William Dodd Heslop was an apprentice blacksmith age 14 in 1881, working at the Waldridge Colliery, where his father John Heslop, [born 1835, died 1911], was employed. John was married to Ann [nee Dodd] Heslop, [born 1834]. They were residing at 2 West Row, Waldridge Village, in 1881.
William Dodd Heslop was the youngest son, one of ten children, the other children were Margaret, born 1861, Jane, born 1862, John, born 1859, Frances, born 1863, Matthew, born 1857, Mary, born 1857, David, born 1875, Eva, born 1872 and Jessie, born 1869 all born at Waldridge Village.
By 1891, William Dodd Heslop, had married Elizabeth [nee Shields], in 1887 and were residing at Three Tuns, in Birtley, Co, Durham. They had eight children but 3 died. Frances Heslop, born 1887, the eldest, Matthew Heslop, born 20th February 1890, married a Mary Elizabeth? [nee Noddles], [born 14th August 1889], in 1911, she died in 1954. In 1939 they were residing at 2 Ship Cottages, Pelton. {Also at this address was her brother widowed James Noddles, born 13th December 1893, and his son William Noddles, born 11th January 1923}, Matthew died on the 14th October 1966. Annie Heslop, born 1896, Jane Heslop, born 1st July 1899, she married a Christopher William Sotheran in June 1918, she died in December 1994 and Lily Heslop, born 9th February 1904, she married a George Sager Urwin, [born 6th March 1903, died 1st September 1973], in June 1927 at Chester-le-Street, in 1939 they were residing at 14 Industrial Street, Pelton. Lily died in September 2002.
By1895, William Heslop , a blacksmith at the Colliery, and his family had moved to Ousten, and were now residing at Cement street. By 1901, they were residing at 243 East Street, Ousten. Matthew had left the family home by this time. Frances was a Staff Nurse working at the High Teams Hospital at Gateshead.
Frances married a Benjamin Cruickshank [Born 17th September 1885], in early 1917 at Gateshead, before September 1917. Frances had volunteered into the Territorial Force Nursing Service T.F.N.S., on the 7th September 1917 and was immediately sent to the 1st Northern General Hospital at Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) was established by Richard Haldane as part of the Territorial Force, created by his reform of auxiliary forces in the United Kingdom (UK). The service was inaugurated in July 1908, and its first Matron-in-Chief was Sidney Browne, who had previously held this position in the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS). Twenty-three large buildings, such as schools, colleges, hotels and public buildings, were earmarked across the country for use as territorial hospitals, though they retained their civilian usage in peacetime and would only become operational in the event of war. TFNS nurses had to be 23 years of age or older and must have completed at least three years of training in a recognised hospital. They received neither pay nor special training during peacetime, though matrons underwent seven days of training in a military hospital bi-annually. By March 1909, enough nurses for 15 hospitals in England and Scotland had volunteered. Also in 1909, the TFNS was augmented by the affiliation of the Red Cross-organised Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADs). By January 1911, some 3,000 nurses had enrolled in the TFNS, and the next year the VADs numbered some 26,000 members. In 1913, TFNS nurses were given permission to volunteer for overseas service.Whilst she was in service, Francs was described as a 'very capable, and is suitable for promotion, a capable nurse in every way',
Every nurse had an Annual Confidential Repor t W3131, issued , which was seen by the Matron and the Commanding Officer of the R.A.M.C. and the Deputy Director of Medical Services. In her case it was a Major in Northern Command. This would show the nurses performance and capabilities in her duties throughout her years.
They also each received a silver service badge, the design based on the 'double A' cipher of Queen Alexandra, which was to be worn on the right side of their dress or apron during the normal course of their civilian duty, with the permission of their employer. Frances was forced to resign from the T.F.N.S., on the 29th March 1919. {as all married nurses were from the T.F.N.S }. She had completed 1 year 204 days service. [Note the photograph above shows Frances wearing her Medal].
Military nurses were traditionally required to be unmarried or widowed with no dependents, but the shortage of nurses during the war meant that married women were allowed into the service and single nurses who married were allowed to remain. Following the war, most nurses returned to civilian work, and all married nurses were forced to resign from the TFNS. In line with the reconstitution of the Territorial Force as the Territorial Army, the TFNS became the Territorial Army Nursing Service in 1921.
On the 30th May 1919, Frances wrote a handwritten letter to the War Office in London requesting her correct amount of Gratuity. There was some dispute over her length of service within the T.F.N.S., she was requested to supply her full particulars, rank and length of service. Her W3165A [which was a document to claim a gratuity on cessation of service for the T.F.N.S.,], had the wrong period of her service annoted. It showed 1 year and 234 days. Also there had been an increase in Gratuities because of the Royal Warrant dated 9th May 1919.
On the 31st March 1920, the Matron in Chief Sidney Browne wrote a letter thanking Frances for her good service and how her work was appreciated.
Frances and her husband were residing at 252 South Street, Ousten, Birtley until about 1923, when they moved to 64 LangholmRoad, 'Aviemore' Boldon. Frances returned to the High Teams Hospital at Gateshead.
In 1939, Frances and her husband, were residing still at Boldon, and both were now working at the Whiteleas Isolation Hospital at South Shields, Benjamin was the caretaker and Frances as a state registered nurse. She had become a state registered nurse on the 21st March 1924. Number 29334.
Benjamin died in 1954, Frances died in 1984.
