Nurse Commandant Sybil Elizabeth Streeter

Sybil Elizabeth Streeter was born on 29 March 1914, at 58 Canesdale Road, near Kingston (Gyppeswicke, Teddington/Hampton Wick - a sign {blue plaque?} from her house now on Simon Pugh's cottage)

Sybil joined British Red Cross when she was 23. She joined the Red Cross as a 'Guardian Assurance Volunteer', who responsibility was to raise funds by selling poppies during the Second World War.

She was unsure how to get involved in the more serious operations of the organisation at age 23. She was the only child in a 'Victorian' family, and thus inherited the family memorabilia.

She lived in Cheam, Surrey, until her death at the age of 93 years of age.

Sybil trained as a nurse, and did emergency duty at St. Hellier hospital. Eventually became employed - there is a record of the hours she worked.

She later became the first person to use a computer in a hospital.

Letters from a family friend also involved in war work giving details of the issues of war.

First Aid records show Canadians giving blood, and that Sybil helped in the organisation of blood donation. There is also a letter detailing her giving up her commitments/role as Commandant of Surrey in 1944. She likely gave up due to the horrors of war.

Sybil received personal letters of thanks/commendation for her work as Commandant - for instance, she was first on the scene when the Surrey town of Sutton was bombed.
She also baked cakes for her neighbours during the war to improve morale.

There are photos of Sybil in her service uniform.

She served in St Helliers, Bournemouth and Sutton General hospital.

[Some contentious details concerning an apparent dispute over her Last Will & Testament which should be omitted due to both possible sensitivity and lack of relevance to story of wartime service]

Sybil was directly related to Charlotte Saunders Cushman (famous lesbian actress).

She received the following service medals:
1942 British Red Cross for Merit
1942 British Red Cross proficiency in air raid precautions for training
1941 British Red Cross - First Aid British Red Cross (3 years service)
1941 Red Cross Nursing

Nuclear War notebook - on warfare
Subscription book
Childhood diaries

She visited Switzerland and kept a diary of her visit

1941 diaries
Poppies from wartime era

Sybil was very meticulous and kept everything & recorded everything. For instance, it is recorded that her mother was born in 1883.

Issues with military/medical ombudsman - blocked when trying to find out information from military/medical ombudsman.

In 1920s-30s her house was used by the BBC for filming - Jay Rayner & Margharite Patten.

She always had blackout blinds, even after the war.

Sybil died on 14 January 2008.