Sister (Res) G.G. Ainsworth

Royal Naval Hospital Peebles, now that's one I have never heard of, enjoy the read.



Name: AINSWORTH
Initials: G G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Nursing Sister (Res.)
Regiment/Service: Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
Unit Text: Royal Naval Hospital, Peebles 
Date of Death: 29/10/1918
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1209.
Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY

Sister Glen Ainsworth
Voluntary Aid Detachment
Died 29 October 1918

ONE of the marvels of the Great War was the way in which the women of the Empire nobly responded to the call of their Mother. None more so than the compassionate sisterhood of nursing. From every rank of life, from every hamlet, town, and palace, their numbers were recruited for the sorrowful yet magnificent campaign against disease, suffering, and death. Many a soldier, from the ultimate outposts of the Empire, voluntarily exiled from home and loved ones, learned to bless those selfless followers of the Mother of Mercy. Of such was Sister AlNSWORTH, who, after years of devoted ministry in the noblest of all causes, succumbed at the post of duty.
Sister Ainsworth was born at Stockton-on-Tees in 1889. Her father was an engineer, who was drowned when Glen was six years old. From a child, her desire was to become a nurse ; it was her vocation. At the age of 18, she entered the Sick Children's Hospital at Bradford, and continued there for three years. Thereafter she went to the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool, and continued until the outbreak of war. She was one of the first of the nurses to volunteer for foreign service. Her first post was at the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta, for two years, thence back to Plymouth. When Peebles Hydropathic was taken over by the Admiralty as an Auxiliary Naval Hospital, Sister Ainsworth was transferred thither; and there remained at the post of duty — hard-working, unselfish, beloved by all, until seized with pneumonia. 'She passed away on the 29th of October 1918, greatly regretted, for she was greatly loved. Her body, enwrapt in the Union Jack, was borne to its resting-place in the beautiful cemetery attached to the ancient Church of St Andrew of Peebles, covered with flowers, and escorted with naval honours, by the staff and patients of the Hospital, who mourned a true and loyal friend; and the bugle notes of "The Last Post" lulled her body to rest.

We waited at the heavenly gate,
As those who watch for morning wait
The faithful dawn to see.
A thin cloud veiled it from our view,
But it was close at hand, we knew,
With Him who has the key.

He was beside us, strong and true,
His patient, perfect work to do,
His words of grace to say;
And on the bed. He came to bless,
The shadow of his loveliness
In tranquil outline lay.

Through mortal pain from change to change,
A hallowed way that was not strange
With Him our loved one went;
While from His breast; with resting eyes,
She watched the light of love arise
On all the griefs He sent.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

We saw the gate unclose at last,
And through the opening, as she passed,
A gleam of glory came;
It set its seal upon her face -
It filled her sad, forsaken place
With one triumphant Name.

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2