Marygate, York: Wartime Adventures of Two Sisters

Available for over a year

Active members of St Olaves Church in York; Kit Dodsworth and her sister, Eve Dodsworth volunteered as nurses for the British Army during World War One. Kit Dodsworth kept a diary of their experiences and adventures. This story follows the sisters through extracts from that diary from their journey to Brighton, London, Paris, Marseille and then onto the HMT Aragon heading to Egypt. Kit describes the highs, the lows and the horror at the Aragon becoming another victim of the feared U-boats. Kit describes the journey to France where they discovered the secrecy of the mission, encountered spies, made friends with soldiers, witnessed treacle bun eating competitions and spent Christmas in Malta. But what is most striking is Kit’s vivid description of the attack on the Aragon, their escape and witnessing the ship disappear below the waves. Both Eve and Kit survived the war, both marrying soldiers that served in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Location: St. Olaves Church, Marygate, York YO30 7BZ Image: Dodsworth sisters on camels in Egypt, courtesy of IWM Presented by Jack Meegan Diary reading by Lucy Vladev