Nellie Bancroft facts for kids

Helen Holme Simmons (born Bancroft; 30 September 1887 – 2 October 1950) was a famous British scientist. She was often known as Nellie Bancroft. She was a botanist, which means she studied plants. She was also a talented scientific illustrator, drawing plants for scientific books.

Nellie Bancroft was well-known for her work on how plants are related to each other. She also studied the inside structure of both living and fossil plants. In 1940, while working in France, she was held during World War II. She spent four years in a special camp before returning home in 1944.

Her Early Life and Studies

Helen Holme Bancroft was born in Derby, England. This was on September 30, 1887. She went to the Derby Girl's Secondary School. Later, she studied at University College Nottingham. She also attended the University College London. Around 1910, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

From 1911 to 1914, Bancroft continued her studies. She trained as a research student at Newnham College. In 1915, she earned a Doctor of Science degree. This was from the University of Cambridge.

Her Career in Science

Nellie Bancroft held many important jobs. In 1916, she worked at Bedford College in London. She was a Demonstrator in botany there. From 1916 to 1918, she led the botany department. This was at Westfield College in London.

From 1918 to 1927, she worked at the University of Oxford. She was a Demonstrator in rural economy. Then, from 1927 to 1932, she became a University Demonstrator at Oxford. After 1932, Bancroft worked for the Imperial Forestry Institute.

Her Research and Contributions

Bancroft wrote many articles for science journals. These were about farming and plants. She used the short name H.H.Bancr. when she wrote about plants. This helped people know her work.

She wrote important papers about fossil plants from India. She also studied living cycads. These are ancient types of plants. Nellie named many new plant species and groups. One example is Rhexoxylon, a plant from a very old time called the Triassic period. She also named several types of Monotes plants.

Nellie Bancroft also helped draw pictures for other scientists' books. For example, she illustrated Sir William Somerville's book. It was called How a Tree Grows (1927). When she was not working, Nellie loved to read. She also enjoyed traveling and taking photos.

Life During World War II

Nellie Bancroft married Charles Eyres Simmons on March 20, 1939. She took his last name, becoming Helen Holme Simmons. But she kept using Helen Bancroft for her science work.

In 1940, Bancroft went to France for research. She was working in Barneville-Carteret in Normandy. During that year, she was held by German forces. She was placed in a special camp for civilians. By April 1942, she was at the Grand Hotel in Vittel, France. She was there with her husband.

A science magazine called Nature shared news about her. It asked her science friends to send her letters. This was to help her feel connected to science. Nellie Bancroft was set free from the camp in 1944. She lived for six more years after this. She passed away on October 2, 1950.

Awards and Recognition

Nellie Bancroft received many important honors:

• Linnean Society, Fellow (1910)
• Royal Society, Fellow (1936)
• General Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, member (1933)
• International Association of Wood Anatomists, member

In 2013, a very old conifer plant was named after her. It is called Bancroftiastrobus. This shows how important her work was.