Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey (24 page)

One of many pictures from the Castle Archives of Great War soldiers recuperating at the Castle.

The south elevation of Highclere Castle during the Great War, complete with sunblinds, since removed.

A hand-written letter from General Sir John Cowans, Quarter-Master-General of the British Army during the Great War, to Alfred de Rothschild, after a visit he made to ‘Highclere Hospital’. ‘… It is simply the best … and its little Lady is a marvel, another Florence Nightingale …’.

Patients recovering at the Castle.

This bench is still to be seen (and sat on!) in the Grounds of the Castle.

A wounded soldier on the South Lawns of the Castle near the south east corner.

A picture of a recuperated officer, who was nursed at the hospital in 1915, kindly donated to the Castle by a descendant.

Major J A Rutherford with his five sons, all of whom served in the Great War. Major Rutherford was the Estate Manager to the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Three of his sons were invalided from the Army with war wounds. There are 75 names on the Highclere Estate Roll of Honour for those who went to fight during the Great War. 13 are listed as ‘Killed’. Major Rutherford is ‘Mentioned for Valuable Services’.

Mary Weekes, Almina’s loyal secretary, and her husband, Charles Clout. Charles was sent to Highclere when he was injured in World War One, and they soon fell in love.
(photo credit i3.10)

The fan that Almina gave to Mary as a wedding present.

Sir Berkeley Moynihan, a famous surgeon and Major General in the British Army in the Great War, and President of the Royal College of Surgeons. He operated on the 5th Earl in 1918 when he had almost died of peritonitis. Lady Almina’s medical experience helped save her husband’s life as she nursed him back to health.

One of many pictures found in the Castle archives of the Great War.

A victory parade, shortly after the Cenotaph was erected.