Dorothea's War: The Diaries of a First World War Nurse

by Dorothea Crewdson, Richard Crewdson (Editor)

In April 1915, Dorothea Crewdson, a newly trained Red Cross nurse, and her best friend Christie, received instructions to leave for Le Tréport in northern France. Filled with excitement at the prospect of this great adventure, she began writing a diary. Over the next four years Dorothea would witness and record some of the worst horror of the Great War, yet somehow she maintained her optimism, curiosity and high spirits throughout. The pages of her diary sparkle with warmth and humour whether she is describing the frustrations of life on the ward, the pleasure of a beautiful sunset, flirtations with the doctors, or a trip 'joyriding' in the countryside on one of her precious days off. By turns intimate, gossipy, charming and moving, these extraordinarily evocative diaries offer a rare glimpse of the heroic work of a nurse in the First World War.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War I, Biography, Historical, Memoir, Biography Memoir

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2013

Reviews

[Caryl Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very few diaries or accounts of nursing in the First World War have survived, and if they did, many were unpublished, or retained by family members. No doubt there are a fair few lurking in various archives

Thanks to the nephew of Dorothea Crewdson, Richard Crewdson, who discovered and edited his aunt's diaries, we now have the pleasure of reading them. There is much that can be learned from reading this diary. Written by a young nurse, who started the diary as a newly trained Red Cross VAD in 1915; the diary chronicles her time during the subsequent years of the First World War, both at work and off duty. Written in an energetic, spirited and interesting way by someone who obviously had a good sense of humour. The diary also includes Dorothea's own drawings.

Sadly Dorothea died in March 1919 after contracting peritonitis, just before she was due to return home to England, which makes the diary an even more poignant read, knowing that as a reader you are in fact reading about the last events of a young girl's life. A valuable contribution to the social history of those times and a book that should be on the school curriculum.

[Amy W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather charming with its genuine illustrations. All the talk about food appealed to me – Dorothea seemed to love eating as much as I do.

The book seemed well researched. The footnotes were good and the war chronology at the back gave context. It's clear a lot of love went into producing this book. Though that, really, is the problem with it. I'm sure if you're a relative of Dorothea then these diaries must be very special and hold a lot of personal meaning. For the average person though, after a while her entries weren't all that riveting.

Dorothea did move around a few hospitals, but she didn't really do very much. Of course she provided much needed help and support, but in terms of the nitty gritty of surgical operations and the real horror of war she remained mostly on the periphery in her role as a volunteer (VAD/Voluntary Aid Detachment).

There was a lot of talk of day trips she and other volunteers took to surrounding villages. This was pleasant to read, but again doesn't tell you about the war. A fair amount of her time was spent on half-empty wards without very much to do. I suppose it was a true reflection of her experience and I wouldn't have wanted her to embellish or make up events that didn't happen, but still, the sameness did get a bit dry to read after a while.

I feel awful saying that because Dorothea seemed a very nice lady who always kept her spirits up and no doubt improved the lives of those around her. She also made some witty observations and had a lot of friends. It's not her fault life as a VAD was quite boring. That's really the only problem here.

These diaries are an important historical reference and it's great they've been reproduced in this way. I just feel like there are better accounts of the war out there which go a little deeper.

Note: I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diaries kept by a VAD nurse during her service in the field hospitals of France during World War 1. She writes of the routines, the days off and the people she worked and served with and much more. It is rather tragic with the reader knowing that she would only live a few months more past the armistice. Her premature death is revealed at the very beginning. So reading knowing when she has only months, weeks and days to live is heartrending.

At the end is a copy of Matron’s letter to Dorothea’s mother notifying her of her daughter’s death. It is such an incredibly moving tribute to Dorothea that if reading such a tribute should fail to affect anyone that reads it then that person must be devoid of any human compassion whatsoever.

I cannot recommend it too highly.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read of life in the first world war by a British Red Cross VAD nurse. If you are interested in a diary read that gives insight into history ... go for it.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well put together with easily accessible notes which gave context to the work being done through a concise chronology of the major battles. There wasn't any padding, which was wonderful. It was mainly just Dorothea's diaries and her small sketches and doodles. The diaries were powerful, as I really got to know her as a person. At times she spoke of individual soldiers in her care and named them. She often commented on what lovely people they were and her sadness when they died. I was able to look up the individual soldier's names on the War Graves Commission and it all tallied; serving to remind me that these were real people. I did well up when I read the Nursing Matron's letter to Dorothea's parents at the end, as the sudden nature of it all matched with the abrupt end to the diary.

I would have liked the map to have had a few more towns on it, as when Dorothea went on her brief tour of the front line some of these places weren't on the map but this is only a slight disappointment.

I recommend this book to those who have a strong interest in WW1 and military history. There is much social history included for example the need for chaperones for unmarried women; even in their thirties! The difficulties prior to antibiotics even with just a septic finger and the beginnings of the Spanish Flu epidemic. This wasn't however a book that I could steam through. There was a large section in the middle which was rather monotonous but then it was a diary of real life and she was doing repetitive nursing not gadding about on adventure after adventure. But of course it wasn't all about work. I really did get a good feel for her life in France and it was on the whole very interesting and at times very moving.

[Lisa Shardlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothea and her best friend Christie were newly trained Red Cross nurses when they were sent to northern France in 1915, to look after the wounded soldiers on the front line. Filled with excitement at this new adventure, Dorothea started to keep a diary. She documented everything that happened during her time in France, and you can really get a sense of the type of person that she was.

I really enjoyed this. It’s a very authentic look at a nurse’s role during the first world war. Dorothea wrote about everything from wounds, to rivalries with other members of staff, handsome soldiers, septic fingers, shell shock (as they called PTSD back then), air raids, choir practice and concerts, flu cases, and her many admirers. There were some entertaining parts, as well as a lot of harrowing parts. But all the way through, her sense of humour really comes across in her writing. Night duty was definitely not one of her favourite duties, and she wrote about it as though it was the end of the world every time it came around for her!

I’m not sure that there was anything that I didn’t like about this. It was very interesting and informative. I also really have a thing about reading diaries and epistolary stories as well, they give you an insight into the person who has written it, so that’s another reason why I loved it so much. I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys nonfiction memoirs and/or diaries, anyone who has an interest in the first world war and history, medical professions and nursing.

[Hope Burmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible look into the world in the early 1900's. The whole time I was reading this, I felt like I was seeing things right through the eyes of Dorothea. It was very real and honest and at times, interesting how she was quite oblivious to the war. She seemed to be a lot more curious about it and I found it strange that a group of them watched a bomb exploding in a distance as if it were fireworks. She even says it is exciting which shows that they had a very different mindset of the war than we do today. Having the chronology of WWI events was helpful to understand what went on. I learnt a thing or too about the war from it. However, Dorothea's first-hand account of seeing and experiencing all the injuries, trauma and even a bomb exploding in the hospital, is like no other. It brings the war to life like no history book ever could. It was fairly easy to read as Dorothea writes rather plainly and openly, and shares all the details of her years as a nurse. I think Dorothea is an extraordinarily brave woman, surviving injuries and witnessing horrors, while still maintaining a lively spirit. By the end, when she passes, it was obvious that she was dearly loved by her workmates but especially her patients who made a bouquet for her memorial. She was loved because she poured her heart and soul into nursing. She paved the way for nurses today, who should similarly pour such passion and love into every aspect of patient care.

[Chrystyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothea's War by Dorothea Crewdson - Good

Dorothea was a Red Cross Nurse during WW1 and these are her diaries.
Rather than being full of woe and awful detail she seems to focus on anything but. It's full of trips out on days off and picnics and the various entertainments....but every now and then reality creeps in and the sheer horror of it all gets a mention. Regardless, it's an interesting read full of the details of daily life, the monotony of night shift, the bursts of activity after each battle and every now and then a little sketch of something she found interesting or funny.

While the horror is there in the background, she doesn't dwell on it and the saddest thing of all is that she survived the war and the Spanish flu only to succumb to peritonitis before she could return to home and family and enjoy the rest of her life.

Interesting background to it all.

#review

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was also published under this title and author: Dorothea’s war : a first world war nurse tells her story : Dorothea Crewdson, edited by Richard Crewdson
Dorothea was a Red Cross trained nurse in England during World War I. She volunteered to work in the military camps near the battle front in France. Dorothea kept diaries of her experiences and the day to day happenings during June 12, 1915 to March 6, 1919. I admired her determination “to make the best of things” and her decision to see the positive side of life despite difficult situations. Her diary entries give the reader a clear picture of what it was like to work in and behind the front lines. Her nephew, Richard, Crewdson did an excellent job of editing her account.

[Carol Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first-hand account of nursing in field hospitals in France during the First World War is fascinating. The author kept a diary with such detailed observations and beautiful tiny sketches for almost 4 years, and it is riveting to read. Tragically, she died in March 1919, having stayed on in France to care for soldiers, prisoners of war, and other nurses, many of whom suffered and died from the influenza pandemic. Her death was not from influenza and came shockingly quickly--her last diary entry is just 6 days earlier. Her writing is well worth reading for anyone interested in the history of nursing, or of war.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this book several days ago while on vacation. Interesting to an extent to see the day to day life of a VAD in WWI France. I did, however, expect more descriptions of patients and duties. Instead a lot of entries focused on walking into town, picking flowers and having tea, etc. The last couple of chapters did finally focus a little more on the patients and duties.

Not the worst book about military nurses, but I've also read plenty of better books on the subject.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong character, stoic, empathetic and serving as a VAD to nurse the soldiers in France. How brave! What pioneered! What a legacy they leave to inspire the respect and thanks for a lost youth in WW1. Truly insightful even though diary format.

[Amber Meller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly fascinating, about a nurse during WW1 who saw the horrors of what war can do first hand.

[Tiffany Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing story. Especially Dorothea who does her duty with resilience, especially being surrounded by such horrifying death in all weather conditions imaginable.

[Ginger Monette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for anyone doing research on WW1 VAD's/nursing/hospitals on the Western Front.

Dorthea was among the first 'crop' of British VAD's to arrive in France and served all four years in hospitals along the French coast. The reader gets a clear sense of the daily rhythm of life, the relationships she built with other VAD's and Sisters, the constant flow of patients in and out, the drudgery of night duty, the entertainment enjoyed by staff and patients, the feel for the costal town and the surrounding countryside, as well as the culture of the day--such as chaperones accompanying the women.

As a writer, I was able to make notes of minor details like the kinds of flowers blooming in the area, the weather, foods eaten, sleeping conditions, etc.

As with other facets of the army, personnel were moved around a lot--it was no different with VAD's and nurses. It was not uncommon for a VAD or nurse to have only a few hours notice of a transfer. Goodbyes were quickly said, bags packed, and the person was off.

The book is dense. There are few paragraph breaks, and entries generally take up at least a half page. Although it was greatly enjoyed, it was not a quick read as I made 11 typed pages of notes throughout the process. Her writing style was engaging and pages were often adorned by charming sketches she made of her subjects.

I highly recommend the book for those looking to get a feel for the setting, culture, and lifestyle of a caregiver during WW1.

[Mark Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An 'ordinary' diary of a well-to-do lady who crosses to France to nurse wounded soldiers in the great war. This book held me spellbound for several days.
It's difficult to say why - there is no action, no great romance, no scandal. Not being from a medical background I can't say whether the nursing part gives any great insight into practice. Maybe that's the charm - the fact that it captures the everyday feelings of being part of the war through the initial hopes and then the despair of the great campaigns, finishing with the relief of the end. Just relief, not celebration...this is a side to the war that we don't hear. In November 1918 there was no 'VE Day' type celebrations as people weren't sure the Armistice would last.
The book is very well written by a young lady of her time and social background. Dorothea appears very well educated and her writing contains the wonderful matter-of-factness of the day. A fascinating and entertaining book.

[Declan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read,Dorothea remained with a positive outlook when the glass was less than half full. She was never poisoned by the horrors of war and kept a spiritual perception throughout. A great pity to read the introduction before the book.

[Brylynn Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing insight into a nurse's perspective of the War that was meant to end all wars. Many of these women tend to be forgotten and this book is proof that women were pulling more than their own weight during The Great War.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothea Crewdson was born and brought up in England where she trained as a nurse with the Red Cross. In 1915, at the age of 28, she and her best friend, Christie, were posted to a military hospital in France and Dorothea began keeping these diaries of her experience there.

Between 1915 and 1918 she was stationed at three different hospitals where she did everything from changing dressings to waiting on tables. Living conditions were poor, mostly huts and tents that were too hot in summer and too cold in winter. There were times when there was no water or electricity in the hospital wards and times when sleep was interrupted by German bombers, when they huddled in underground bunkers waiting nervously to see how the night would end . She nursed patients suffering from diseases like influenza, dysentery and diphtheria; and those who were brutally wounded on the battlefield.

Dorothea was a sensible woman, capable, responsible and hard working, but fun-loving, with a good sense of humor. I think her resilience, more than anything, impressed me. She tended to look at the positive side of any situation, finding things to like and admire even in people who were difficult to live and work with. She was friendly with patients, soldiers and nurses alike and was well-liked in return. In her off hours she walked miles, exploring the villages and coastline and enjoying all the charm of the French countryside. She took part in whatever activities were available to her, joining choirs, a book club and helping put on shows to entertain the patients.

It was refreshing to read a first hand account like this that included all the ordinary, daily things that had to be managed under the most difficult conditions. Movies often make things so dramatic that reality is missed, but here we get to see how an ordinary woman did ordinary things in the most extra-ordinary situation. It was inspiring, and well written besides. The author has a good vocabulary and descriptive skills, providing lots of detail without rambling. And her own sketches are scattered throughout the journal entries, allowing even more of a first hand look at her life.

Journals and memoirs that transport us to a different time or culture are the best way to experience a life that is not available to us. Dorothea's War will do that for you and I think the experience will stay with you a long time.