BENNETT Kathleen Cecilia Furber

Kathleen Cecilia Furber Bennett was born on 2^nd July 1894 and baptised in All Saints Church, Aldershot on 9^th August 1894, the eldest of the 4 daughters born to Ernest E. and Cecilia A. Bennett. In 1901 the family were living at The Towers, Beckford, Worcestershire and Kathleen had 2 younger siblings, Noel aged 4 and Phyllis aged 10 months. The family were wealthy enough to employ a cook, a nurse and a parlour maid. By 1911 Kathleen aged 16 was a pupil at Gardenhurst School for Ladies, Rectory Road, Burnham, Somerset reflecting a family’s wealthy status. Her 3 younger sisters Noel aged 14, Phyllis aged 10 and 7 year old Joyce were all educated at home in Beckford Towers by a private governess employed by their father. Ernest was a Barrister and as well as the governess he employed a nurse, a cook, a housemaid and a parlourmaid.

Kathleen joined the British Red Cross in 1915 as a VAD Nurse and worked at Dumbleton Hospital from either May or November 1915 until April or May 1916 when she transferred to Bath War Hospital. There are 2 British Red Cross Society VAD index cards for her with slightly conflicting dates. She died on 16th December 1920 from tuberculosis contracted while on duty as a nurse and was buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Beckford, Gloucestershire.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Barbara Grayson:
The Echo, Thursday 23rd December 1920:
THE LATE MISS KATHLEEN BENNETT
FUNERAL TRIBUTE AT BECKFORD
The “Echo” a few days ago recorded the death on the 16th inst. of Miss Kathleen Cecilie Furber Bennett, the eldest precious daughter of Lt. Col. and Mrs E.E. Bennett, late of Beckford Towers, and now of Cheltenham, who having contracted tuberculosis whilst on duty at the Bath War Hospital, succumbed at Bournemouth after 18 months of suffering patiently borne, at the early age of 26. She was laid to rest in Beckford Churchyard on Wednesday afternoon. The white coffin was met on the arrival of the afternoon train from Bournemouth, and was conveyed to her last resting place on a floral bier by those who had known and loved her from childhood, viz. Messrs R.C. Smith, William Carr (late gardener), Wm Gillson, J. Dyer and Mr W.J. Smith (clerk to the church), followed by her sorrowing parents, sisters, relatives, and friends, and members of the Dumbleton V.A.D. branch of the Red Cross Society.
The funeral cortege was met by the vicar and choir at the entrance of the churchyard. Mr J. Crump presided at the organ in the unavoidable absence of the organist, Miss G. Smith, and played as a voluntary “The Long, Long Trail,” followed by hymns, “Holy Father in Thy Mercy.” “Here Lord, we offer Thee all that is fairest,” and “On the Resurrection Morn.” After the conclusion of the service many beautiful wreaths were placed around the vault, which had been lined with flowers and evergreens by Mr. William Carr.
Many testimonies have been received by her parents as to her sterling worth whilst on service from 1914 to 1919, which prove that her ideals were of the highest and purest: her motto interpreted into words would be – “Where others suffered I can suffer cheerfully and in silence,” as she had so often seen “Tommy” suffer in like brave manner. One letter especially, written by a soldier patient who had been under her immediate care for many months in Ward 3, exemplifies her life and action. Quoting his words, “All the boys of the ward called her God’s own angel, nothing being too much trouble, and I myself found no equal to her.” R.I.P.
The report continues with a list of mourners and floral tributes.

On Saturday 4th July 1925, the Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic reported at some length on the dedication of the Lych Gate at Beckford Parish Church as part of the parish war memorial.

The Tewkesbury Register and Gazette, Saturday 29th June 1935:
MEMORIAL WINDOW AT BECKFORD
DEDICATION SERVICE
A special service was held on Sunday afternoon in the Parish Church, Beckford, for the purpose of unveiling and dedicating a stained glass window in memory of Kathleen and Noel, daughters of the late Col. E.E. Bennett and Mrs Bennett, who lived for many years at Beckford Towers (now The Grange). Miss Kathleen Bennett’s name is inscribed on the local “Roll of Honour” as she died just after the war from disease contracted while on duty as a nurse. Miss Noel Bennett married Mr Jeffcott Smith, but died early in the present year.
Mrs Bennett unveiled the window and the Rev. W.W.H. Nash, M.A., of Nottingham, an old friend of the family, dedicated it and preached the sermon, taking as his text “Blessed are the pure in heart.” Mrs Bennett was accompanied by her three daughters and her son-in-law, Mr and Mrs Boulton, of Clifton, Mrs Cooke and Miss Brenda Bennett, and by Mrs Nash.
The Rev. W.W. Baker took the first part of the service and special music was sung by the choir, including Stainer’s anthem, “What are these” (the solo in which was sung by Denis Baker), and Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar.” A large congregation attended, including many old Beckford friends of Col. and Mrs Bennett.
The stained glass window was carried out by Messrs. T. Hardman and is a two light study of “The Oure Light.” On the left the figure of Christ is depicted as the Light of the World, and the right hand light is of Florence Nightingale in allusion to Miss Kathleen’s work in the Red Cross. At Evensong, the Vicar preached on the subject of the window and said how very grateful he and the churchwardens and Church Council were for the beautiful gift of Mrs Bennet to Beckford’s lovely old church.