Illustrated Chronicle 29/11/1916
The Illustrated Chronicle 29/11/1916 reports:
"Miss Olive Smith, a member of the staff of one of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service, has died on active service. Miss Smith was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Robert Smith, of Greystone Dale, Haltwhistle. She had a distinguished career as a physical training instructor.
From Durham College of Science, Newcastle, she went to Madame Oesterberg’s Physical training College, Dartford, and after a three years’ course became the first woman teacher of gymnastics to female prisoners in Glasgow prison.
Miss Smith afterwards joined the staff of the U.F. Training College, Glasgow, and on the institution of the Provincial Committee for the Training of Teachers, about nine years ago, was appointed head teacher of the physical training department.
On the outbreak of war she gave her services as a trained masseuse to a Glasgow hospital, later joining the staff of a military hospital in Malta. A few months ago she went out with the Scottish Women’s Hospital Unit.
Of the way she discharged her duties, it is sufficient to quote the following testimony from the letter announcing her death: The place which Miss Smith occupied in Dr. Bennett’s unit was a most important one, and we know that her work in the unit was very highly appreciated by Dr. Bennett. The Committee feel that in her death the unit has lost one of its most valuable members."
Olive Smith is remembered in Haltwhistle on H5.01, H5.04 and H5.06
