Olive Harcourt is a singer and musician of international repute who trained in Dresden and lived in Germany for some years. In 1916 she put her musical career on hold to come to Dorset with sister Florence to work as an orderly at Beaucroft Red Cross Hospital in Colehill.

Her diaries are full of colourful stories about life in a small Red Cross Hospital.

March 08, 1918 Olive Harcourt: During a discussion on saluting, Ward said he did not salute an officer who was very drunk.

Robinson said he should salute the uniform and not the man so Ward answered “Yes but I ain’t agoin’ to salute the public ’ouse what he’s got inside ‘im”

Olive Harcourt was “Epitome of a true Victorian lady”, her ward Joan Cocozza told us at her home in Bristol.

Visitors were announced, gentleman friends kissed her hand, women kissed her cheek.

“It was an utter surprise when I began reading her diaries and learned of the time she cared for wounded soldiers,” she said.

During WW2, Joan, then a young girl, would spend half her week living with her family, and the other half living with Olive at her grand house in Clifton, where Olive taught her to play the upright piano she later left her when she died in 1958.

March 13, 1918 Olive Harcourt: Prewer and Fuller gave me a tiny screw of saccharine and told me they thought I was just as sweet as that. Long talk by Prewer's bed with him and Fuller about the latter's love affairs. Gave them toast.

March 14, 1918 Twenty year old Sergeant Purnell Fuller, who lost his leg serving with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, spent more than eight months at Beaucroft Red Cross Hospital in Wimborne, Dorset after being admitted in Feb 1918.

He left the army and married Ada Body in 1920. They had three children Ethelene, Gordon and Ron who became an artist, toy and automata maker with work at the V&A and other galleries. Guardian obituary His son, a classical guitar maker is named Purnell after his grandfather.

“They say there are no more than six steps of separation between any of us”, writes Voices artist Alastair Nisbet, but he never expected it to apply to a middle aged nurse’s 100 year old diary from WW1.

“While reading Olive Harcourt’s account of her time at Beaucroft Red Cross hospital in Wimborne, I was astonished to find a link with my first art teacher at secondary school - Mr Fuller.

The anxious young boy who Olive nursed after he lost a leg in the trenches, went on to marry and have three children. The youngest, Ron, was my art teacher. I never thought at the time but we didn’t do a lot of traditional art, we made dioramas out of shoe boxes and weird, brightly coloured balsa wood planes which we took up on the hill with Mr Fuller to fly to fly.”

March 15, 1918 Fuller and Prewer came to tea, most pleasant time. Prewer said it wasn’t what I did but the way I did it. This in answer to my saying they mustn’t thank me for the very little I had done.

On February 22nd I wrote: Florence came to me and had a comforting talk to poor worried Prewer. Men in A ward were so dear. Pratt and Sergeant Fuller both held my hand while they talked. New men very nice.

Along with her diaries, Olive kept notes about her patients, their injuries, humour, mannerisms and of course, their voices. This was probably unusual for a mere orderly but Olive was a well to do woman of means and she was clearly very interested in doing her best for the men she looked after.

She’s obviously amused when one tells her: “Get out we're all eddicated in ’ere”; another mimics the hospital commandant's hymn singing and one of them calls her “Private Harcourt”.

Been with Joan Cocozza who was the ward of @OliveHarcourt and was left her #1918 #WW1 diaries pic.twitter.com/RAI50CWwIf

— Voices from 1918 (@VoicesFrom1918) 6 April 2018

Nursing orderly Olive Harcourt, “a voice with an extraordinary range”, was well qualified to give singing hints to her patients at Beaucroft Hospital in Dorset.

After a debut in Berlin in 1894, her 20 year singing career spanned Europe and North America

Olive Harcourt's diary: April 13th. Hospital full, 52. Florence came to help and did well, the staff washing up, the bread for tea and some waiting in the wards. Four men in the tent, altogether 32 in bed

Olive's diary April 22nd 1918

After working I played songs for Cheshire and gave him some hints. Beautiful voice and pure vowel-sounds. Nurse Palmer sang, style and go but dreadful shrieks. She entreated me to give her lessons.

[Birmingham-born Howard Cheshire (pictured front) was a GPO Messenger Boy aged 14 in 1910 and enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry in 1915. He married Kate Phillips in 1923 and they had two children.]

Olive’s diary 8 May 1918

Small concert. Men very restive wanting rag-time etc so I spoke my mind, telling them musical people could not play them and reduced them to a chastened frame of mind. I asked what they would have - sentimental or scotch. A weak voice answered: “Anything you like Miss ’Arcourt.”

Olive's diary May 11th 1918

Pratt and Billings operated on. Pratt had rigors & lost his speech. Put out his frail hand to me when I went in after the operation. Very glad to see him trying to speak. I discovered one thing he was trying to say - his wife should not be frightened when she came.

Pratt later wrote to Olive: Into your chain of friendship, please weave me a link. William Pratt, The Shrubbery, Tooting Graveney

Olive’s diary June 6th 1918:

A full ward again with some nice men this time. Hewitt very badly hurt. He told Florence he always liked the days I go. Buckley said I was the first one to speak when he arrived and that when I laid my hand on him he felt at home at once.

[Beaucroft was one of 3000 auxiliary hospitals run by 90,000 Red Cross volunteers in WW1. Buildings ranged from town halls and schools to large and small private houses. Soldiers preferred auxiliary hospitals because they were not so strict, less crowded and more homely]

Olive’s diary July 1st 1918

Began work at Beaucroft again [as a nursing orderly, after three weeks break in London] A convoy had come while I was away [like this one at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading picture: BBC]

Olive's diary July 25th 1918

Gave a sing-song at Beaucroft. Only ourselves and the boys Wright, Hall and Sgt Silvester. Latter recited very well. Took off Commandant’s hymn singing: “See ourselves as others see us...”

Olive's diary 14th August 1918 Pound Day

I had a tent and did palmistry. Sister got it so nice with a divan covered with the hall tablecloth. Tyler got up as a Hindu attendant in white pyjamas and a sheet. He perspired in the sun and the black came off on his things.

Some thought he was the fortune teller and were afraid to come. My first visitors were VADs from Newton. Then I saw 3 pairs of legs hovering about - khaki legs, flannel legs and knicker legs each urging the other in first - Rex, Solly, Sugden and Ray - young scamps out for fun!

Solly has 2 heart lines which I have never seen before and cannot find out what it means. Two interesting hands were Rev Helps and Rev Allan, the first the true soldier type and the latter a visionary. He preaches spiritualism. The boys returned with flappers all day.

Olive's diary 15th August 1918

I took £2.0.8d in my palm reading tent. In all they took £104 and £25 in goods. I was having a nap at 3pm when I was sent for. A convoy coming in an hour! I went and Florence [my sister] helped later. Got very tired

'Flappers' has become associated with the 1920s in popular memory, but it was firmly established as a synonym for 'pleasure-seeking young woman' in the Great War

— Peter Stanley (@Stanleyhistory) 15 August 2018

August 16th 1918 Florence and I drove in donkey cart, through Uddens Wood.

Got splendid blackberries and harts-tongue ferns. Jack [the donkey] very fresh and shied a lot

Olive's diary 20th August 1918

I had long wished to dream of ES [Major Edmund Street] and last night asked. I dreamt vividly of him and that we were travelling together and in a large room he asked me to sing “Home Sweet Home”. [Major Street died of wounds on October 21, 1916]

Olive's diary 20th August 1918

I Here's a picture of dear Viola - Nurse Belgrave from my diary. She's on the right in the second row. She tended wounded Frenchmen at Arc-en-Barrois for 8 months and would be so proud to know that the efforts of all those women in France has been recognised

Olive's diary 29th Aug 1918

King found to have diphtheria. My sister Florence and I both think I had better not go to Beaucroft for a while. Called on Miss Belgrave to speak about King. She spent eight months nursing in a French hospital and knows about these things

Tweeting #OnThisDay1918 from the #diary of @OliveHarcourt a nursing auxiliary at #Beaucroft #redcross hospital pic.twitter.com/NAYXprpHzj

— Voices from 1918 (@VoicesFrom1918) September 5, 2018

Olive Harcourt's diary 13.9.1918

Found Postchild wandering about in a dressing gown, clasping a hedgehog to his bosom. Behind the furthest bed was a saucer of bread and milk, where it would have its meals in darkness, undisturbed.

Olive Harcourt’s diary 4th Oct 1918

Postchild and Perry so funny, throwing about a potato in the kitchen & playing up splendidly. In the evening I hold their hands and said Postchild was a great artist and I knew that because I had been much among them.

He looked at me very earnestly and said: “Miss ’Arcourt, you & me is one.” Convoy arrived yesterday.

[At the age of 22, Henry Postchild (born 1989 in Stepney in 1889) was living with his parents and working as a ‘carman’. By 1915 when he enlisted in the Suffolks (16617) he was described as a stevedore. In 1950 he was living in Tower Hamlets]

How did I become a nursing orderly at Beaucroft ? It all started with a women’s demonstration in London.
Follow my story in Tommy’s Sisters Nov 9,10,11 in a double bill with The Gathering https://t.co/Q9y1tAAAdp @artsreach @artsdevco @StorytellingUK Wimborne tickets: 01202 886116 pic.twitter.com/DhGcoS5EVV

— Olive Harcourt (@OliveHarcourt) 31 October 2018

Olive’s diary: 11th November Armistice proclaimed

Flags out here at 11.30. Florence ran in to tell us. A little upset to think my dear boy not here to see it! [referring to Major Edmund Street DSO, killed in 1916] Convoy arrived early. I began work in a full hospital.

Men excited playing every instrument they could & cheering like made things. Work hard. Concert by Kettles lot, most hideous row. F came and helped a little. Gave up A ward to Miss Bannister

Olive’s diary Nov 15th 1918

All preparing for this foolish fancy dress ball on the 20th. Griffiths said I looked after him like a King! He carried my coal home singing Welsh songs. Slate quarry worker from Llanllyfni in North Wales

Olive’s diary 20th November 1918

Fancy dress affair at Beaucroft Hospital. I remained on duty and put in 16 hot water bottles and got supper. The dresses were far beyond my expectation. Nurse Howell in an old costume got 1st prize, Florence helped her to dress. Stubbs as a London cabby got the men’s 1st prize.

Dear @OliveHarcourt, auxiliary nurse at Beaucroft Red Cross hospital in Dorset, I feel I've really got to know you through your diary. As a professional singer, & graduate of Dresden Conservatoire, you sing German folk songs to your injured soldiers and they love them @DohertyTA https://t.co/m0EsnMu2PL

— Alastair Nisbet (@alastair) November 22, 2018

Olive Harcourt’s diary Friday 22nd November 1918

I sang at a small concert. After being on duty since 2 was tired. Had some supper with the staff. Sang Jess MacFarlane, Comin’ thro’ the Rye and to lute Die Sennerin and Nur einval noch. Hewitt gave me his picture, so humbly, by the kitchen sink

pictured: Jones, with crutches, Spiers behind chair, Hewitt in chair. Jones, Welsh took French leave on the way home. Spiers bad foot case, superior man

Olive Harcourt’s diary 30.11.18 Nurse Howell came in late for one & a half hours. Thinks Beaucroft will be shut soon. William Fletcher writes: Happy Days. It is with the greatest pleasure that I write these few lines.

Thank you ever so much for all your kindness shown to me during my stay at Beaucroft

Olive Harcourt Dec 10th 1918

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. At the end Mackan recited, really splendid, very talented his little Joan (aged 2) came and sat at his feet on the platform with her hands folded in her lap.

The story of Olive’s embroidered Christmas cards from the front from BBC Breakfast in Dorset 19 December 2018

Olive Harcourt’s diary 22.12.18

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.

picture: Olive Harcourt's piano at the home of her ward Joan Cocozza in Bristol in 2018

Olive Harcourt’s diary 3.1.1919

In the common room before dinner, Southern was telling the Commandant he had seen a letter in the paper from a man in Bath saying Christ would come again soon. “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’s diary Jan 7th 1919

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.

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 writes: 14 Jan 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

16th Jan 1919 Olive Harcourt writes:

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.