There were "about 20" nurses in Miss Spong's set, and no girl was accepted for training unless she had reached the age of 24 years: an interview with Matron was all that was required for acceptance or rejection as a probationer, and those girls from wealthy families paid for their training, although they were treated in exactly the same way as the others who did not pay at all, unless they broke off their training in which case their father had to repay the Hospital the cost of their board and lodging.

Of the four years' training period one whole year was spent private nursing in the homes of the wealthy citizens of London, who paid The London Hospital for the services of the probationer, whose own salary remained at £12 a YEAR. At the completion of the four years a certificate was awarded by the Hospital, and the nurse could then become a Staff Nurse and then, later, be "tailed" and become a Ward Sister, who wore tails to their caps but no other insignia.

Miss Luckes was Matron, and it was accepted routine that every nurse must visit Matron once a month. Miss Luckes sat on a dais, two or three steps up from the floor, dressed in black silk and a little lace cap: the nurse would shake hands with her, and then drink a cup of cold coffee, and stay for 10-15 minutes, which cannot have been of the gayest and most care-free moments of her hospital life.  Nurses could be expelled for very minor reasons, but there was a long waiting list and they were easily replaced. Miss Spong remembers one Sister being dismissed because she refused a bedpan to a patient when the doctor was on the ward.

Being late for meals was also a serious misdemeanour, and to be late for six meals in a month resulted in the loss of the one day off for that month. Breakfast was at 6-30 a.m. and nurses were marked in, and went on the wards at 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., with two hours off in morning or afternoon. Three months' day duty was folloWed by three montbs' night duty throughout the years, and only one night off a month was allowed. Floors had to be swept twice during the day, after tea leaves had been spread to collect the dust, and the probationer swept the wards as soon as she came on duty in the morning, whilst the night and day staff nurses made beds. Ward Sister held prayers every morning in the ward.

Certain things were rationed: butter was issued at j lb. per week, and tea and sugar were issued in small paper comets to each nurse. But ale and stout were available in unlimited quantities on a side table at main mealtimes!

The private nurses wore green coats with capes and Salvation Army type bonnets. According to Miss Spong there were at least 300 probationers doing private nursing during the years of her training, i.e. 1905-1910.

During the First World War, Miss Spong worked at the Netley Red Cross Hospital, and brought credit to her Training School by being awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal by King George V. This gold medal she has given to the M.O.T.H. movement in Durban who have put it on display at their Headquarters in respect for the devotion to duty that it represents.

Elsie Thompson for Miss Spong