Search Victorian Collections

The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) provides health care and medical assistance to Australian Army personnel in military health facilities. The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps embraces the values of compassion and service to others, reflecting the care and dedication provided to the wounded and sick. The Australian Army employs registered general nurses as nursing officers in Army hospitals and medical centres. These officers form the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. The collar badge would have been worn on the collar of official uniform.

This badge is in good condition and provides context and interests in nurse uniform. However, it is hard to guarantee that this is an original badge or a replica.

Photograph of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps collar badge. Oval shaped badge surmounted by St Edward's crown. Around the edge of the oval is embossed 'Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps'. In the centre of the oval is a Nightingale oil lamp on a dull cherry coloured felt background. Across the bottom is a scroll embossed with the Latin motto 'Pro Humanitate', translating to 'for humanity'. The metallic nature of the badge leaves it cool to the touch, with rounded edges and a round collar attachment peg, unlike the sharp attachment pegs like typical badges and pins.

'Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps'/ 'Pro Humanitate'[Latin translating to English as 'for humanity'].

raanc, uniform, badge, royal australian army nursing corps

Little to nothing is noted/known regarding the object. Australian nurses were in France during WW1 and WW2, [Though Australian nurses in France during WW2 seems less documented], the fabric suggests being older than younger, however it is hard to date explicitly.

Though not explicitly linked to nursing, Australia or which war period it is from, the handkerchief itself is in great condition and could illuminate the roles of Australian nurses in France.

Square, white-to-cream, silky, cotton handkerchief with lace trim and purple, green, yellow and mauve embroidery.

'Souvenir de France'

france, ww1, wwi

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was awarded to citizens in the Commonwealth (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand) for their healthcare/nursing services. This ceremonial dish appears to serve the same or similar purpose to the medal, it is unknown whether the dish was awarded, or whether it was purchased and customised to reflect the respect of service that the medal from the same year served.

This dish is peculiar, which in turn increases the significance of the object. Though similar to the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in social purpose, it is less historically significant. However, due to the nature of the collection at large, this object is of medium to high significance. Additionally, it may be a crucial object in reflecting thoughts, feelings and social organisation of Australian nurses.

Nickel silver dish with several engravings and embossing, small dish foot, shallow dish, including Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps logo upon the centre of dish.

'EIIR' (Royal Elizabeth the Second sigil.)/[surmounted by St Edward's Crown]/'1952'/'Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps'/[surrounding Nightingale oil lamp, surmounted by St Edward's Crown.], 'Pro Humnitate'/[scroll embossing.]/'1902-1977'/'D-M S'[Makers mark]/Lion passant mark [indicates a fineness of 925/1000 sterling silver]/British silver hallmark [Leopard face that indicates the London Assay Office]/'C'[Denotes the date of silver pressing, capital C indicates 1977.]/Portrait of Queen Elizabeth the Second [Duty mark reflecting a tax on precious metals collected between 1784 and 1890 and that the tax had been paid.] On the base of dish: 'Nickel Silver' [material]. / '49'.

silver jubilee, queen elizabeth ii, queen elizabeth 2, queen elizabeth the second, royal australian army nursing corps

The M.V. Manunda is a ship owned by the Adelaide Steamship Company, that became a registered hospital ship in 1940, during World War 2. The Manunda serviced injured personnel in the Pacific and Middle East.

This letter knife is highly significant to the Returned Nurses collection. Though there is a few recorded pieces of memorabilia from the M.V. Manunda, they are few and far between. This item could potentially draw attraction and attention to this collection.

Silver, chrome-plated letter knife, with decorative kookaburra hilt handle. Due to age [and perhaps storage] the letter knife has turquoise and brown erosion, corrosion and rust spots, primarily upon the blade faces. One blade face includes a small, raised enamelled flag, with gilding around the flag boarder. The flag itself is white, with a blue cross and an eight-pointed red star in the centre, it is the logo of the Adelaide Steamship Company. On the same blade face as the flag, is the name of the vessel, 'M.V. Manunda'. On the opposing blade face is 'EP A1 NS', silver quality marking, and the maker's mark, 'Angus & Coote Lt.' Due to the metallic property of the letter knife, it often feels cool to the touch. Though this is true for the kookaburra hilt too, the kookaburra hilt has more texture and feels rough to the touch.

'EP A1 NS' (Silver quality marking) / 'Angus & Coote Lt.' (Markers mark) / 'M.V.MANUNDA' (Naval vessel identifier.)

papua new guinea, middle east, pacific, aans, japan, world war ii, world war 2, world war two

Event photography, AANS boarding a ship. "Photographs of AANS boarding ship 1940/41 farewelled by Matron Grace Wilson Matron in Chief. 1 framed copy, 1 unframed copy. Nurses groups AANS WWII, Matron Grace Wilson." [Former catalogued description, entry P36]

Unframed, printed sepia photograph on photo paper of 4 AANS boarding a ship, being fare-welled by Matron Grace Wilson Matron in Chief in 1940-41.

"Leaving Australia 1940-41, L to R, Miss Wilson, Matron-in-Chief, Ruth Meaney, Jean Headberry, Patricia Chomley, Claire Meinoge, Photo: Ruth Millear" [Handwritten in biro on the back of the photo]

aans, ww2, world war two, world war ii, world war 2, matron grace wilson, ruth meaney, jean headberry, patricia chomley, claire meinoge

Florence Nightingale is a key figure in nursing history. [The Glaswegian coat of arms is not often seen, especially with an English banner, rather than Latin.]

Florence Nightingale is a key figure in nursing history, and the possession of her statuette could potentially signify spiritual, cultural or social beliefs of the owner of the object. Additionally, the factory mark could provide an international connection to the collection at large.

White ceramic statuette of Florence Nightingale, right arm missing hand w/ glue residue, hollowware with flat-back base, small hole on back of statuette, coloured Glaswegian coat of arms upon the front face of base, gold gilded trim on top and bottom of statuette base.

'Let Glasgow Flourish' [Glasgow Coat of Arms] / 'Florence Nightingale 1820-1910' [Description of depiction of statuette] / 'Alex Maclaren & Sons Glasgow' [Factory Mark].

florence nightingale, glasgow, uk nurses, crimean war

Red and white coloured cover, stapled booklet.

non-fiction

'Foreword / The Australian Army Nursing Service, 1939-45. / Compiled by VFX 47777 / This small volume represents a brief account of the work done by its members, at home, and abroad.'

australian nurses, world war two, ww2, australia, australian army nursing service, aans

Red and white coloured cover, stapled booklet.

non-fiction

'Foreword / The Australian Army Nursing Service, 1939-45. / Compiled by VFX 47777 / This small volume represents a brief account of the work done by its members, at home, and abroad.'

australian nurses, world war two, ww2, australia, australian army nursing service, aans

Soft cover, red and grey, containing a portrait of the author in army nurses' uniform. Australian Army Nursing Service uniform. Back cover, white with a facsimile of the Instrument of Surrender.

non-fiction

A record of nursing service in the second world war, from enlistment to peace.

world war two, ww2, finschhafen, ambulance trains, wwii

Soft cover, red and grey, containing a portrait of the author in army nurses' uniform. Australian Army Nursing Service uniform. Back cover, white with a facsimile of the Instrument of Surrender.

non-fiction

A record of nursing service in the second world war, from enlistment to peace.

world war two, ww2, finschhafen, ambulance trains, wwii

Black bound book with silver writing on spine. Dust jacket has collage of photographs on front, spine is black with white writing on it.

non-fiction

'Mercy trains - Australian Army Ambulance trains during World War II recounts the hitherto untold story of trains provided by Australia's State railway departments to convey the tens of thousands of the armed force's sick and wounded needing transportation across the continent. Conceived as large-scale ambulances to evacuate battle casualties suffered on Australian soil in the event of a landing by enemy forces, their role changed when Australia was spared the trauma of invasion. Instead, the trains becam mobile hospitals: their task to convey invalids from all allied (and enemy) forces to medical centres throughout the nation. One major assignment was to bring south from Queensland casualties evacuated from the battlefields of Papua-New Guinea, whose numbers reached crisis proportions at the close of 1942 and into early 1943. The trains were operated by United States Army personnel for twelve months, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland. Author Jim Harvey spent three years searching through Army (both Australian and U.S.) and railway department files and what he found was a story of demanding military, a penny-pinching government prepared to endanger the lives of train staff rather than permit necessary improvements, some railway operating problems, fires, more than a fair share of floods, a bombing attack, examples of a generosity from caring local communities, a dexicated staff of doctors, nurses, medical orderlies and cooks, supported at all times by sympathetic railwayment of all grades.' [from inside front dust jacked]

australian nurses, world war two, wwii, ww2, papua new guinea, pacific theatre, homefront, australia

Red A4 thin book with black type on front cover and no text on spine or back cover. Has a plastic slip cover. Piece of paper sticky taped to the inside of the front cover.

non-fiction

'A record of the service in South Africa of Military and Civilian Nurses, Laywomen and Civilians' [text on front cover & title page] Contents: Army Nursing Service [UK] Army Nursing Service Reserve [UK] Nurses engaged locally Civil hospital nursing staff Private field hospital nursing staff Natal volunteer medical corps nurses Australian nurses Canadian nurses New Zealand nurses Maidservants to nurses, wardmaids and cooks Civilian support personnel

south african war, boer war, uk nurses, australian nurses, canadian nurses, new zealand nurses

Red A4 thin book with black type on front cover and no text on spine or back cover

non-fiction

'A record of the service in South Africa of Military and Civilian Nurses, Laywomen and Civilians' [text on front cover & title page] Contents: Army Nursing Service [UK] Army Nursing Service Reserve [UK] Nurses engaged locally Civil hospital nursing staff Private field hospital nursing staff Natal volunteer medical corps nurses Australian nurses Canadian nurses New Zealand nurses Maidservants to nurses, wardmaids and cooks Civilian support personnel

south african war, boer war, uk nurses, australian nurses, canadian nurses, new zealand nurses