Olive Harcourt

International singer, now nursing orderly at Beaucroft Hospital writing for @VoicesFrom1918 an arts project by ScreenPLAY. Our blog:

[Alastair Nisbet @alastair]

Streaming from 7pm tonight - Tommy’s Sisters - following the lives of five women on the WW1 homefront in Dorset. https://t.co/uSaZjb3vkQ @ChloeHatherley @StorytellingUK @ActivatePArts @artsdevco @ace_national @smallhan

[Alastair Nisbet @alastair]

Looking for absorbing poolside listening this summer? Stories from a Dorset village in 1918 to download free on your phone or tablet: https://t.co/AN7PG0lIRj a ScreenPLAY project supported by the National Lottery @HeritageFundSW @NerysW @ActivatePArts @shascreenplay @artsdevco

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

21st January 1919
Miss Grey concert at Beaucroft Hospital. I sang Last Rose of Summer, Il Rosegruol & When Love is Kind. They liked the Nightingale best. Afterwards Macken recited for us, most enjoyable @DohertyTA @RealTimeWW1

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

I couldn't agree more my dear

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Macken gave me his photo this morning in the pantry and said he would “come from the ends of the Earth to see me”
Sidney a bank clerk from Forest Hill was Private 535530 in the London Regiment, married Joan in 1915, daughter Joan, born a year later @WW1IEPER1917 @WW1_nurse_Alice

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Florence, May and I went to Beaucroft [Red Cross Hospital in Wimborne]. I read many hands and it was most amusing. I was able to tell many events correctly - Nurse Sansom in particular. @1919_Live @IWM_Centenary

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

14th January 1919
Macken, Stubbs and Griffiths came to tea. A most delightful time. Each did his bit in entertaining and we had a tremendous talk about Theosophy and religion, each man possessing lofty ideas and much power and expression @1919_Live @WW1Medic @priestshouse

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Sidney Macken and Arthur Stubbs really good and amusing. We had a nice talk with them and Fred Woodhead on the stage afterwards.

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Men’s concert at Beaucroft Hospital. Mrs Smith went with us, fearful squash. They were dressed as Pierrots in white pyjamas, with paper pompoms and ruffs, Macken, Stubbs, Woodhead and Jacobs the best. The little play “The Area Bell” with Nurse Coggin @IWM_Centenary @1919_Live

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Southern said: “If he came to Bath I should like to go there - perhaps I might touch the hem of his garment.” He was thinking about his poor leg, gone below the knee!

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

3rd January 1919
In the common room before dinner [at Beaucroft Red Cross hospital] Southern was telling the Commandant he had seen a letter in the paper from a man in Bath saying Christ would come again soon @WW1IEPER1917 @DohertyTA @priestshouse @WW1_nurse_Alice

[Mary Collier, Lady Monkswell @LadyMonkswell]

1.1.1919
Went to village Fancy Dress Ball. Met my friends, tradesmen and cook disguised beyond recognition. Danced Lancers with Mr Kit in uniform. Much amused. (public much pleased) Read précis for this last awful and wonderful year. Victory and Peace.@ww1lives @DorsetArchives

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Especially those poor boys who have come back minus a leg or an arm

[Voices from 1918 @VoicesFrom1918]

29.12.1918 ltr A Johnson to Essie
I am sure the war has been bad for us and unfitted us for civil life. I feel quite a stranger to him [Christopher] and expect I shall be little use as a father. That is the fault of the war. Reading Twixt Land and Sea, Joseph Conrad @RealTimeWW1

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

I feel the same as you Lady Mary

[Mary Collier, Lady Monkswell @LadyMonkswell]

Christmas Day 1918
Celebration service 11, some 200 faithful present. “Oh thou that bringest good tidings” my overpowering emotion, actually pouring tears. #WW1centenary @DorsetArchives

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

December 22nd 1918
Florence and I went to have a little music at Beaucroft. Only a few men left, 30 gone for Christmas. Very dull time. Bradley wold not stop roaring like a bull and no other would sing #WW1centenary @ThisDayInWWI @DohertyTA

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

20th December 1918
I made tea at Beaucroft - no cook. I tipped the milk and sugar in galore and the men in A ward said: “You can’t make tea, Miss ’Arcourt - no not arf!” #WW1Centenary @DohertyTA @priestshouse

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Beautiful cards - I loved them, and he’s quite right, music was therapy for many of those poor boys I helped look after

[Voices from 1918 @VoicesFrom1918]

Happy Christmas to all our friends on Twitter - from all at Voices from 1918. Listen to the story of Nursing auxiliary @OliveHarcourt and the cards she received from soldiers she looked after. Today's Breakfast in Dorset https://t.co/IlkKrpu2j7 1:49 into the programme @ww1lives

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Tuesday 17th December: Nurse Belgrave - Viola - ran in unexpectedly, here at Beaucroft for a day only so delighted to see her. @WW1_nurse_Alice @priestshouse #VAD

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

At the end Mackan recited, really splendid, very talented and his little Joan (aged 2) came and sat at his feet on the platform with her hands folded in her lap. Sidney Mackan, Private 53550 in the London Regiment had been a bank clerk in Hammersmith before the war @ww1lives

[Olive Harcourt @OliveHarcourt]

Concert at Beaucroft. Florence and I sang and a harpist from Bournemouth the only ones. We did Home Sweet Home, Let me Dance again, Alpen-Rosen and other German songs. Mr Widnall was telephoned for as he wanted to come specially. #WW1 @WW1Medic