Stockdale, Henrietta
It is with very great regret that we record the death of a notable pioneer worker in the nursing profession, Sister Henrietta of Kimberley, to whom nurses in South Africa largely owe the honourable distinction of being the first to be registered by Act of Parliament in any country.
Sister Henrietta, who was a daughter of the late Rev. Henry Stockdale, Rector of Clayworth, Nottinghamshire, died on October 5th at Kimberley, at the age of 64. It was in 1891, when the Medical and Pharmacy Act was passed in Cape Colony, that incorporated in it was a section providing that " the Council may, in accordance with Regulations approved by the Governor, grant certificates of competence as Trained Nurses . . . to any person who shall satisfy the examiners there to appointed by the Council, of his or her competence, skill, and fitness in and for the occupation of nursing, and who shall in addition produce proof by certificate or otherwise of having had sufficient training in nursing work, under competent supervision'.
Every such certificate shall be entered in a register to be kept for that purpose in connection with, and a part of the register provided for in this Act. To have accomplished this is a great achievement to Sister Henrietta's credit, but her work was many sided, and, in the South African war, she took a prominent part during the siege of Kimberley in organising the nursing of the sick and wounded. Fall of good deeds for the betterment of humanity she has passed to the life beyond.
Biographical
| Registration number | 15 |
|---|---|
| Surname | Stockdale |
| First name(s) | Henrietta |
| Address(es) | St. Michael's Home, Bloemfontein, South Africa |
| Date of registration | 7 March 1890 |
| Qualifications | St. Andrew's Hospital Clewer, 1873 |
| Remarks | Deceased |
Personal details
| Date of birth | 09/07/1847 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Gringley on the Hill, Notts |
| Maiden name | Stockdale |
| Family details | Father was the Reverend Henry Stockdale, Vicar of Misterton with West Stockwith, Notts |
| Date of death | 5 October 1911 |
| Place of death | Kimberley, South Africa |
| Additional personal details | Singularly attractive, tall, well built, with creamy complexion, short brown hair, blue eyes and pleasant voice |
Professional details
| Additional training | University College Hospital, 1878 |
|---|---|
| Additional qualifications | 1892 awarded Helen Gold Medal of Merit for Nurses - Nursing Record, July 14 1892 |
| Work experience | St. Andrew's Hospital Clewer, 1873 |
| Professional activities | Prize awarded annually in her name at Witwatersrand University |
| Additional professional details | Obtained state registration for nurses and midwives in Cape Colony in 1891 |
| Sources | Register of Nurses (RBNA 4/1) - Royal British Nurses' Association Records, King's College London Archives Wikipedia www.encounter.co.za/memorial-to-sister-henrietta-stockdale.html Nursing Record & Hospital World, September 1 1894 British Journal of Nursing, 27 September 1901, March 1914, October 1924 |