeper, Nursing, India, Cyprus, Emigration to Australia, Claridge’s, Sewing, embroidery
Strict household rules, Social class hierarchy, Early 20th century women’s work. |