BEARD Eva Gladys

Eva Gladys Beard was born at Tean, Staffordshire on 11th October 1888 and baptised in Christ Church, Upper Tean on 25th November 1888, the daughter of Andrew James Beard (Professor of Music) and his wife Florence Emily (nee Greensmith). In 1891 the family consisting of Andrew aged 42, Emily aged 32 and their 4 children, William Andrew aged 13, Grace Florence aged 8, John Greensmith aged 6 and Eva Gladys aged 2 and a maid servant lived at The Villa, Lower Tean Road. On 24th January 1892 Andrew and Emily had a fifth and final child, Cecil Augustus Beard.

By 1901 the family had moved to Uttoxeter Road, Upper Tean. Andrew was still a teacher of music and daughter Grace was employed as a telegraph clerk with the Post Office. The family had moved again by 1911 when they resided at The Rocks, Tean, Stoke on Trent. Andrew now aged 62 and Florence aged 52 had been married 32 years and had suffered the loss of two of their three sons, John born 25th February 1884 had died on 2nd March 1903 and had been buried in the churchyard at Christchurch and William, born in 1877 had died in 1907. Eva aged 22 and Cecil aged 19 remained living at home with their parents, Eva working at home and Cecil employed as a bank clerk.

It is not known when Eva undertook nurse training at Barts Hospital in London. Royal Naval records relating to Eva state that she joined Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) on 22nd December 1916 when she was appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham. On the 11th November 1918 she submitted an application for appointment to the ‘Permanent Service’ which ‘Superintendent Sister thoroughly recommends’ and ‘Surgeon General Larbert submits for favourable consideration’. Eva was described as ‘A good medical sister, hard worker & good manager, a loyal & popular member of the mess’. She was demobilized on 31st March 1919, rejoining the service later that same year.

Sadly her career as a permanent QARNNS nursing sister was to be short-lived. Eva died aged 31 from influenza and broncho-pneumonia at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar on 14th March 1920. She was buried beside her brother John in Christ Church churchyard, Tean, Staffordshire. Her father, Andrew, who died on 8th October 1936 aged 88 and her mother, Florence, who died on 4th February 1942 aged 83, are also buried in the same grave.