GALLANT NURSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

GALLANT NURSE

Battle Through Snow to Sick Baby

A BABY has died. It is the tragic. finish of a story of courage, told in the Daily Herald, London. Nurse Shepherd, of East Witton, Yorkshire— a native of Harrow, Middlesex—is the heroine. She is a district nurse employed by North Riding County Nursing Association.

by two farmers. Soldiers carried spades t-o dig out, and buckets of ashes to prevent tho horse slipping. I)r. Ooclieroit trudged behind. "As the little procession wended its way it was reminiscent ol the flight info Egypt," said Nurse Shepherd, telling the story later. "It was very dark. When we got to the run in road cars were waiting and we took the child to Darlington Hospital, where an operation was performed. " But the boy has died." Called at 2 a.m.

When snow and frost gripped the country i" February, an urgent call reached her. At Hammer Farm, 011 Fast Witton Fell, the three-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. F. .T. Batty was dangerously ill. rhough she had never ridden a horse helore, Nurse Shepherd rode through snowdrifts t-o the fa rut. The Only Chance With the help of soldiers to dig out the snow. Dr. George Cockcrolt. <>l Middlehani. reached the farm. The only chance for the ha by was an early operation. It was about two miles from the Fell farm to the main road. The baby was well clothed, pinned in a blanket, placed in a pillow case, and then wrapped up in thick brown paper. Carrying him in her arms, .Nurse Shepherd rode a horse which was led

A week later Nurse Shepherd received a '2 a.m. call to an expectant mother at a farm miles across Unmoors. at West Scrafton. Covcrdale. She had to walk, carrying her midwifery bag and a stick. On Hraithwaite moors the snow was deeper than her stick. After two and a-ha If hours she had covered only three miles and had to drag her bag along. Just as she was about to give in. Mr. Dent, the farmer, arrived on horseback with a shovel —and they fought their way to the farm.