Name
Gertrude Lucinda Roskell
8 December 1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/10/1915
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Nurse
5540
Voluntary Aid Detachment
17th General Hospital
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
Q.539
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Welwyn Village Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Roll of Honour, Welwyn, Not on the Knebworth memorial
Pre War
Gertrude Lucinda Roskell was born in Penarth, South Wales on 8 December 1878 to John Burrow and Mary Gertrude Roskell (nee Williams) and was one of five children although one died in infancy. She was baptised on 15 January 1879 at St Augustine's Church, Penarth and the family were then living at Windsor Road, Penarth. She was educated at Howell's School near Llandaff.
Gertrude came from a middle class family, her father John being described as a ‘Gentleman’ at her baptism, and employing servants on the 1881 census. Unfortunately he died in 1886, leaving an estate of £519 to his widow Mary Gertrude. She was a talented pianist, described in 1891 as a ‘Professor of Music’, and living at Windsor Terrace, Penarth. After her husband’s death she played many classical concerts, particularly with the Carl Elderhorst string quartet. Her mother had moved the family to Hove, Sussex by 1901 and they were living at 38 Hova Villas.
Gertrude's mother married Carl Elderhorst on 29 January 1903 at St Mary's Church, Bryanston Square, Marylebone, London and on the 1911 Census, Carl, Mary and Gertrude were boarding in Duchess Street, Westminster, London, possibly whilst they took part in a concert. Gertrude was then described as having no occupation.
In 1913 Mary and Carl Elderhorst held a concert in St. Mary’s Hall, Welwyn, the proceeds of which were donated to the Woolmer Green Church Organ Fund. On enlistment Gertrude's address was given as Beethoven Cottage, near Welwyn. Her mother later lived at 'Cronkley', Pondcroft Road, Knebworth and when she died in 1946 was buried in Knebworth Cemetery along with Gertrude's stepfather Carl Elderhorst.
Wartime Service
Gertrude was engaged on 11 September 1915 as a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (Herts) and was posted to Egypt. She was working at 17 General Hospital where she had been nursing in the enteric fever ward but had only been at the hospital a few weeks when she was taken ill and died of appendicitis on 31st October 1915.
She is buried in Alexandria Chatby Military Cemetery, Egypt.
Additional Information
Her mother received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £15 2s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Paul Jiggens, Welwyn and District History Society - www.welwynww1.co.uk,
