Catharine Washington

Catharine Washington known as Pat Waddell born Catharine Marguerite Beauchamp Waddell (9 January 1892 – 25 December 1972) was a British volunteer ambulance driver, writer and member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY). She lost a leg but returned in the First World War and she then served again in the Second World War. She was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Médaille de la reine Élisabeth and the Polish Grand Cross of Merit (military class).

Life Washington was born in 1892 with the name of Catharine Marguerite Beauchamp Waddell. She was known as "Pat". She was the last of three children born to Catharine Beatrice Beauchamp Thompson and her husband Cranston Waddell. Her father manufactured woollens and she was born at Howard Cottage at Warwick Bridge. They lived in the parish of Wetheral in north Cumberland.

She joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in 1912. The yeomanry had been founded five years before with the intention of taking first aid to wounded soldiers using horses. The horses were abandoned and the volunteer nurses went to the front even though the British army was initially not interested. They had to pay a monthly subscription and supply their own uniforms. She was given veterinary, signalling, cookery and first aid lessons.

In May 1917 she was driving a noisy chain-driven Willys Overland "ambulance" when it was hit by a train. She was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the Belgian Médaille de la reine Élisabeth. She was sent to America to help fund raise and this work was recognised by the head of the Polish forces, General Władysław Anders.

She returned to her home parish and she died in Heads Nook in 1972 and she was buried in the churchyard at Wetheral.