Remembering Bessie Coltman

Sunnyside Cemetery in Sauchie is spread across a hillside with eastward-facing views. The silhouette of Clackmannan Tower is visible on the horizon. The remains of QAIMNS Nursing Sister Bessie Coltman rest in the cemetery. Her grave is marked with a Commonwealth War Grave headstone. She succumbed to influenza and pneumonia at Woodilee Asylum, Lenzie, East Dumbartonshire, on November 23rd, aged thirty-three. Bessie is the second Spanish flu fatality I encountered at Woodilee Asylum, the other being John Cochrane of Glasgow. Moreover, the others on the death registration with Bessie all died in Woodilee from influenza. I expect the disease was endemic among patients and staff in the hospital. It may also be the case that the local health authority used the hospital for suspected influenza cases.

Bessie was born at Primrose Street, Alloa, on September 1st 1885, to Joseph, a card cleaner, and Jessie (nee Dickson). She was the couple’s fourth child and third daughter. When the 1891 Census was taken, the Coltman family lived at 43d Greenfield Place, and Bessie, aged five, was attending school. The family had grown with the arrival of William.

Ten years later, Bessie, aged fifteen, had left school and was employed as a draper’s assistant. The family had relocated from Greenfield Place to Burnside House on Ochill Street. By this time, Bessie was the eldest Coltman child to reside in the family home. Since 1891, the family had grown further with the arrival of John and Jessie (Jr).

In 1911, Jessie resided in Glasgow and was employed as a nurse at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Her impressive training record includes fever and infectious disease nursing alongside the staples of anatomy and physiology.

After the outbreak of war, she enrolled in the Queen Alexandria Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNS). Her service took her to Malta, East Africa, and the UK. In June 1916, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross Decoration for her services. Sadly, her father died shortly after she received this award.

Following her own death, Bessie was buried with military honours. On February 20th, her mother, Jessie, inherited her daughter’s estate. Jessie survived her daughter and husband by over thirty years, dying in Surrey in July 1950, aged ninety-three.

Sources: Ancestry, Find a Grave, Scotland’s People.