| Personal Details |
| Name: | Sister Dudley |
| Type: | Staff |
| Born in camp? |
No |
| Died in camp? |
No |
| Gender: | female |
| Race: | white |
| Occupation: | nurse |
| Notes: | 28/2/1901: Services not wanted at Springfontein camp |
| Unique ID: | 114 |
| Camp History |
| Name: | Springfontein RC |
| Notes: | 2/3/1901: Request for her removal as unsatisfactory for this camp. 'The work among the low class of Boers sucha as are chiefly in evidence here, calls for the services of a Nurse who is callous to the disagreeable conditions which obtain among this community. Sister Dudly has evidently never had any experience of this nature, and is, perhaps, more than usually fastidious. A person of the stamp of Mrs Bullen is especially adapted for the duties here.'
CSC recommended that she remain & work in harmony with Mrs Bullen.
Also note: 'Another of Dr Waterston's nurses. With more experience she possibly may be able to get on better.
12/3/1901: Superintendent, Springfontein to CSRC: complaining that 'Sister Dudley' was rather too fond of strong drink than was desirable in a nursing sister.
13/3/1901: CSRC to Superintendent, Springfontein: discharging her and sending her to Cape Town from where she came. Asks for confidential report.
16/3/1901: Reply attaching statements.
15/3/1901: James Peter Beek, clerk to superintendent: 'On the night of 11th March I went up to call Sister Bullen to a confinement case and noticed Sister Dudley. She was very excited and behaving in anything but a decorous manner - patting an orderly on the back and frisking about. I feel sure drink was the cause of it.
15/3/1901: Mrs Bullen, head nurse: 'I noticed Sister Dudley behaving in a very extraordinary manner, a few days after her arrival in the Camp. On the 3rd of March, in the afternoon I saw her dancing about in the marquee and outside - holding her chest nearly up to her knees. She also went to the WC with her hair hanging down her back (she is usually rather particular about her head-dress. All the assistants were laughing at her. On several occasions subsequently I have noticed her being unusually excited. I have heard her complain, after these occasions of having a splitting headache. / She has asked me to have some whisky.'
15/3/1901: Miss Wessels, assistant nurse: 'It was on the 3rd of March I noticed Sister Dudley as being very peculiar - I endorse all that Mrs Bullen has stated. I distinctly smelt her breath as being tainted with brandy or whisky. I have often noticed her excited, generally in the evening, and several times at night (I sleep in the same Marquee) she has suddenly put the light out and I have heard bottles clinking. On the night of the 10th March a baby was born in the camp & Sister Dudley wanted to assist but Mrs Bullen objected. She was very jolly and patting an orderly on the back. / She has always made matters very unpleasant for all of us.'
15/3/1901: Miss Hanky van Niekerk, refugee: 'On the occasion mentioned by Miss Wessels (3rd March) and several times besides, I have noticed Sister Dudley, capering about in a most extraordinary manner. It was generally in the afternoon or early evening - I am perfectly certain in my own mind - this was the result of drink.'
15/3/1901: Miss Philippina Uys, refugee: endorses all the above.
18/3/1901: Cape Town, letter from Miss Dudley appealing against her dismissal
25/3/1901: CSRC: 'She appears to be a skirt dancer with considerable talent.' |
| Sources |
| Title: | SRC 02 |
| Type: | Correspondence |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 02 |
| Dates: | Feb 1901-7 Mar 1901 |
| Notes: | RC295 28/2/1901, Telegram, Superintendent Springfontein to CSRC |
| Title: | SRC 03 |
| Type: | Correspondence |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 03 |
| Dates: | Mar 1901 RC497-779 |
| Notes: | RC551, 12/3/1901, Superintendent, Springfontein to CSRC and related correspondence. |
| Title: | SRC 02 |
| Type: | Correspondence |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 02 |
| Dates: | Feb 1901-7 Mar 1901 |
| Notes: | RC295 28/2/1901, Telegram, Superintendent Springfontein to CSRC |
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British Concentration Camps