world war one, annie maynard smith, ballaarat old cemetery, nurses, geoff howard, catherine king, garry snowden, trina jones, faye threlfell, world war one centenary, cemetery, gravestone

Colour photograph of the unveiling ceremony for the grave of World War One nurse Annie Maynard Westcott at the Ballaarat New Cemetery. world war one nurse, world war one, nurse, annie westcott, annie maynard westcott, ballaarat new cemetery

Colour photographs of World War One Nurse reenactors parading at Creswick for the ANZAC centenary.world war one, anzac centenary, creswick, nurses, soldiers

Colour photographs of World War One Nurse and soldier reenactors parading at Creswick for the ANZAC centenary.world war one, anzac centenary, creswick, nurses, soldiers

An incomplete diary of an Australian nurse serving in France in 1916. The author is unidentified in the document but after extensive research it is concluded that is by Priscilla Wardle, who left Melbourne on 14 April 1915 on RMS Orontes and served with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in France. A larger portion of her diary is available from the Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League entries on Victorian Collections. The contents of the diary has been retyped and is in the Word document. The diary shows she was serving at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in Bethune, France in March 1916. She goes on to serve at Wimereux, at the No 8 Stationary hospital. Also possibly at Boulogne. She had a period of rest at Hardelot, a convalescent home for nurses, and also a trip to England and Scotland. She tried to visit the graves of ancestors, such as relatives of 'Grandfather Allan', in the church yard at East Kilbride church. During her nursing experience she mentions being gassed by 'weeping' gas and hearing the sounds of shelling. Also the numbers of operations per month, such as 311 in March 1916. And another day when there were 29 operations in one day. She talks of POWs coming to the hospital. They are treated after the Allied soldiers are looked after. So operations often continued into the night to take care of the Germans. She also mentions removing a piece of shrapnel herself in one operation. She appears to be of a senior rank as she is asked to meet with senior hospital officials and high ranking officers that visit. In particular she mentions a staff surgeon from Admiral Jellicoe's ship the 'Iron Duke'. He visited just after the Battle of Jutland, which was a naval battle fought between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer, during the First World War (‎31 May – 1 June 1916). Also being visited by Stan Walker (also from Ballarat) and Lt Brough who was ADC to General Legge. It is possible Stan Walker is Lt (later Captain) Edward Stanley Walker. Lt Brough is believed to be Charles Anthony Brough. She also mentions meeting a Lady Gifford and Madam O'Gorman. She mentions travelling with Captain Newton to London in early December 1916 - she calls him Sauchiehall and Sauchie, both could be nicknames. Capt Newton later becomes Sir Wilberforce Newton, who was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the Western Front between 1915 and 1917. His diaries are held in the University of Melbourne archive. He also left Melbourne on the RMS Orontes on 14 April 1915 (source Trove) and would have known the 14 Victorian nurses that went on to serve with QAIMNS. On 11 December 1915 he mentions trying to see a Sister Loughran at the No. 7 Stationary hospital - which was in Boulogne. Sister Loughran was also on the RMS Orontes. When he was ill he mentions receiving a parcel from two other nurses that were on the Orontes and served with QAIMNS (Madge Donnellan and Margaret Donaldson). Other things that indicate it might be Priscilla Wardle is that from Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) she was born in Ballarat, her mother's maiden name was Allan, she had a sister Janet that went by the name of Jean who was married at the time mentioned in the diary (BDM and Trove), Priscilla's mother also died during the time of diary and coincides with the diary entry of the 'death of dear mother'. An article in Trove after Priscilla's return to Australia mentions she was in the areas mentioned in the diary. Also that Priscilla went on to be trained as an anaesthetist to help in the surgeries. It matches the comment in the diary that she was involved in many operations and even allowed to perform a bullet extraction. Finally on seeing the diary held by Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League - it was determined the handwriting matched and this diary is part of the larger diary held there, so is definitely Priscilla Wardle. After the war Priscilla Wardle married Cyril Terrence (Terry) Charles Kirby, an English soldier and they settled in Ballarat and later Melbourne. Terry Kirby became a Legatee in 1929 and transferred to Melbourne Legacy in 1935. He was a well liked, hard working Legatee and worked at Legacy House up to his death in 1967. That is probably how the diary ended up in the building. In May 2021 the pages were returned to descendants of Priscilla so now only electronic copies are in our archive.A valuable first hand account of life as a nurse in World War One. The founders of Legacy all served in World War One and may have known this nurse or been in situations similar to her.Handwritten diary of a nurse from 1916 on 10 pages of notepaper.memoir, world war one, nurse

Faye Threllfall and Jenny Baker reenact World War One nurses at Bacchus Marsh to commemorate 100 years since the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) undertook a recruitment drive in that town.world war, world war 1, world war one nurses, nurses, bacchus marsh, faye threllfall, jenny baker

A French flag that was flown in Rouen, France on Armistice Day in 1918. The note says it was donated to Legacy by Matron H. E. Tait RRC. There are no details how she came to have the flag or why she gave it to Melbourne Legacy. From the AWM Matron HE Tait is Helen Elizabeth Tait, from Maffra who had trained at the Alfred Hospital and joined the Australian Army Nursing Service. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross (2nd Class) for her service in World War One. Her full record is available from the National Archive of Australia. It shows she was serving at the 1st Australian General Hospital in Rouen in November of 1918 when the war ended. RRC is The Royal Red Cross (RRC) which is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing. After the war she returned to Melbourne and was Matron of Melbourne Grammar School. She never married and died in 1976.The founding Legatees all fought in World War One and momentos like this flag would have been appreciated by them.A French flag from World War One.Note with the flag is typed and says ' French Flag which floated over the Town Hall in Rouen on Armistice Day November 11th 1918. Donated by Matron H. E. Tait, R.R.C.'france, world war one, rouen, nurse, souvenir

Joyce Snow was born in Avenel and came to Beechworth at the age of twenty-three. She grew up at Bundarta, a place just out of Shepparton. Her father was a soldier who was part of the 37th Battallion while her mother's family were some of the pioneers of Beechworth--the Duracks. She finished school at about thirteen years old, did a correspondence course, and when she was old enough, she went training for nursing. Joyce was a trained nurse at the old Mooroopna Base, Hospital. She working at a Hospital in Shepparton when Manpower sent her to Beechworth. She arrived at Beechworth in 1943 at a train in Wangaratta. She had been a nurse in Beechworth for more than seven years. She got married in Beechworth and had three children, two girls and one boy. By the time of her third child, she studied a one year supplementary course on Psychy at May Day. Joyce had nursed prisoners of the First World War. She shared about the differences of medical practice back then in comparison to now. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Joyce Snow's account of her life in the early 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She gave information about the settlements and life of the prisoners of First World War, the early forms of entertainment, education system and societal roles. She also mentioned changes in employment and migrant communities. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Joyce Snowburke museum, beechworth, hospital, oral history, nursing, nurse, first world war, prisoners of war, tatatura, moonrapna, peritontitis, doctors, tuck shops, largactil, rock films, victoria park, kings in grass castle, durack, duracks, glory box, d'oylies

The original owner of the beautiful wardrobe was William Swinton Jr. (1860-1929) and was later given to a friend of the Giles family. It is part of the Giles Collection. William Swinton Jnr. was a Warrnambool Councilor 1903-20 and Mayor 1917-19, during which time Warrnambool declared a City (1918). William's father, William Swinton Snr. (c.1831-1901) arrived in Warrnambool in 1854 from Edinburgh, Scotland. He established the Swinton store in Timor Street in 1865 where it is still located. William Snr's grand-daughter, Doris Swinton (1904-1986) was one of Australia's most highly decorated nurses of World War 2 and for 16 years matron of the Warrnambool and District Base Hospital. There is a street in Warrnambool named after the Swinton family. The Giles Collection: There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen, and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the "Giles Collection". These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera's parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor's Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as a family legend has it, she became a governess at "Injemiara" where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The wardrobe is also significant for its association with early Warrnambool history, being owned by William Swinton Jnr. who was a Warrnambool Councilor and Warrnambools first Mayor (1917-19) the son of an early colonial family, arriving in Warrnambool in 1854. The Giles family collection also has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Maritime Museum was established.Wardrobe, colonial, made of cedar wood. The doors of the wardrobe have a mirrored door between them and there are two large drawers below the doors, each drawer has two round wooden handles. The wardrobe was once owned by a William Swinton Jnr. It is now part of the Giles Collection.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wardrobe, bedroom furniture, domestic furniture, william swinton jnr., warrnambool's first mayor, warrnambool mayor, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, cooramook, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century furniture, doris swinton, swinton street warrnambool

Bendigo Health publication. "Commemoration booklet celebrating the contributions made by Bendigo's doctors and nurses during the first World War".Soft cover book. Cover, cardboard with adhered paper cover. White and red print on front and back covers. Illustrated front - black and white group photograph of eight nurses in uniform and one Doctor in uniform, with red colour poppy flower middle right. Back - black and white photograph of 150 years sign on brick building wall. 41 pages, cut, plain, white paper. Illustrated in black and white and colour, group photographs, awards, memorabilia and sketches.books, history, ww1, bendigo

This is number 22 of 27 items in the Daisy Vickers collection of World War One memorabilia. These items were sent or given to Daisy Ogier (nee Vickers) during World War One by Corporal Arthur Anderson who enlisted from Warrnambool in 1915 at the age of 21. He served in Egypt and France and returned to Australia in 1919. Daisy Ogier (1907-1987) was a student and then a teacher at Warrnambool Technical School with her early teaching years there from 1925 to 1936 and in 1949. She became the head mistress from 1950 to 1963 and in 1968. She officially retired in 1976. Daisy Vickers was one of the best loved and dedicated teachers that the school ever had. She married the Reverend Fred Ogier and continued her association with the school after her husband's death. This card is interesting because of its association with World War One and with two local people: Daisy Vickers and Arthur Anderson. This is a coloured postcard with a sketch of three children dressed in military outfits. The child dressed as a nurse is giving a piece of fruit to a child dressed as a wounded soldier. On the back it has space for correspondence and an address.Les Grenadesdaisy vickers, warrnambool, world war one post card, postcard ww1

Two Lara District locals, Sister Sarah McIntosh and Sister Catherine McNaughton are cousins who served as nurses in WWI.Two photographs (reproductions) within a single frame. The frame is black lacquer with a gold trim (inset). Three pieces of paper with typed lettering have also been added to the mat board, the title piece is oriented top-centre, and two name pieces are centred just beneath the associated photograph. Title piece: AUSTRALIAN ARMY NURSING SERVICE / WORLD WAR I Name piece (left): SISTER SARAH (SADIE) / McINTOSH / 1885 - 1970 Name piece (right): SISTER CATHERINE (KIT) / McNAUGHTON R.R.C. / 1884 - 1953world war one, wwi

This cape may have belonged to RAN Telegraphist Norma Ashton Kilfoyle, however the date of her service is not consistent with the style of the article (which has buttons which suggest this cape was issued post 1952 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II). It is possible, though not confirmed, that this cape was worn by Norma Kilfoyle in a later role after the Second World War.Black thigh-length nurses cape with red satin lining. Fastened along centre with four gold buttons and one press stud at chin (second button from the top is missing). Two slits at waist height on both left and right allow arms through from the interior to the front. Embroidered manufacturer’s label on interior at base of neck, below which there is an ink inscription. Sewn in fabric swatch on interior right.Handwritten inscription reads “KILFOYLE”. Manufacturer’s label reads “[Australian coat of arms]/A Quality Garment/BY/Australian Government Clothing Factory”. Interior sewn in label reads “33643/Kilfoyle/Cloak F Bara/[indiscernible characters]”. Buttons read “[Queen Elizabeth crown over the Navy anchor]/AUSTRALIA” and on interior “STOKES/MELB”cape, second world war, world war two, world war ii, navy, royal australian navy, ran, women, telegraph, communications

Remember Our Nurses. The service and sacrifice of Bendigo nurses in World War One.Soft cover, lightweight cardboard. Red, white & grey print on front, spine & back. Mid grey colour background. Small colour photos, top front, Royal Red Cross AANS WWI uniform, Sister Fanny 'Topsy' Tyson portrait. Back cover, colour photo of a memorial. 124 pages, cut, plain, white. Illustrated in black / white, photos, certificates.book, nurses bendigo,

This Honour Board listing of Fallen and Returned Servicemen contibutes to and is part of a National collection of memorials to honour our armed forces. This large 1914-1918 Honour Board was for many years at the back of the Dumosa and Towaninnie Hall stage.This is believed to be the only existing 1914-18 Honour Board Roll of Honour specifically for Dumosa and Towaninnie servicemen and women.Large First World War Honour Board of Dumosa and Towaninnie,(Wycheproof District). Top part is circular/arched and features appliques of raised grape vine with branches. The 46 military names are incribed in gold leaf in two columns. Nine Fallen locals are marked with a cross.Embossed in gold lettering on Honour Board: SHEPHERD.A./MORRISON.J/MORRISON.H./ HOSKING.F/WHITE.H./+FORRESTER.J./BOHAN.J./HOSKING.M./MCCALMAN.A./MCPHERSON.G./MCPHERSON.NURSE/MCPHERSON.A./BURNS. P./+,MCDONALD.G./WESTCOTT,C./TUCKER. F./CASSIDY.E./HOSKING.J.H./HARDING.T. /HARDING.G.M./ELLIS.C./+MCLEOD.W./ DASHWOOD.C./MURRAY.P./MCCORMICK.J./ WILSON.C./+ROWLEY.N./MILLER.W./JOHNSON,R./+O'BRIEN.R./PEARCE.S./+WEBBER.W.S./ BAXTER.J./MCPHEE.A./MCPHEE.W./HICKEY.J./ ALFRED.W./SHAW.C/+NALDER.J./HOWE.W./ ROOTS.C./+HULL.G./+HOGAN.M.world war one, army, 1914 1918, soldiers, a, nurse, wycheproof, fallen soldiers, dumosa, towaninnie, sevicemen, honour board, shepherd, j morrison, h morrison, f hosking, h white, jim, forrrester fallen, p bohan, v hosking, j bohan, j hosking, m bohan, a mccalman, g mcpherson, mcpherson, a mcpherson, p burns, g mcdonald fallen, c westcott, f tucker, e cassidy, j h, hosking, t harding, g m harding, c ellis, w mcleod, fallen, c dashwood, p murray, j mccormick, c wilson, n rowley fallen, w miller, r johnson, r o brien, s pearce, w s webber fallen, j baxter, a mcphee, j hickey, w alfred, c shaw, j nalder fallen, w howe, c roots, g hull, m hogan fallen

In November 1914, an advertisement was placed in the British national press inviting monetary contributions to a 'Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund' which had been created by Princess Mary, the 17 year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The purpose was to provide everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day with a 'gift from the nation'. The response was overwhelming, and it was decided to spend the money on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsay. The contents varied considerably; officers and men on active service afloat or at the front received a box containing a combinationof pipe, lighter, tobacco and 20 cigarettes and wrappers. Non smokers received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead. Indian troops often got sweets and spices, and nurses were given chocolate.This box is on loan from the grandson of the soldier who it was given to.This box is on loan from Terry Phillips. It belonged to his Grandfather who served at Gallipoli.Princess Mary 1914 Christmas Gift tin. Decorative brass with Princess Mary's profile surrounded by a laurel wreath engraved in the the centre of the lid, with the letter 'M' on both sides. The names of the allied nations are engraved in the corners and on the sides. A sword and scabbard decorate the top side. The lower side is decorated with battleships..At the top a decorative cartouche contains the words "Imperium Britannicum" and one on the lower edge contains the words "Christmas 1914". In small roundels on the corners appear the names "Belgium", "Japan", "Montenegro" and "Servia". "France and "Russia" are written on the short sides.world war one, box, brass box, princess mary 1914 christmas gift, decorative box, anzac, 1914, christmas, gift, princess, mary, russia, belgium, japan, montenegro, servia, france

Worn by nursing staff during World War II.A nursing group than came into being during the War. Over time the position evolved into one of a Nursing Aide.Voluntary Aid Detachment long sleeve cotton dress and fine sewn scarf, both with red cross emblem.Label reads: NF 480571 RIXON G. Scarf label reads: V.383-1944 / MADE IN AUSTRALIAuniform, nurses, world war ii

This shirt is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Cream Cotton Shirt, long sleeves and separate collar. Front fastening with five bakelite buttons. Cuff of each sleeve fastened with one bakelite button. Button hole on back of neck to attach collar.Makers mark on back neck "1180 1943 Made in Australia.

This Collar is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Cream Cotton Shirt Collar with buttonhole to attach the collar to shirt with stud. One button hole on each end of collar band for shirt stud fastenerSize "131/2" printed on neck band underside. Name of owner "W.M. RIDE" printed on top side of neck band.

This Skirt is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Grey A line skirt, bak fastening. Five press stud fasteners and two hook and eye fasteners. One fabric hook on each side for hanging.

This glove is one of a pair and is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Brown leather and suede glove. One of a pair, leather palm with suede top.inside mark "Size 7"

This glove is one of a pair and is part of the uniform worn by Sister Winifred Ride during World War 2. Nurses played a key role in the conflict through their care and compassion to the servicemen who were wounded and sick.The nurses uniform is symbolic of the sacrifice and service of the many women who served their country in WW2. Brown leather and suede glove. One of a pair, leather palm with suede top.inside mark "Size 7"

Possibly a picnic for returned servicemen from Gallipoli. This photo was taken in front of the Police Paddocks with the police station on the left. Model T Fords parked with soldiers, drivers and locals resting on the police paddock in front of the Queenstown (St Andrews) station. The RACV Volunteer Motor Corps service during World War One was the reason the organisation was granted its Royal prefix. Automobile Club of Victoria members volunteered their time and vehicles to collect returning soldiers and nurses from ships at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne. Trips were also often arranged for convalescing soldiers to country areas for picnics and to “revive spirits”. The soldiers were also picked up from the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg and Mont Park Military Hospital in Macleod. Queenstown (St Andrews) was a common picnic spot. The Evelyn Observer reported on June 9. 1916 "Some 75 returned soldiers visited Queenstown on Sunday, 28th ult., and were hospitably entertained by local residents who had provided refreshments sufficient for 150. Mr. Milne in an appropriate speech welcomed the soldiers, and Mr. Robison suitably responded.” The photo was reproduced page 108 of “The Diamond Valley Story" by Diane H. Edwards.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image, 16 x 24 and 12.5 x 9 cm and 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, cars, police station, st andrews, soldiers, picnic, exhibition yprl 2019-12, gallipoli, model t ford, pioneers and painters, police paddocks, retuned soldiers

Brian Walpole, the author, was a Australian Commando and special operations operative behind enemy lines in New Guinea and Borneo during WW2. Brian was a commando with the Australian 2/3 Independent Company. He went to New Guinea in January 1943 and remained until the fall of the Japanese base at Salamaua in September. He fought on the Bobdubi Ridge. His commanding officer was the well-regarded George Warfe, whose portrait was sketched by war artist Ivor Hele. Brian blazed a trail through the New Guinea jungle which appears on some maps as Walpole’s Track, discovering and naming the ambush site Goodview Junction. Soon afterwards (July 1943) Goodview Junction was the scene of a key campaign victory which contributed to George Warfe being awarded the Military Cross.Brian’s Special Operations training mostly took place at Careening Bay (Western Australia) and Fraser Island (Queensland). He arrived in Borneo at the time of the 9th Division’s landing at Labuan Island, and took part in two SRD operations – Colt and Semut 3. After the surrender, Walpole's work continued as many of the Japanese did not recognise the surrender and continued to fight on. Brian relates how on the 14th of September 1945 while still an operative in SRD he was able to save POWs from certain death and after a firefight arrested 10 Japanese soldiers at Simanggang Borneo. He was alone and had been assisted in the battle by 20 headhunters from the jungles along the Rejang River. One of the people saved was a young nurse in her 20s, Lena Ricketts. ww2, australian special operations, australian commando, new guinea, borneo, world war ii

Soldier in uniform seated being treated by a nurse for a injury to his right forearmworld war one, photo black and white painted copy, nurse, neal herbert c, service number 698

Edith Louisa Cavell (4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was a British nurse and patriot. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested. She was subsequently court-martialled, found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Cavell)Black and White postcard showing the memorial erected in Brussels to Edith Cavell. A portrait of Edith Cavell in nurses uniform is inset. This card was purchased by an Australian soldier, probably Henry Smerdon Holmes, during World War One. edith cavell, chatham-holmes family collection, nurse, world war one, world war, sculpture

This photograph was with a number of others associated with Harry Holmes of Ascot, Victoria. The postcard was written on by Harry Holmes who was a member of the Australian Imperial Force based in Egypt at the time. Nurse Kirkham is Laurie Hemsley Kirkham She was admitted to the Suez Public Hospital (Abbassia) post 06 January 1916. She left Australia with a group of South Australian nurses. Egypt was a major base for the AIF from December 1914. A number of campaigns were fought in this theatre. There were two campaigns involving the AIF. Note that not all the fighting was actually geographically in Egypt. (http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8888/about3.html) The Nurse Kirkam mentioned by the writer is probably Sarah Alice Kirkham, Staff Nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service. Nurse Kirkham was from North Perth, Western Australia. She was posted to the Auxiliary Hospital, Egypt on 09 November 1915 leaving for France on 23 June 1916. Samuel Gordon Spittle (8005) enlisted into the AIF on 17 July 1915, a member of the 18th Australian Army Service Corps (AASC). He left Alexandria on 15 June 1916 disembarking at Marseilles 24 June 1916. Harry Holmes was discharged from a hospital in Egypt on 15 August 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal promulgated on 11 December 1919. (NAA: B2455, Spittle Samuel Gordon) Not only does this photograph portray life in Egypt during World War War, it highlights the role played by members of the Australian Army Nursing Service in both professional and social activities in the theatre of war.Two Australian nurses and a number of Australian soldiers in Hospital Uniform pose for a photograph in Egypt during World War One. Verso: "A little group of Australians at Suez Hospital Joe F[awcett] & I [Gordon Spittle] are standing in the back row with Nurse Kirkham standing between, she is on the short side so stood on a box. Gordon S."chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, gordon spittle, kirkham, suez, egypt, samuel gordon spittle, joe fawcett, laurie kirkham, nurse kirkham, suez hospital, laurie helmsley kirkham, l.a. kirkham, harry holmes, nurses

The primary role of a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) member was that of nursing orderly in hospitals, carrying out menial but essential tasks - scrubbing floors, sweeping, dusting and cleaning bathrooms and other areas, dealing with bedpans, and washing patients. They were not employed in military hospitals, except as ward and pantry maids; rather, they worked in Red Cross convalescent and rest homes, canteens, and on troop trains. At the start of the First World War, Australian VADs were restricted from travelling overseas by the Defence Council. As a result, many chose to travel on their own initiative and join British detachments, often in Australian Hospitals. It is reported that the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital included in their nursing staff some 120 VADs, chiefly Australians in the British service, employed through the Australian Red Cross Society. This policy was changed in 1916 after a request from Great Britain, and the first detachment of thirty official Australian VADs to serve overseas left Australia in September 1916.(http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/vad/, accessed 13 August 2014)A group of VADs, a nurse, and some men from the Australian Imperial Forces. Verso: 'group of nurses and some of the men at Highton - taken at an afternoon we had. Can you find me [Harold Holmes] it is not very clear. The 2nd in uniform from the right hand side.chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, highton, red cross, vad, voluntary aid detachment, nurse, nursing