b. 13/11/1889 Witney, Oxfordshire. d. 24/05/1969 Burford, Oxfordshire.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 01/10/1918 Rousbrugge, Belgium.
Alice M Batt AM
Alice Maud Batt was the daughter of Charles Dorrington and Isabel Batt (nee Wake). As did so many of the later members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), she came from a wealthy family. She was tutored at home before attending Wycombe Abbey School. She joined the Oxford 22 VAD in 1911 and in November 1914, reported for duty at the Lady Evelyn Mason Hospital for Officers.
In March 1916, she arrived at No 9 British Red Cross Hospital, also known as the Millicent Sutherland Ambulance. By coincidence, it was the same unit as another Albert Medallist, Gladys White. Alice spent the war in different hospitals and casualty clearing stations. On 7th September 1915, while on leave, she saved Patty Hickman, aged 11, from drowning at Brigg, on the Cumbrian coast, for which she was awarded the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society. She also got the Special Service Cross in 1917 from the British Red Cross. She received her Albert Medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 10th April 1919. She never married, and died aged 79, in 1969 at Burford, Oxfordshire.
AM CITATION:
On the 1st October, 1918, a fire broke out at No. 36, Casualty Clearing Station at Rousbrugge, Belgium, and quickly reached the operating theatre, where the surgeon, was performing an abdominal operation. The light went out, and the theatre was quickly filled with-smoke and flames, but the operation was continued by the light of an electric torch, Miss Batt continuing her work of handing instruments and threading needles with steadfast calmness, thereby enabling the surgeon to complete the operation. Miss Batt afterwards did splendid work in helping to carry men from the burning wards to places of safety.
BURIAL LOCATION: BURFORD CEMETERY, BURFORD, OXFORDSHIRE.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HELD BY FAMILY.
Acknowledgement:
Alastair Kennedy-Rose – Image of Alice Batt AM.