Description
Physical description
Necktie made of black fabric.
History note
This is part of the 'Outdoor Uniform' worn by VAD Kathleen Culling.
Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) were initially recruited from members of The Red Cross Society, St John's Ambulance Brigade, and St Andrew's Ambulance Association. Members were classified as either Mobile or Immobile, the former agreeing to serve overseas, the latter within reach of their homes. Mobile members were aged between 21-40 (later changed 19-45), whilst Immobile were 18-65. The role of these two respective groups was thus that Mobile members were to provide staff for Service hospitals, whilst their colleagues would be employed in Emergency Medical Services Hospitals.
Depending which Service the Mobile VAD served with, she would wear an Outdoor Uniform that featured additional badges and insignia that would identify the branch of service. For example, the dark blue cap, white shirt, black tie, dark blue skirt & jacket would feature RNH/anchor patch to upper left sleeve for naval appointments, whilst those attached to the Army would wear the RAMC badge to their left breast, and those with the RAF would wear a gilt winged caduceus on the collar points. All would wear the cloth embroidered Mobile badge to the lower left sleeve. Red trim around the cap band would indicate officer status, whilst white was worn by British Red Cross Members. This example features metal shoulder insignia indicating British Red Cross grade qualification ('G.I.'); parent organization ('RED CROSS'); detachment number ('144'); and County ('NORFOLK').
In Ward Dress, the VAD would wear a grey/blue dress with white apron, an armband bearing the Mobile badge to the left arm, and a white veil gathered behind the head in a fashion unlike those worn by military nurses.
Kathleen Cunning volunteered to serve with the VAD at Norwich in 1941, having being a member of The British Red Cross. She first served at The Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital at Barrow Gurney, Bristol, and by April 1944 was employed at the Naval Health Office, Liverpool, where she met her future husband. Married in August of 1944, she resigned on becoming pregnant and was discharged from her duties in December of the same year.