Funeral of Doncaster World War Two nursing hero, 100, to take place

The funeral of a Doncaster nurse who treated hundreds of soldiers injured in World War Two is to take place today following her death at the age of 100.
Doris Kitching, who has died at the age of 100, was a nurse in World War Two.Doris Kitching, who has died at the age of 100, was a nurse in World War Two.
Doris Kitching, who has died at the age of 100, was a nurse in World War Two.

Doris Kitching, whose family was also hit by the Bentley Pit disaster of 1931, died last month following a lifetime of helping to care for others.

Mrs Kitching’s dad Thomas died in the explosion which killed 45 people when she was just 11 and eight years ago, she was presented with a medal in her father’s memory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She was a nurse during World War Two, treating injured soldiers brought back to Doncaster from the battlefields.

She was a St John Ambulance nurse, working on wards created at the old Doncaster Royal Infirmary to accommodate the extra patients, known as The Huts.

She followed in her father’s footsteps by joining the St John Ambulance – but he never saw her in her uniform.

Dad Thomas Hopkinson died at the age of 33 in the colliery disaster of November 1931 following an underground gas explosion which killed 45.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her mum, grocery shop owner Lily, was later presented with a medal and certificate to honour his bravery.

Doris was born in Doncaster on September 3, 1920, growing up on Daw Lane, Bentley, attending Bentley New Village School.

She married railway worker Norman Kitching at St Peters Church, Bentley, in April 1942. He was turned down by the Royal Navy because his job as a fireman on locomotives was too important. He died in 2007.

The couple had a son, who died aged 17 in a work accident, and a daughter.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After retiring, Doris, who latterly lived in Barnby Dun, loved writing poetry, books and articles, helping to co-author the book 'Aspects of Doncaster'.

She and Norman also loved travelling abroad and would often holiday in their caravan.

In an interview with the Free Press to mark her 100th birthday earlier this year, she revealed how she was celebrating her big day with a party, high tea, sparkling wine and a singer at Richmond Care Home in Sprotbrough.

She died on November 16 and the funeral is due to take place at Rose Hill Crematorium later today.

Related topics: