Dress from a Red Cross Nurse's Uniform
Long-sleeved white cotton long dress with V-neck pleats and pearl buttons down front, worn by Kathleen Herrick, a Red Cross nurse in France, 1914-1918
Set of First World War Red Cross nurse's uniform belonging to K. Herrick, comprising dress, one plain apron, two Red Cross aprons, five caps, two pairs of removable sleeves, and envelope containing pearl buttons, English, 1914-1918
Long-sleeved white cotton long dress with V-neck pleats and pearl buttons down front, worn by Kathleen Herrick, a Red Cross nurse in France, 1914-1918
Plain white cotton round bib apron with cross straps, worn by Kathleen Herrick, a Red Cross nurse in France, 1915
One round bib white cotton apron with cross straps and with fabric red cross sewn into bib, worn by Kathleen Herrick in France, 1914-1918
The red cross is an international symbol for first aid. This white cotton apron with a bib was worn by a nurse working in France during the First World War. To cope with the large numbers of wounded men, many women volunteered as nurses or as VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachments) and worked in hospitals behind the front lines in Europe.
Made by Harrods Ltd, the apron was donated as part of an extensive collection of nursing memorabilia belonging to Gertrude Baker (d. 1982).
Three "butterfly" triangular caps, fine white linen with embroidered red cross at front, worn by Kathleen Herrick in France, 1914-1918
Plain white square organdie lawn cap, "Sister Dora" brand, worn by Kathleen Herrick, a Red Cross nurse in France, 1914-1918
Envelope addressed to Kathleen Herrick at the Hospital Anglais in Nice, containing 11 pearl buttons, 1920
Inside the envelope, addressed to Miss Kathleen Herrick, a nurse working at the Hospital Anglais in Nice, France, are eleven pearl buttons. Post-marked with the year 1920, Nurse Herrick almost certainly worked during and after the First World War tending to wounded soldiers.
Nurses relied on personal and unofficial supplies for certain items such as buttons, especially during wartime when normal trading was disrupted.
One round bib white cotton apron with cross straps and with fabric red cross sawn into bib, worn by Kathleen Herrick in France, 1914-1918