Hoidge is an unusual name and just a handful of people recorded on the English and Welsh census returns
share it. Nevertheless, Nurse Oliver’s album contains three references
to Hoidge.
The first mention is in a newspaper cutting from 1914 where “Hoidge” is noted as a nurse. There is also a signature, “A Hoidge” on the page on which members of
Sussex 54 VAD have signed their names around a photo of Commandant Margaret Cotesworth,
The final mention is again in a newspaper cutting, this time describing the pantomime that was performed
by convalescent soldiers in February 1917. A “Private Hoidge” is
noted as performing the role of “Forget-me-not”.
The National Archives notes only one Private Hoidge and that is SE/9585 Private Albert Hoidge of the Army
Veterinary Corps. His medal index card notes that he disembarked in France on
27th June 1915 and was discharged to Class Z reserve. There is no
mention of silver war badge so either he returned to the AVC after recuperating or this is not the same person. It is possible also that the Private Hoidge noted in the newspaper report was not a convalescent soldier.
This does not however explain Nurse Hoidge and I am at a loss to provide a convincing explanation at this
stage. It would appear that Private Hoidge and Nurse Hoidge are two different
people but the surname appears to be so uncommon (just eleven people with that name are noted on the 1891 census, ten of them
in Devon) that I have my doubts about this.
Sources and Acknowledgements
· The National Archives: Medal Card Index for Private Albert
Hoidge
