Papers of Kathleen Grace Lloyd (1877-1976), nurse

A small collection of Kathleen Lloyd's paper, includes correspondence, photographs, news articles, certificates, and medals. Original items date 1912-1943, with some additional photocopies of items copied [c 1998]. They relate to her training as a nurse and to her nursing career as Assistant Matron at the General Hospital, Birmingham. There are also a few items that document her time as Matron at the 1st Southern General Hospital. The 1st Southern General Hospital (also written as First Southern General Hospital) was a military hospital set up at the University of Birmingham during the First World War. There are several photographs of Kathleen Lloyd in the collection, one taken in her younger days when she worked as a nurse, and one when she was 90 years old. Unfortunately we have very few photos of the other staff at the 1st Southern General Hospital, but we do have a record of the names of nursing staff who worked there in 1916 (MS44/6/1).

For her work during the First World War, Kathleen Lloyd was awarded the highest nursing decoration, the 'Royal Red Cross'. She also received 'La Médaille de la Reine Élisabeth avec croix rouge' from Belgium. The medals are part of this collection (MS44/5) along with written items concerning her Medaille de la Reine Elisabeth award (MS44/1/2). Lastly, there are two certificates awarded to Lloyd in recognition of her efforts during Second World War by the City of Westminster (MS44/4/4-5).

Kathleen Grace Lloyd was born 6th May 1877, in Handsworth, Birmingham. She was the eldest of eight children of Frederick Holyoake and Eliza Jane Lloyd. Kathleen Lloyd trained as a nurse at the General Hospital, Birmingham, where she eventually became Assistant Matron. Lloyd was then appointed Matron at the First Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, where the Great Hall at the University was used as a military hospital during the First World War. The first convoy of wounded soldiers arrived in Birmingham in September 1914. For her work during the war, Lloyd was awarded the highest nursing decoration, the Royal Red Cross, and also 'La Médaille de la Reine Élisabeth avec croix rouge' by the King of the Belgium. After the war, Lloyd was appointed Matron of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where she stayed until her retirement (c 1937).

After serving the country with such devotion during the 1914-1918 conflict, Kathleen helped 'do her bit' during the Second World War and tended a plot of land in Westminster as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign, for which she received a certificate of merit from the Ministry of Agriculture in 1943. She was also a member of the Westminster branch of the Women's Voluntary Services, assisting the Civil Defence Services.

Lloyd did not marry but shared a great friendship with Annie Elizabeth Kerslake, who had also been a matron at the 1st Southern General Hospital. According to files held at the National Archives, both Lloyd and Kerslake had connections to the address at 37 Blenheim Rd, Moseley, Birmingham. Kerslake later ran a nursing home at 52 St George's Square, London, and she and Lloyd lived together in retirement in a flat at this address. They moved to Elstree in later life, but following the death of Kerslake, Lloyd went to live in Bognor Regis with her niece. Kathleen Grace Lloyd died 7th October 1976. In notes about her life, Kathleen's nephew wrote "Though at the time of her birth, her parents were told by the doctor 'you'll never rear that one', she lived a successful and busy life for most of 99 years".

Information mainly taken from notes made by the depositor, and by Lloyd's great nephew. For further information about Kathleen Lloyd and the 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham see: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Birmingham%27s+own+Lady+with+the+Lamp%3B+The+Great+Hall+at+Birmingham...-a0105362074 (accessed October 2014).

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Please see full catalogue for more information.

See deposit file for War Office records relating to Lloyd and Kerslake (originals held at The National Archives), and information re Ellen Mary Musson, Principal Matron 1st Southern General Hospital (ask staff for access to these copies).

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

Cadbury Research Library holds a letter from [Kathleen Grace] Lloyd to Margery Fry, agreeing to the terms of the rental of University House as a nurses' hostel, 1914 (reference UB/HUH/A/3/1/2, item 9); and press cuttings from Birmingham newspapers relating to the university including an article of the use of the Great Hall as a hospital during the First World War and the work of Kathleen Grace Lloyd as matron (reference US133).

'The Southern Cross' magazine, the journal of the 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, 1916-1919 produced monthly by staff and patients of the hospital, is held in Cadbury Research Library reference: UC/9/iii/25. References to Kathleen Grace Lloyd 'Matron Lloyd', and Annie Elizabeth Kerslake within 'Southern Cross' can be found in the PDF document below.

An embroidered quilt made for Kathleen Lloyd by her patients in the hospital, 1917-1918, is held with the Research and Cultural Collections department at the University of Birmingham, (their reference: A891).

Cadbury Research Library also holds the papers of a staff member of the 1st Southern General Hospital, William Billington (reference US100); copies of albums compiled 1906-1920 by Eveline ('Evelyn') Wauchope, a nurse who worked at the 1st Southern General Hospital (reference MS871); and records of the University of Birmingham (ask staff for details).

Records relating to the 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, were featured in 'Suburban Birmingham', ('Patriotism and Protest'), a partnership project led by the University of Birmingham, and produced by Birmingham Archives & Heritage, Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, and University of Birmingham Special Collections. Details available at: http://www.connectinghistories.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sb-considerable-derangement-print.pdf (website correct March 2016).

Additional photographs of Matron Lloyd, other nursing staff, and the 1st Southern General Hospital can be viewed via the Library of Birmingham's website: http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/casualtiesofwar (website correct March 2016).