Ainsworth, Glen

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. There after 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.

IN A HOSPITAL.

Sister, sister! Can't you hear the humming,

Swelling ever louder in the clear and moonlit sky?

Aye, I know it well, the sound that tells the Boche is coming,

Get you to the shelter now while yet there's time to fly.

Curse them for a dirty crew, they know the game they're playing,

Making war on mangled flesh that can but lie and moan,

Still you cannot help us here, so what's the use of staying?

Get to shelter, sister, I can stick it on my own.

Sister, sister! Hark, the bombs are falling.

Nearer, ever nearer, comes the tide of wounds and death,

Spatter of machine-guns to swell a din appalling,

Acrid fumes that reek of hell and grip the strangling breath!

I can do without my drink and count myself in clover;

I can carry on a treat if only you will go,

Only for a little while until the strafe is over.

Get to shelter, sister dear, this ain't a woman's show.

Sister, sister! Ah! the dark stain growing

There beside the cross of love and mercy on your breast,

Proudly to the cruel foe the badge of courage showing,

What have we to give to you who gave us of your best?

God, who chasteneth His own by pain and tribulation,

Make my body whole and sound against the coming day.

Vengeance, Lord, is Thine, but hear Thy servant's supplication,

Make of me Thine instrument whene'er Thou shalt repay!

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Pages 276 - 279

Name: AINSWORTH, Glen

Initials: G

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Nursing Sister (Res.)

Regiment/Service: Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

Unit Text: R.N. Hosp. (Peebles)

Date of Death: 29/10/1918

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 1209.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY