The Diary of Evelyn Jackson 1916

Diary of Evelyn Jackson, VAD Nurse

Evelyn Marian Jackson was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire in 1892. Her father William Jackson, a corn miller, had died by 1901 and her mother Frances had moved to 2, Stanley Street, Bedford, with Evelyn and her siblings William Frank, Dorothy, George, Elsie and Lizzie. The 1911 Census records Evelyn as aged 19, with no occupation. However by 1916 she was a Voluntary Aid Detachment assistant nurse, working at No.18 General Hospital in Camiers, France. She kept a diary from May to December 1916. After the war Evelyn returned to Bedford and lived at 2 Stanley Street then from 1923 at 18 St George’s Road. Evelyn died  on 15 March 1978. Her diary and a sketchbook were purchased in a house clearance sale in 1978 and donated to the Archive Service by Mr Richard Wildman. The diary may be seen at the archive service under reference Z160/429/1.