Society Angels of the Great War

             

Nellie Hozier  ( Later Mrs Bertram Romilly)

Nellie Hozier  showed great courage in joining  the Angela Manners  Ambulance Corps in August  1914. What follows  is from Nellie's  personal  papers ( held in Hereford Archives) :  “ A surgeon ,  6 nurses and myself left Charing Cross at 8.30 AM on Saturday the 14th of Aug 1914 for Brussels. The expedition was organized by Angela Manners and financed by her family and many friends. I went as secretary and interpreter ( friends do not smile ) dressed in nurses’ uniforms for greater safety.  On arriving we were installed in a convent. After being there five days we received this telegram  ( see below* ). We did not wish to leave Brussels   and we could not  for the Germans were already in possession of this town, they had entered that very day. We were shut off from the outside world, pleased  to be here to do work but very angry  at being under German rule. Never mind we will wait to see till the English appear.” *”TELEGRAM FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL TO NELLIE HOZIER  “ STRONGLY ADVISE GOING ANTWERP WHERE WORK WILL BE USEFUL  THROUGHOUT THE WAR = WINSTON” Nellie and her colleagues served in Belgium for several months treating the war wounded.  In November 1914 they were all arrested and thrown into prison, their release later secured by Brand Whitlock ,  ( 1869-1934) the American representative in Brussels ( later the American Ambassador).

For more information on members of  the Angela Manners Ambulance Corps please contact William Cross by e-mail.

williecross@virginmedia.com