Violet Mond, Baroness Melchett
Encyclopedia
Violet Florence Mabel Mond, Baroness Melchett, DBE
(born 27 December 1867 – died 25 September 1945), née Goetze, was a British
humanitarian and activist.
Violet Goetze was the sister of the painter and sculptor Sigismund Goetze. In 1894 she married the businessman and politician Alfred Mond, who had been introduced to her by her brother. He was created a baronet
in 1910 (after which she was styled Lady Mond) and Baron Melchett in 1928. She was an active political hostess and worker, first for the Liberal Party
and then, after her husband changed allegiance in 1928, for the Conservative Party
. She worked hard to promote her husband's political career and used her influence with David Lloyd George
to secure Mond's appointment to ministerial office in December 1916. As First Commissioner of Public Works, Mond proposed the idea of a national war museum
in February 1917. Lady Mond wished to play an active part in the success of this venture.
As a member of the Women's Work Sub-Committee, Lady Mond was asked to undertake the gathering of information on home hospitals. She appears to have been very diligent with regard to this responsibility, and drew up a questionnaire to be circulated.
In the autumn of 1914, Sir Alfred Mond had enthusiastically supported a scheme proposed by Herbert J. Paterson for a hospital for officers. Paterson had already been turned down by the medical authorities of the War Office
, as they did not believe in his theory that serious wounds could be cured without the trauma of amputation
, given the right environmental conditions and care.
Reportedly, Mond took only two minutes to give the idea his assent and financial backing, and the Queen Alexandra's Hospital for Officers at Highgate
was established. The hospital received nine hundred of the worst cases, and "its reputation and record were both noble and happy. Original surgical treatments were evolved and many officers owe the full use of their limbs to ... the care in convalescence at Melchet Court."
Violet Mond had turned her country home, Melchet Court, Hampshire
, into a sixty-bed convalescent hospital, and opened her London
home to Belgian refugees. For these services she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(DBE) in the 1920 Birthday Honours.
She was also heavily involved in infant welfare, chairing the Violet Melchett Centre, a combined infant welfare centre, day nursery
and mothers' home in Chelsea
, which her husband had financed.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 27 December 1867 – died 25 September 1945), née Goetze, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
humanitarian and activist.
Violet Goetze was the sister of the painter and sculptor Sigismund Goetze. In 1894 she married the businessman and politician Alfred Mond, who had been introduced to her by her brother. He was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1910 (after which she was styled Lady Mond) and Baron Melchett in 1928. She was an active political hostess and worker, first for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and then, after her husband changed allegiance in 1928, for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. She worked hard to promote her husband's political career and used her influence with David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
to secure Mond's appointment to ministerial office in December 1916. As First Commissioner of Public Works, Mond proposed the idea of a national war museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in February 1917. Lady Mond wished to play an active part in the success of this venture.
As a member of the Women's Work Sub-Committee, Lady Mond was asked to undertake the gathering of information on home hospitals. She appears to have been very diligent with regard to this responsibility, and drew up a questionnaire to be circulated.
In the autumn of 1914, Sir Alfred Mond had enthusiastically supported a scheme proposed by Herbert J. Paterson for a hospital for officers. Paterson had already been turned down by the medical authorities of the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, as they did not believe in his theory that serious wounds could be cured without the trauma of amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
, given the right environmental conditions and care.
Reportedly, Mond took only two minutes to give the idea his assent and financial backing, and the Queen Alexandra's Hospital for Officers at Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
was established. The hospital received nine hundred of the worst cases, and "its reputation and record were both noble and happy. Original surgical treatments were evolved and many officers owe the full use of their limbs to ... the care in convalescence at Melchet Court."
Violet Mond had turned her country home, Melchet Court, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, into a sixty-bed convalescent hospital, and opened her London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
home to Belgian refugees. For these services she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(DBE) in the 1920 Birthday Honours.
She was also heavily involved in infant welfare, chairing the Violet Melchett Centre, a combined infant welfare centre, day nursery
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
and mothers' home in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, which her husband had financed.
Children
- Eva Violet Mond, Marchioness of Reading
- Henry Ludwig Mond, 2nd Lord Melchett of Lanford
- Mary Angela Mond
- Norah Jean Mond