Bessie Mary Clemence, nurse
The 1921 census recorded Bessie, her two older brothers, Albert and George, and their parents living on The School Green, Shipdham, Norfolk. The family surname is spelt in this document as Clements. Bessie's father George was an unemployed Farm Worker.
On 10 October 1938, an entry in the minutes of Guardians' Committee for Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution (former workhouse) recommended that Miss B.M. Clemence be appointed as a Junior Nurse with a salary of £32 and 10 shillings per annum, plus a £4 per annum uniform allowance. This included an increment of £2 and 10 shillings as it was noted that Miss B.M. Clemence had previous nursing experience at the same Institution from 1 December 1936 until 16 April 1938.
The 1939 register recorded that Bessie Clemence worked as a Nurse at the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Institution (Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution). Her surname has been crossed out and amended to Mayes, Bessie's married name.
On 12 February 1940 the Committee reported that Nurse Clemence had been absent from work since 11 January 1940 and had been moved to the County Isolation Hospital. It does not specify which hospital she was removed to or the exact nature of her illness. At that time there was an Isolation Hospital in East Dereham which had opened in 1938. Bessie Clemence returned to work on 1 March 1940; however, she was sick again by 5 March 1940, retuning on 1 April.
On 15 September 1941 Clemence wrote to the Committee giving a month's notice of her intention to resign from her appointment.
On 14 February 1944, Bessie Clemence was once again appointed as an Assistant Nurse at the Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution.
On 19 June 1945, the Guardians confirmed that 'Nurse Clemence be granted 3 weeks leave in addition to her 4 weeks annual leave in contemplation of her intended marriage with a member of HM Forces coming from overseas on leave'. On 26th June 1945 Nurse Clemence, using her married name Mrs B. G. Mayes wrote to the Committee resigning from her position as Assistant Nurse. Bessie Clemence married Benjamin Mayes in the second quarter of 1945, probably in June based on the date of her resignation letter.
Bessie Clemence worked as a Nurse at Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution for three periods prior to her marriage to Benjamin Mayes, December 1936 to April 1938, October 1938 to September 1941 and February 1944 to June 1945. During these times she would have worked alongside many other individuals.
Long-serving employees she would have seen throughout her time at Gressenhall include Basil and Grace Walker, Porter and Cook respectively, Handyman, Raymond Mickleburgh and his wife Norah who worked as Matron's Assistant. Fellow nurses include Ida Daisy Arnell who worked at Gressenhall from 1932-1947. Also, Ellen Hardiment who was at Gressenhall from April 1933 to August 1941 and again after she married Thomas Barker from September 1943 to February 1946.
The 1921 census recorded Benjamin Mayes (Bessie's future husband) aged 4 years 11 months living at 7 Larners Drift, Toftwood, Dereham with his father Levi, mother Violet and older sister Ella. Levi was employed by J Read, Market Gardener at Old Hall Nurseries (Now Toftwood Garden Centre) as a labourer.
According to the 1939 register Benjamin G. Mayes continued to reside at 7 Larners Drift, with his parents. His date of birth was recorded as 20 July 1916 and he worked as a tomato and cucumber grower alongside his father Levi. Given the nature of the work it is plausible that Levi continued to work at J Read, Market Gardener and was later joined by his son Benjamin.
On 16 May 1940 Benjamin enlisted in the 102nd Northumberland Hassars, 2nd Armoured Division with the rank of Gunner. A year later, on 1st June 1941, he was captured, unwounded, by German Forces at the Battle of Crete. In 1940, the British had begun to develop Crete as a military base.
Following the invasion of Greece by Germany in April 1941, Crete became strategically more important to the Allies and preparations were made to defend the island from the control of Germany. The German invasion of Crete began on 20 May 1941 and ultimately the Allies were unable to retain control of the island due to overwhelming and continuous air attacks. On 27 May 1941 the Allies began to evacuate Crete by sea but many troops were left behind and were captured by the Germans.
In the UK and Allied Countries, World War II Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire, Benjamin Mayes detailed the five prisoner of war camps in which he was held following his capture, the first three were in Berlin and then Chemnitz and Zwickau. He recorded that he was held at the final camp of Zwickau until 17 April 1945. It is not known from this document exactly what Benjamin Mayes' movements were after that but the questionnaire is signed and dated 1 May 1945 so he must have been in the hands of the Allies by this time. Happily, by June 1945, Benjamin Mayes had returned to Norfolk on leave, Bessie Clemence had been granted additional leave and they were able to be married.
In the first quarter of 1946 Bessie and Benjamin became parents to a daughter Carole M Mayes. Carole married Reginald H Williams in the fourth quarter of 1967.
Bessie eventually died in 1990. She lived in Bury St Edmunds at the time.
