An account by Australian Army Nurse, Thelma McEachern (nee Bell), of her experiences as a nurse in the Second World War, in particular her experience aboard the Chinese vessel, 'Woosooee'. Thelma's account also describes the treatment of this group of nurses upon their return to Australia and how they were told not to speak of certain experiences as "it would do nothing to help our relations with Britain, or help the war effort" (Thelma Mc Eachern).Typed account in black ink on A4 paper with two hole-punch holes down the left side of all pages.world war two, ww2, wwii, returned nurses club, thelma may mceachern (neé bell), thelma bell, 12th australian general hospital, australian army nurse, singapore, 10th australian general hospital, batavia, australian army medical care

Album of photographs taken throughout 1941-1942 in Ceylon. Included are images of various troops and medical staff from the hospital ship Wanganella and the 2/12 Australian General Hospital, as well as images of troops from a range of nations marching in parade, animal inhabitants and scenes of people and daily life in Ceylon. Further into the album are photographs of officers quarters, nursing quarters and VAD quarters, and the beautiful gardens of Ceylon.Red and black mottled cover with the word photographs scrawled across the bottom left corner in black print. The album is tied together with green string through the spine. The inside pages are worn brown cardboard with brittle glassine paper between each page. There are 1-9 black and white images laid out evenly across each page and attached with ornate photo corners. The album pages are oversized and too wide to fit properly inside the cover.[Multiple inscriptions describing each page of photos and names of those photographed handwritten in black ink on most pages]world war 1939-1945, wwii, ww2, hospital ship wanganella, australian army nursing serive, 12th australian general hospital, ceylon

A book review by Mary Rose Liverani of 'Guns and Brooches: Australian Army Nursing from the Boer War to the Gulf War' by Jan Bassett. Images of nurse from 2/12th Australian General Hospital (AGH) and 10th AGH including Thelma [May] McEachern [neé Bell].A newspaper clipping and a photocopy of same, consisting of title, five columns of text and a black and white photo (two photos on the photocopy). The photo on both the clipping and the photocopy shows a large group of women in nurse's uniforms in a boat. The photo at the bottom of the photocopy shows a large group of women in nurse's uniforms and a man in an army uniform organised for a group photo outside.'L.7.' [crossed out, blue ink, top left] 'Page 7.' [blue ink, top left] 'WWII' [only on the photocopy, half way down, right side] 'NC9' [reverse side, blue ink, top left]jan bassett, australian army nursing service, aans, royal australian army nursing corps, raanc, royal australian army nursing service, raans, thelma may mceachern (neé bell)

Born 5th October 1895 in Adavoyle, United Kindom Occupation Grocer and later horticulturalist Married after WW1- Wife - Daisy Florence Barclay World War One Staff Sergeant Regimental Number 2139 Enlisted AIF in Melbourne 29th December 1914, having previously served 3 months with the Ulster Volunteers and to camp Broadmeadows, to depot Battalion 29th December 1914. Embarked from Melbourne for the middle East with 3rd reinforcement group for the 5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 25th February 1915 per transport 'Runic'. Disembarked Alexandria and to camp Heliopolis, Egypt. Operation Gallipoli from 5th May 1915 with 5th Battalion. Sick with dental problems 2nd Field Ambulance 17th September 1915. To hospital Lemnos 20th December 1915. To Alexandria hospital with pluerisy 12th January 1916. Returned to Australia with enteric per 'Nestor' 9th February 1916.To duty Broadmeadows 4th April 1916. Wmbarked with 4th reinforcements group for the 58th Battalion, 15th Brigade per transport 'Themistocles' 1st August 1916 Returned to England 14th September 1916. Operations France and Flanders from 6th December 1916. To 59th Battalion 29th December 1916. To 5th Division Infantry School 18th February to 28th March 1917 as Lance Corporal. Corporal 7th April 1917. Sergeant 2nd May 1917. To 3rd Southern General Hospital Oxford 4th October 1917. Returned to Melbourne per Transport 'Persic' 12th February 1918. Discharged 14th March 1918. Second World War. Regimental Number V5571 Emlisted in the Australian Military Forces in Royal Park, Melbourne 22nd August 1940 and to 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, Fyansford. Staff Sergeant 24th August 1940. To 2/14th Training Battalion Wangaratta 11th October 1940. To 2/23rd Training Battalion, Wangaratta 18th October, 1940.To Southern Command Training School 26th May 1941.to Camp Bonegilla 15th May 1942. To Camp Caulfield 11th November 1942. Discharged to Reserve Occupation 19th November 1942. Remarks. Awarded 1915-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal 1914-1919 Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal as Lance Corporal vide London Gazette 30111 of 31st July 1918. Citation for action on 9th July 1917 during the third Battle of Ypres reads- " For conspicous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered invaluable service during operation in carrying important messsages through heavy fire" Awarded War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45 in 1951. Described as 71.5inches tall, medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He died 11th September 1962.WW1 - Distinguished Conduct Medal 1914/15 Star 1914/18 British War Medal Victory Medal WW11 - 1939/45 British War Medal Australian Service Medal 1939/45 All medals with associated coloured ribbons. These are replica medals made in the exact metals as the originals. Also in display is a record of War Service which can be found in the narrative. Noneservice, medal, 1918, citation, ww1, military, gazette, london, ww11, medals, 30111, 31st, july, ypres, distinguished