Friends of Hastings Cemetery

As her short obituary says, she was a journalist and author and had been a St John's nurse since 1902.  She published under the name Thekla Bowser.  

She is best known for "Britain's Civilian Volunteers; Authorized Story of British Voluntary Aid Detachment Work in the Great War" (also published as "The STORY OF BRITISH V.A.D. WORK IN THE GREAT WAR") available full text in various places online, including https://archive.org/details/britainscivilia00bowsgoog



“Nothing more beautiful, nor more sad, can be seen than a hospital ship bringing to the homeland her load of broken humanity,” she wrote.  “The ship was majestic, beautiful, elegant in her fine proportions; but she was a palace of pain at best, though the pain was mitigated by every possible care and comfort, and above all by the knowledge that the ship was England-bound!”

She was also busy in other areas - Miss Thekla Bowser, well-known as a writer of religious articles, is the founder of the King's Daughters' Guild for busy girls in London.  This is a friendship league, enabling the members to help each other enjoy their leisure in intelligent ways, and also to increase their opportunities by self-education.THE QUEEN'S FACE IN PHILATELY. The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 19 September 1900ln the " Picture Postcard " for August Miss Thekla Bowser continues ("St James' Gazette" points out) her story of the Queen's face portrayed on postage stamps in pleasing contrast to the early old ugly pictures of "the greatest ladv in the land" ....…

SHORT STORY. The Mark of Madness - Liverpool Herald Saturday 12 November 1904 p 12

(Thekla Bowser). Photography as a profession for girls. A chat with Miss Lizzie Caswall-Smith. Young Woman Vol 13 August 1905 pp 388 - 389, illus.

Kalgoorlie Miner Monday 24 September 1906 p 6 Article - THE DOCTOR'S TRAGIC FATE. (By Thekla Bowser.)

The Queenslander Saturday 17 November 1906 -SOME STRANGE SUPERSTITIONS. By THEKLA BOWSER, in "Woman."

"Come out into the road ! Don't you see the ladder ?" cried one friend to the other, but she laughed scornfully at the warning, and forthwith proceeded to pass under the ladder.......

FEMALE JOURNALISTS. A WOMAN'S ADVICE, West Gippsland Gazette Tuesday 2 April 1907, p 6

Thekla Bowser (in the "Finger-post") advises the would-be journalist:

Bowser, Thekla. 'A Literary Temptation: A Story of a Girl's Journalistic Experiences.' (1909/10):

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The Mail (Adelaide) Saturday 8 December 1917

An article by Thekla Bowser, in the 'Queen,' speaks of the tragedy of a torpedoed hospital ship.

The Whole Art of Bandaging. By THEKLA BOWSER, F.J.I. with Introduction by James Cantlie, M.A..M.B., F.R.C.8. With numerous Illustrations. Price Is. net, postage 2d.

Six Lectures to St. John V. A. D. Members - Thekla Bowser

Ida Thekla Bowser was on active service in France as a VAD until a serious illness forced her to take a prolonged rest.  "She had been a Serving Sister of the Order of St John since 1902 and was thus well qualified to write the first attempt to put forward the story of the valuable work carried out by VADs, which still remains the classic account."

Thekla Bowser, later recalled the sight of the hospital ship in a book about nurses of the Great War: