THE discovery of an album kept by a Glasgow nurse in World War One has shed light on therapies used to help shell-shocked soldiers more than a century ago.
The 1917 album, which was found in a locked trunk, reveals Jean Thomson was ahead of her time in realising arts and crafts can aid recovery from trauma.
Jean’s granddaughter, retired civil servant Alison Jean Rutherford, said: “I discovered the album while clearing out my mum’s house after her death in 2022, aged 93.
“My mum was Nancy, Jean’s only child, and she spent most of her life in Scotland though she moved south to St Albans for her later years to be near me.
“My mother never showed me this album, although she gave me several rolled bead necklaces and explained how they were made by the soldiers and often given to the nurses.
“I found the album in an old trunk full of family papers that I took from her house after she died. Luckily I had the key.”
Alison added: “Since moving to Nottingham to be nearer my own older daughter, I have been working my way through these papers, and found this album along with photos of my granny in 1917.
“It seemed right to share it more widely, and I will make a donation to the Poppy Appeal from any money raised.”
In 1917, Jean Thomson was a nurse at Merryflats War Hospital, a poorhouse in Govan requisitioned as a military hospital in 1914.
She helped servicemen who had been shattered by the 1914-18 Great War to recover, both mentally and physically, by inviting them to draw and write their thoughts, and the result is a moving collection of words and pictures.
The 107-year-old album, uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, offers new insight into medical techniques to ease what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
It also sheds light on the character of the men sent into a war that cost the lives of around 40 million people, both military and civilian.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “The album was brought to us for valuation by Jean’s granddaughter.
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“Page after page is taken up by sketches and words put there by heroes from the trenches. Their ability to rise above adversity is demonstrated.
“For example, one cartoon, drawn by a soldier named Private Coles, shows a wounded man, bandaged from head to foot and on crutches, talking to a nurse. He says, ‘I’m feeling a lot better today’ and she replies, ‘and you’re looking much better too’.
“The cartoon captures the British spirit, and sense of humour, in the darkest times.”
Charles added: “Jean encouraged patients to draw and write to aid rehabilitation.
“She worked with soldiers who’d suffered shell shock through battle stress, and the horrible condition, trench foot.
“Other WW1 mementos include necklaces made for Jean by injured soldiers from beads and rolled paper. This may sound odd, but after suffering wartime horrors creative tasks proved beneficial. In fact, embroidery was used as a therapy for injured WW1 soldiers and some made a living through it after the war.”
One soldier, called Sergeant Atherton, captured the fashion of the time in his drawings.
One is entitled ‘A fair young maid of England’, while another telling sketch shows a silhouetted image of a soldier in uniform clutching his sweetheart with the words, ‘This parting gives me pain’.
“Discoveries like this open our eyes to history and offer a glimpse of the character of men and women caught up in WW1,” added Charles.
“Its estimate is a modest £70 to £100 but perhaps it deserves a place in a war museum.”
After her nursing career, Jean, the daughter of a Glasgow church minister, qualified as a doctor in the 1920s.
In 1926 she married Arthur Browning (1897-1962), also a doctor, who was born in Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire.
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They met at Glasgow Medical School. He played rugby for Scotland seven times between 1920 and 1923 and was said to have the “strongest drop kick in the land” - despite having suffered a knee injury in WW1 while serving with the Gordon Highlanders in France.
Charles said: “Arthur and Jean exemplified their generation. Arthur served his country again in WW2, this time as a medical officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps.
“He was posted for several years to the Middle East, and his letters home to Jean and Nancy have been donated by the family to the Imperial War Museum.
“Our ancestors served their county well. Long may finds like this resurface so we can remember them.”
The album will be offered on July 23 in Hansons’ Derbyshire Antiques and Collectors Auction.
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