Mary Alice Sherriff - Army Nurse

Mary Alice Sherriff served in the British India Nursing Service unit (1) of the Australian Imperial Forces, during World War One.  Mary was born in Longwarry in 1890 to Alfred and Maria (nee Auchetto) Sherriff, the third of their eight children (2).  Alfred was a blacksmith and had a business in Longwarry for seventeen years, before moving his business to Bunyip and later to Tynong. Maria operated a  grocery and drapery store in Bunyip (3). 

Alf Sherriff opens his business in Tynong. The claim that Tynong some day may be the queen city of the east was ambitious (and as it turns out, wrong)

Bunyip Free Press July 15, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129630666

Maria Sherriff's business in Bunyip.

Bunyip and Garfield Express September 9, 1913

Mary completed her training at Warragul Hospital in May 1917, when she passed the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association examinations (4). 

Bunyip Free Press, August 19, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129630758

Nurse Sherriff was mentioned in this bereavement notice inserted in the Bunyip Free Press by Mr William Fawkner after the death of his wife (nee Hannah Owens), who died on August 11, 1915 after a lengthy illness that was borne with great fortitude (5).  Mary obviously made an impression on the Fawkner family to be mentioned in the notice. 

The only other reference I could find to Mary during her period of  nursing training was an article  in October 1915 in the West Gippsland Gazette (6) where she and some of her fellow nurses sold buttons, on Button Day,  as a fund-raiser for the Warragul Hospital. On the Tuesday two  nurses, Nurse Perry and Nurse Hawkins, had raised over £11 in Drouin and the report continues -
On Thursday, being market day at Warragul, another effort was made, with an even more gratifying result. Not that the people were any more generous than those of the sister town, but there were twice as many nurses, and consequently the total was correspondingly larger. Mr. C. Smyth, an enthusiastic supporter of the hospital kindly chaperoned the four ladies, viz., Sister McLeod, and Nurses Sherriff, Perry and West, brought them from the hospital in motor cars, entertained them at lunch and afternoon tea, and took them home again when their task was accomplished. All the buttons were sold (750), and several ladies and gentlemen gave their buttons back again to the nurses for re-sale. Not a single  button was left. The financial record was as follows :
Nurses Sherriff   £6 16 6
Nurse Perry         6 15 0
Sister McLeod     6 11 0
Nurse West         3 10 0
Total                £23 12 6
Putting the whole amounts together, gives the grand total of £35 5s 6d for the two days' work.
The report said that the people were very generous in their responses to the winning allurements of the nurses (7).

Part of the report on Button Day, the Warragul Hospital fund-raiser.

West Gippsland Gazette, October 26, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68619794

Mary enlisted in the British India Nursing Service unit of the Australian Imperial Forces on February 27, 1918. She was aged 27 and her next of kin was her mother, Mrs M. A. Sherriff,  of A'Beckett Street in Bunyip. Mary embarked on the Ormonde  on March 7, 1918 for Bombay (as Mumbai was then called) and commenced duty at the Colaba War Hospital on May 1, 1918. Whilst she was serving at Colaba she was admitted to the Hospital suffering from small pox. Disease was an ever present danger to the Nurses and Soldiers who served overseas. In August, she was transferred to the Station Hospital at  Barrackapore and in July 1919 to the 34th Welsh General Hospital at Deolali, a British Army Camp (8). 

The 34th Welsh General Hospital, Deolali, India, where Mary served.

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C982627

On November 17, 1919 Mary embarked from Bombay  to Singapore on the S.S Dilwara, where she transferred to the S.S. Charon. She arrived in Fremantle on January 19, 1920 and then overlanded to Melbourne where she arrived on January 23. On her arrival in Melbourne Mary was accommodated at the Nurses' Hostel, Grand Hotel, Spring Street. The Grand Hotel is now the Windsor Hotel.  Mary was discharged in September 1920 (9). 

Nurse Mary Alice Sherriff

Image: Virtual Australia War Memorial https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/333017

On January 28, 1922 Mary was married to Archibald Duncan of Black Rock (10). At the time of their marriage Archibald was working for the Victorian Railways and they moved to Newstead, near Castlemaine; then Maryborough and Sunbury and from around 1931, they lived at Chelsea (11). Archibald died November 1, 1957 and Mary in on January 28, 1984.  They had five children - Don, Val, Bert, Brenda and Kevin. (12)

Marriage notice of Mary and Archibald

The Argus March 9, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4689224

Mary's death notice in The Age, February 1, 1984

Footnotes
(1) The Australian War Memorial website has some information about Australian nursing in India during the First World War here https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/nursing-british-raj
(2) Alf and Maria were married in 1885 and their first child was born in Cranbourne, the last child in Bunyip and the rest were born in Longwarry. They were - Clifford Alfred (1885); Clarence Adrian (1888); Mary Alice (1890); Hilda Mason (1892); Irene May (1895); Eileen Maggie (1898); Albert Edward (1902) and Roy Arthur (1904). [Source: Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages]

Death notice of Alfred Sherriff, who died May 7, 1931. His wife Maria died in September 1954 and is buried at Bunyip Cemetery with Alfred.

The Age May 8, 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205848874

(3) Call of the Bunyip: History of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847-1990 by Denise Nest (Bunyip History Committee, 1990);advertisements in the Bunyip & Garfield Express.

(4) The Argus, June 7, 1917, see here. 

(5) Bunyip Free Press, August 19, 1915, see here.

(6) West Gippsland Gazette, October 26, 1915, see here.  

(7) Ibid

(8) Mary's  Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8081969

(9) Ibid

(10) Marriage notice - The Argus March 9, 1922, see here. 

(11) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(12) Date of deaths from the Wills and Probate files at the Public Records Office of Victoria, www.prov.vic.gov.au and Mary's death notice The Age, February 1, 1984.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Sister Muriel Instone - World War One Nurse

Muriel Annie Linda Instone was born at Riversleigh, Thornbury, New Zealand on April 22, 1878 to Matthew and Emily (nee Brodrick) Instone. Matthew was a partner in the firm of Whittingham Bros & Instone - importers, merchants and commission agents who had offices at Thornbury, Riverton  and Invercargill (1). In 1903 she is listed in the Electoral Roll as a nurse at the Homeopathic Hospital.  The Homeopathic Hospital was renamed Prince Henry's Hospital in 1934. Muriel completed her training in 1905 and also successfully passed her Royal Victoria Trained Nurses' Association examinations in the December (2).  Muriel's Attestation papers also note that she trained at the Women's Hospital and she had both a General certificate and  a Midwifery Certificate. She also had experience in private nursing in Dunedin and Victoria and in private hospitals. (3).  

Nurses who have recently left for the Front - Muriel Instone

Table Talk May 27, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page17433776

In 1909 to 1913 the Electoral Rolls show that Muriel, and initially her sister Daphne who was also a nurse, were living at 16 William Street, South Yarra. In 1914 her address is I.Y.U., Pakenham.  The I.Y.U. run  in Pakenham was taken up in 1839 by Dr W. K. Jamieson. It was originally nearly 13,000 acres.  In 1849, William Waddell took over the pastoral lease and after his death his widow, Annie purchased the pre-emptive right section plus other land. Mrs Waddell built a large brick house, pictured below,  on the property in 1858 and this would have been where Muriel was living when she was on the property. The property at that time was around 4,800 acres.(4). 

I.Y.U.  Homestead, where Muriel was a private nurse. 

The house was  built in 1859 and destroyed by fire around 1929.

Image: In the Wake of the Pack Tracks (see footnote 4)

According to the Shire of Berwick Rate books, Robert and Constance (nee Etches) Staughton took over I.Y.U. in 1913/1914, which by then was only 2,000 acres. The Staughtons had four young children (5) and presumably Muriel was helping to care for them or another family member. In March 1915 the entire family came down with ptomaine poisoning or food poisoning and needed medical assistance, so they were fortunate they had  an experienced nurse on hand. 

The Staughton family suffer from food poisoning

Dandenong Advertiser March 4, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88662306

Muriel enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on May 1, 1915 and embarked on the Mooltan on May 18, 1915. She was 36 years old. Her next of kin was her mother of Dunedin, but 'in case of accidents' they were to inform Mr R. G. Staughton, of I.Y.U., Pakenham. Muriel served in hospitals in England, France and Egypt. She was promoted from the rank of Nurse to that of Sister in May 1919.  She Returned to Australia on the Konigen Luise on December 19, 1919.(6).

Muriel's next of kin on her Attestation paper (image has been cropped)

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

When Muriel was still in England, and still with the Australian Army Nursing Service she undertook a three month motor driving and workshop course at Mansions Motor Training Garage in London from June to September 1919. It was reported that she made good progress on her course and passed satisfactorily (7).  Jane Eleanor Turner, another Army Nurse, also trained at Mansions, before her return after the War, you can read about her, here. It appears that driving and basic car maintenance was a skill that was thought useful for Army Nurses after they returned to civilian life. 

Group portrait of the staff of No. 1 Auxiliary Hospital, 

1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, Egypt

Muriel is third row from front, fourth from left. 

Australian War Memorial - see all the names here - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C206870

Muriel returned to Melbourne in 1920 but I cannot find her in the Electoral Rolls.  However, in 1924 she had to sign for the receipt of her three military medals and as you can see from the image below, her witness (or was it where she was living?) was Robert Staughton of Angelala of St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Angelala was at 546 St Kilda Road. 

Receipt for Muriel's medals

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

At some stage Muriel returned to  New Zealand  and she was registered on April 30, 1930 as a Maternity Nurse (8).  Two years later, on April 23, 1932 Muriel attended a reunion of  returned Army nurses at Anzac House. The newspaper report notes that amongst those in attendance was Miss Instone, who has just returned from New Zealand (9). Muriel died on  October 11, 1932 (10) aged 54 and is buried at Fawkner Cemetery.

Muriel's death notice in The Argus

The Argus October 12, 1932 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4502833

At a later Army Nurse reunion her sister, Daphne (11) sent flowers in memory of her sister, Muriel. 

Flowers sent in memory of Muriel to the Returned Army Nurses reunion. Daphne's married surname was actually Grimwood, not Greenwood. 

The Argus, April 27, 1937  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11059579

Footnotes
(1) Birth notice (see below); New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages  https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search ; Whittingham Bros & Instone - multiple references in newspapers on Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/

Muriel's birth notice

Southland Times, April 24,1878 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18780424.2.6

(2) R.V.T.N.A results - The Argus, December 26, 1905, see here.
(3) Muriel's Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=7366162
(4) Berwick Shire Rate Books; In the Wake of the Pack Tracks:  a history of the Shire of Berwick now the City of Berwick and the Shire of Pakenham, published by the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982
(5) Their children were - Stephen Allen (born 1904); Millicent Mary (1905); Frank Harold (1908) and George Robert (1911) 
(6) Attestation papers, see Footnote 2.
(7) Ibid
(8) Ancestry.com - Nurses and Midwives Register of New Zealand, 1903-1933

(9) The Age, April 25, 1932, see here.

(10) Interestingly her death notices in the New Zealand papers list her date of death as October 10, 1932. 

Muriel's New Zealand death notice

Western Star, October 18, 1932 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR19321018.2.3

(11) Kate Daphne Brodrick Instone was born in 1883 and married Charles William Grimwood in Perth in November 1912. See her marriage notice in The Argus of November 30, 1912, here.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Staff-Nurse Jane Eleanor Turner

Jane Eleanor Turner was born in Lysterfield on October 27, 1887 to Josiah Stansfeld Milne Turner and his wife and Lucy Ida (nee Billington) (1).  Soon after her birth, the family moved to a sheep and cattle farm on Kilcunda Road, at Bena, although the address was sometimes listed as Kongwak. It was here  where Jane's six sisters were born - Hester Lucy (1889), Sara Elizabeth 'Bessie' (1894), Bon (1896), Violet May (1898), Ruby Alison (1900) Marjorie Ada (1905) (2).

Jane's birth notice

The Leader November 5 1887 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196496197

Jane undertook her nursing training at the Heathcote Hospital and completed her examinations  in November 1914, she was then required to serve out her Probationary period until April 1915. Her sister Bon commenced her nursing training at Heathcote in June 1914. It appears that both sisters suffered from Typhoid during early 1915 and were granted leave to recover and they returned home to Bena. It also appears from reports in the papers that they did not want to return to the Hospital. Jane is reported to  have asked if it was necessary for her to return and make up the time as her probationary period had nearly expired. Their mother had apparently also told the Hospital Secretary that Bon would not be returning. To either compound the situation or to explain it, in February 1915,  their parents wrote to the Hospital Board and complained about the matron's dogs being allowed in the institution, and strongly expressing the opinion that a hospital is no place for same; also drawing attention to the bad state of the tank water, caused by the supply being supplemented by reservoir water. The Matron's response was that the letter was written with a view to creating unpleasantness and also that she was overworked and wished to resign, which she did. (3). Jane and Bon did not return to Heathcote and Bon completed her training in May 1919 at Colac (4). I have no information as to where Jane worked between leaving Heathcote and enlisting to serve overseas.

Jane Eleanor Turner successfully passes her Victorian Trained Nurses' Association examinations.

Bendigonian December 29, 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92054275

Jane enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on July 13, 1917 at the age of 29 (5).  The Great Southern Advocate (6) reported  that on July 23 -

A very successful farewell social was tendered to Staff-nurse Turner, of Kilcunda Road on Monday night by some of her many Friends, prior to taking her departure for Salonika to fulfil military duties. Mr F. Bunn, on behalf of the residents, on presenting Nurse Turner with a handsomely engraved set of solid silver brushes, mirror and comb and a purse containing a considerable amount of money, said that he was in a position to know that their guest possessed many fine qualities as he had known her from childhood, and he felt very proud of her.

Messrs Tulloch, Hennessy, Timms, Poyser and Miss Timms also expressed their appreciation of the worth of Miss Turner. The evening was occupied with dancing, interspersed with songs and recitations. An excellent supper was supplied by the ladies, and it was midnight when the large gathering wished Nurse Turner "God speed and safe return" and dispersed. (7). 

Jane embarked from Sydney on August 31, 1917 and was assigned at the 31st General Hospital at Abbassia, Cairo where she commenced duty on October 5, 1917. Jane left Abbassia on June 13, 1918 and arrived at Salonika, Macedonia nine days later where she was assigned to the 52nd General Hospital and later to the 42nd and 43rd General Hospitals. During this time she was admitted to hospital with Influenza (8).

On March 3 1919, Jane departed Salonika for England. After arriving in London, she was granted leave to attend a Motor Driving course at the Mansions  Motor Training Garage. She finally left England on August 9, 1919 to return to Australia, arriving on September 27 (9).  As  a matter of interest, Sister Muriel Instone also undertook training at Mansions  before her return to Australia, so it appears it was a skill that was thought useful for Army Nurses when they returned to civilian life. I have written about Muriel Instone, here.

Staff-Nurse Turner was welcomed home at a function held at the Bena Mechanics' Institute on Friday October 10. Once again the Great Southern Advocate (10) reported on the function - 

Welcome Home to Nurse Turner -

The Bena Mechanics' Institute was crowded to the doors on Friday evening last when a public welcome home was tendered to Staff-Nurse Turner, just recently returned from active service. Nurse Turner has seen two years' service in Egypt, two in Salonica (11). and some time in England, but despite the fact that she has gone through all the many hardships involved in the arduous life of a Red Cross nurse she has returned looking exceedingly strong and well. 

The night's proceedings began with a most impressive tableau in which Nurse Turner stood on the platform clasping the hand of Corporal G. Young, who was in uniform, and carried the Australian

flag, whilst Mr Roy Boyd sang "The Rose of No Man's Land." A very fine collection of musical talent had been got together, and the large audience highly appreciated each item.  The artists who kindly assisted were Messrs Walker, Pratt, Hungerford, Stowe and Mitchell, of Korumburra; and a local party comprising Messrs Kirk, C. Bunn, Roy Boyd and Miss Blake. Mr Walker fairly "brought the house down" with his humorous recitations, and was repeatedly called back for "more." Fortunately he was possessed of a good quantity of items, and, like his famous namesake, was "still going strong" to the end of the entertainment. The accompaniments were suplied by Miss Morey and Mr Mitchell.

At the conclusion of the musical programme, Mr Whittet called upon Nurse Turner, for the purpose of  presenting her with an inscribed gold medal, in honor of her return. Nurse Turner's appearance on the stage was the signal for a most enthusiastic demonstration by the large gathering present, who  greeted her with great applause. Mr Whittet spoke at some length on the good work done on active service by Nurse Turner, and all Red Cross nurses, congratulating Nurse Turner on her safe return and good health; and trusted she would live long in the freedom she had helped to gain.

When the medal had been presented Regimental Sergt. Major Wuchatsch, on behalf of the Returned  Soldiers' association, presented Nurse Turner with a writing case as a token of appreciation and esteem. Speeches of welcome were also made by Messrs Tulloch, T. Foristal and Chapman. The audience then rose and sang " For She's a Jolly Good Fellow." Nurse Turner responded, thanking all present for their kindness and emphasising her pleasure at being back home with them once more .A most enjoyable supper was then served, after which the floor was cleared for dancing.

The Chairman of the evening (Mr Rogers) left no stone unturned to ensure the function being a success and in this he was ably assisted by Mr Herb. G. Fuller (hon. secretary) and a most energetic committee. Before the evening ended a hearty vote of thanks to the performers who had assisted in its success was carried by acclamation. 

We can trace Jane's life after she returned home through her address in the Electoral Rolls (12).  In 1921 Jane was living with her parents in Green Street, Ivanhoe. In 1925, she was working at the Warley Hospital in Cowes; in 1926 she was nursing at the Tempy Bush Nursing Hospital. Later that year, Jane was in the Electoral Roll  at Koo Wee Rup and working, I assume, in the Hospital. A Bush Nursing Hospital had opened in the town in July 1918 and in May 1923 a new Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital was opened in Station Street. Jane was still in Koo Wee Rup in 1927. In in 1928 she was working at the newly opened Murrabit Bush Nursing Hospital (13) and by 1931 she had returned to live in the family home in Green Street, Ivanhoe.  Her father, Stansfeld Turner had passed away at Ivanhoe in September 1927 (14) and her mother, Lucy, in November 1937 (15).  The next address I can find is in 1943, where Jane is living in Kew. In 1949 she had returned to Heathcote, the town where she had undertaken her nursing training, and was living with her sister, Bon Tranter. In 1954 Jane was at Melvin Street in Frankston and this is where she died on May 28, 1957, aged 69 (16). 

Jane's death notice
The Age, May 29, 1957 page 19.

Footnotes
(1) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Birth notice in The Leader November 5, 1887.
(2) Kilcunda Road, Bena/Kongwak address came from this report of a party at their house in the Great Southern Advocate, August 8 1895, see here. Farming activities - advertisement for a sale of one of their Alderney bulls in the Great Southern Advocate January 16, 1891, see here and report of sale of their sheep Weekly Times, March 30 1912, see here. Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(3) McIvor Times, February 4, 1915 see here; McIvor Times, March 4, 1915, see here; McIvor Times, April 8, 1915, see here; McIvor Times, May 6, 1915, see here; McIvor Times, August 5, 1915, see here.
(4) Bon Turner - her successful application to be a Probationer Nurse at Heathcote Hospital is from the McIvor Times June 4, 1914, see here. Bon Turner's completion of her nursing exams at Colac comes from The Age, June 28, 1919, see here.
(5) First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, see here.
(6) Great Southern Advocate, July 26, 1917, see here.
(7) Great Southern Advocate July 26, 1917, see here.
(8) As per Footnote 5.
(9) As per Footnote 5.
(10) Great Southern Advocate October 16, 1919, see here.
(11) They have mistakenly reported that she was away for four years - it was two years.
(12) Electoral Roll available on Ancestry.com
(13) Murrabit Bush Nursing Hospital - The Advocate, February 3, 1927, see here  
(14) Stansfeld Turner's death notice was in The Argus, October 1, 1927, see here.
(15 Lucy Turner's death notice was in The Age, November 24, 1937, see here.
(16) Jane's Death notice was in The Age May 29, 1957. Jane was cremated at Springvale.

Jane's Probate Legal notice

The Age June 17 1957 p.9

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Sister Florence Vines - World War One Nurse

Florence Vines operated the Shepton Private Hospital in Berwick, served in the Australian Army Nursing Service in World War One and later became a Chiropodist.

Florence  was the twelfth and last child of Joshua and Mary (nee Nicholls) Vines and  was born in Geelong in 1885. Her own mother, Mary, died ten years later at the age of 51 and her father died at the age of 72 in 1906. Florence attended Clarendon College in Ballarat and later undertook her three years of nursing training at Ballarat Hospital, completing her exams in 1908, as we can see from the results list below.  (1).

Florence successfully completed the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association exams in 1908.

Ballarat Star, January 1 1909,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217274558

Two weeks after the results were published, the Ballarat Star reported that Florence and some of the other  nurses from the Ballarat Hospital were granted the Hospital seal on their certificates. Florence was later to work with Kathleen Duigan (2), who had also passed her examinations.

Granted the Hospital seal on their certificates.

Ballarat Star, January 14 1909 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217275846

In December 1913, Florence and her fellow Ballarat Hospital nurse, Kathleen Duigan, took over the management of Shepton, a small private hospital in Station Street (now Gloucester Avenue) Berwick from Nurse Grace Mary Dunphy (3).

Advertisement for Shepton Private Hospital

Berwick Shire News March 4, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89083297

Florence joined the Australian Army Nursing Service at the age of 29 on June 25, 1915, leaving Kathleen to operate the hospital. Florence left Australia on July 17, 1915 on the HMAT Orsova (on the same day as Norah and Aileen Lehman, who I have written about, here.) Sister Vines was attached to the 2nd A.G.H at  Harefield Park in England but suffered from various illnesses including dysentery and attacks of rheumatic fever and returned to Australian in December 1916 to convalesce. Florence re-embarked on June 12, 1917 for Salonika (now Thessaloniki) in Greece but was finally invalided back to Australia in April 1918 suffering from debility and colitis. She arrived on May 1, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds in the August of that year (4).

Report of Nurse Vines leaving for the Front

South Bourke and Mornington Journal, July 8,1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66188026

Florence from a group photo of Nurses with our Expeditionary Reinforcements. 

Punch July 29, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138700459

Group portrait of members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) most of whom embarked from Australia on the Orsova during July 1915, outside the Ivanhoe Hotel in London.

Florence Vines is second from left, middle row.

Australian War Memorial, see all the names here https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1003033

A report of the 11th annual reunion of Clarendon College, Ballarat, paid this tribute to old collegian, Florence Vines and her nursing colleagues.

Ballarat Star, October 30, 1917  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154754867

Florence did not return to the Shepton Private Hospital in Berwick after the War, although a visit was reported in the local paper, when her many friends were glad to welcome her. Kathleen Duigan, operated the hospital until 1920 (5).

Sister Vine visits Berwick after her return from the War.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal January 9,1919 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66195348

The Electoral Rolls give us some details of her life and career after serving her country. In 1919  Florence was at the Army Base Hospital in St Kilda Road and over the years they note other addresses in  Malvern, Armadale and the St Kilda area.  In 1924, the Electoral Rolls list a change of career, to that of a Chiropodist, a profession she continued with until her retirement. In the 1930s she practiced at the upmarket department store, Georges of Collins Street.

Florence returns from twelve months abroad. 

The Chappe Salon was based in Georges Department store in Collins Street.

The Herald January 12, 1938 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244945982

Florence died on September 11, 1979 at the age of 94, at the Repatriation Hospital and was cremated at Springvale. Florence was a single woman, of perennial cheerfulness (6) who had to make her own way in the world to support herself.   She was a well trained and hard working nursing sister, who along with her colleague, Kathleen Duigan, operated their hospital where they dealt with the whole range of medical issues from the birth of babies, nursing people back to health after operations and disease to the death of patients whose time had come. She served her country during World War One, nursing under tiring and trying conditions and on her return to Australia, Florence devoted herself to a  new career as a Chiropodist. 

Florence's death notice from The Age, September 13, 1979

Footnotes
(1) Indexes to the Victorian Births, deaths and marriages; Clarendon College connection - Ballarat Star, October 30, 1917, see here.  

(2) Kathleen Marie Lytton Duigan.  The daughter of Charles Beamish and Frances Elizabeth (nee Graham) Duigan. She died September 27, 1954 aged 69. This short report tells us that her father was a doctor,  as was her grandfather, so if is perhaps no surprise that Kathleen took up nursing as a profession.

Punch April 9, 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129698232

(3) Grace Mary Dunphy. Grace established Shepton Private Hospital in 1910, according to Shire of Berwick Rate Books. She died April 18, 1948 at the age of 67, and her informative death notice lists her husband, William, whom she married in 1912; her son, and parents. After she left Berwick she operated Kynaston Convalescent and Rest Home in Bambra Road, Caulfield with her sister, Sara Theresa Dunphy, who was also a nurse. A photograph of Kynaston is here. 

The Argus April 19, 1948  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22550036

(4) Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia, see here.

(5) In September 1920 she sold her superior household furniture and effects, due to the fact she was leaving the district, see the advertisement in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of September 9, 1920, here.

(6) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, July 8,1915, see here.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Sister Norah Lehman and Sister Aileen Lehman

The Cranbourne Avenue of Honour was officially opened on August 9, 1919 (1).  The Avenue represented 59 men and two women, Sister Norah Lehman and Sister Aileen Lehman. Norah and Aileen  both served in the Australian Army Nursing Service, during World War One.

They were the daughters of George John Lehman and Catherine 'Kate' Mary O'Connell who married in Adelaide in 1877. George and Kate had five children in Burra in South Australia - Stanley Hocking (born 1878), George Reginald (1879), Norah Blanche (1882), Ethel (1884) and Aileen (1886). The next daughter, Cathleen Kate, was born in 1888 in Queensland, then daughter Ada was born in 1892 in Dandenong and their last child, Sidney James was born in 1893 in Adelaide (2). 

George Lehman took over the licence of the  Bridge Hotel in Dandenong in February 1889 (3).  An article in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal in  May 1893 noted that the Lehmans had resigned their interest in the licence of the Bridge Hotel. Mrs. Lehman's name was synonymous with attention, civility and good liquor. It is not improbable that they may return to Dandenong (4). This was prophetic as the same paper reported on July 1, 1896 that the Lehmans had returned to the Bridge Hotel which had been thoroughly renovated (5).   I presume, as their last child. Sidney, had been born in Adelaide that they had returned to South Australia in the intervening three years. The Lehmans operated the Hotel until the end of 1901 (6).

The family were later living in Malvern East where John  was a stock dealer (he worked for a stock and station agent) and they were in  Dandenong Road, East Caulfield when Norah and Aileen enlisted in June 1915. In the 1917 Electoral Rolls  George and Kate were at Springmeadows in Cranbourne and his occupation was grazier. At some stage they went back to Malvern East and that's where George died on July 27, 1932 at the age of 77. Catherine died on January 1, 1941 at her son's house in Moonee Ponds; it was her youngest son's house, Sid, who was a Doctor (7).

Norah and Aileen both undertook three years of training at the Melbourne General Hospital and had also successfully undertaken the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association examinations. They remained at the Melbourne Hospital for some years after their training (8). In March 1911, Norah was appointed as Head Nurse at the Albury Hospital and Matron in the July.  She was joined in March 1912 by  Aileen, who was appointed as a nurse. In May 1913, they resigned from Albury Hospital (9).  The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported on the function held for Norah and Aileen when they left Albury Hospital -
To show their appreciation of the matron (Miss Lehman) and her sister (Miss A. Lehman) a number of their friends assembled in the hall of the Albury Hospital recently. The gathering took the form of a "surprise party." Mr F. C. Blacklock presided at the function, which was very enjoyable....Mr Blacklock expressed regret at the departure of the Matron and Sister Lehman, they having at all times been most ready to do anything in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and the sick. He felt sure that everyone present was sorry to lose such a splendid matron. She had endeared herself to the patients and the nursing staff; and to show in some tangible form their good feelings towards the Misses Lehman, they had gathered together, and he would ask Mr F.B. Hunter, on behalf of the Misses Lehman's friends in Albury, to make the presentation. Mr Hunter, in a very happy speech; said it gave him great pleasure to present to Miss Lehman a well filled purse of sovereigns. Miss Lehman, who was greatly affected, thanked the friends for their kindness, and said it had always it given her pleasure to do what she could.

Mr Chubb also presented to the matron, on behalf of the nurses, a travelling rug, clock, and volume of poems, and to Sister Lehman an exquisite scarf and a copy of Shakespeare. Miss Lehman responded on behalf of herself and sister, and said she had been in many hospitals, and considered the Albury committee should feel proud of the nursing staff. Mr H. E. Noble then presented Miss A. Lehman on behalf of her lady friends, "The Bathers," with a valise. Mr F. B. Hunter responded on behalf of Miss A. Lehman. A dainty supper was provided by the ladies and served by the nurses. The gathering was brought to conclusion by the company singing "For They are Jolly Good Fellows," and "Auld Lang Syne." (10).

Whilst she was at the Albury Hospital, Norah wrote this interesting letter to The Argus in February 1912, in support of  a fellow nurse.

Norah's letter, transcribed below.

The Argus, February 20, 1912, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11654704

Norah's letter - 

Sir, Allow me to protest, through your valuable paper, at the treatment meted out to one of the nurses at the Melbourne Hospital recently one who was dismissed on account of participating in a harmless   practical joke. I am surprised at the narrow minded spirit of the committee in dismissing her for so trivial offence. Kindly allow me to state that whilst I was at the Melbourne Hospital a period of five years there was hardly a nurse who did not indulge in a similar joke (and the hospital, I make bold to add, has turned out many a fine nurse not withstanding). I think the nurse should be reinstated, Yours

NORAH LEHMAN, Albury, Feb 15  (11).

I am unsure what they did immediately after leaving Albury but in March 1915 they were in Tallangatta where they operated the small private hospital, the Tallangatta Cottage Hospital. When the Tallangatta Hospital was opened the local paper reported that -

The institution was opened last week by Sisters Lehman (2) and Slade; all of whom hold the Melbourne Hospital certificate. The Misses Lehman are well-known in this district, through their having acted as matron and sister respectively in Albury Hospital for two years. Miss Slade, who holds special certificates for midwifery work, is also known hereabouts through being a sister of the Rev. Frank Slade, who some years ago (before taking up divinity studentship) was manager of Dr. Thwaites's pharmacy at Tallangatta. The nurses are prepared to take medical, surgical and midwifery cases. Boasting a new and up-to-date building in healthy surroundings, and with such fully qualified nursing skill available, the Tallangatta Cottage Hospital will no doubt attract many patients who have been in the habit of going further afield for treatment. (12).

Norah and Aileen and their nursing colleagues, shortly leaving for the Front

The Age July 9, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155005197

Aileen (left) and Norah Lehman from a group photo of Nurses with our Expeditionary Reinforcements. 

Punch July 29, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138700459

Norah and Aileen left Tallangatta and enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on June 24, 1915. Norah was 31 and  Aileen was 27. They embarked  on the Orsova, on July 7, 1915 (the same day as Florence Vines, who I have written about, here) Aileen served in France and suffered from pleurisy and was sent back to Australia on medical grounds, as exposure to cold made her condition worse; she Returned to Australia on July 17, 1917 (13). On November 17, 1917 Aileen married Cecil Paul Best at Kew. It was a short lived marriage, which produced a son, James, born in 1919 (14).  As you can see from the article, below, Aileen was a highly regarded nurse during her time on active service. 

This lovely tribute to Aileen appeared in 1918

Dandenong Advertiser October 17, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88816352

Norah served in France at the various Hospitals and in January 1917 was Mentioned in Despatches for her distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty. Norah Returned to Australia on April 19, 1919 (15).

Norah Lehman's honour.

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Norah and her fellow nurses of 2nd Australian General Hospital (2AGH), France, 

 on  May 11, 1918. 

Norah is eighth from left in the back row.

Australian War Memorial - see all the names here https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C286514

Both Norah and Aileen are listed on the Electoral Roll in 1919 at Springmeadows, Cranbourne.  Norah had  new battle to fight - the influenza epidemic. The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported in the July -

A wave of influenza has claimed many residents as victims, which has necessitated the shire council taking over the vicarage (by kind permission of the Church authorities) as an emergency hospital. Sister N. Lehman has been appointed in charge, and is being ably assisted by Nurses Rechie and King. The hospital at present is full and all patients are progressing nicely (16). 

A year later in June 1920, the Cranbourne Shire Health Inspector reported on the local response to the Influenza epidemic and noted that - 

at Cranbourne, an emergency hospital in the capable hands of Sister Lehman, lately returned from the war, was opened and was the means of saving more than one life (17). 

In the 1920s the sisters lived in East Malvern with their parents and other family members and both Norah and Aileen  continued to work as Norah was single and had to support herself and Aileen had her son to support.  Their occupations in the Electoral Rolls are a Nurse or a  Sister and from 1924, Norah has the occupation of an Inspectress; she was in fact a Health Inspector for the St Kilda Council. Aileen also worked for the same Council as a nurse at the Baby Health Centre. 

There were two articles in the newspapers which give us an indication of  the type of work Norah undertook in her role at the City of St Kilda and of the issues she faced including likely push-back from boarding house owners against rule enforcement and secondly the emotional toll of seeing people living in squalor. This is from The Age in February 1925 in  a report on the City of St Kilda annual health  report - 

The boarding-house regulations had been enforced very efficiently by Sister Lehman, who had many difficulties to contend with. Often a big sum had been paid for ingoing without the buyer having any idea of the large amount to be spent before buildings could be  registered as first-class boarding houses (18). 

From the The Argus in January 1930 -

The health inspectress (Sister N. Lehman) reported to the council as follows: - "I visited 6 Beaconsfield parade at 12 o'clock  on the afternoon of January 22, accompanied by Mr Irvine, and found a serious condition of over crowding, detrimental to the health, and against all regulations. I estimated 20 adults and 40 children who were all accommodated in a house registered for 20 persons. Nine children and one mother were in a room which should accommodate one person. Every available space had a bed, even the garage. The children were eating at a table - no chairs, and some sitting on the floor, which was in a filthy state. The whole condition of the premises was in a most undesirable state. The yard was in a very bad state. There were no dust bins and the one lavatory cistern was out of order. The people were in such numbers as to be a menace." (19).

In spite of her good work, Norah actually earnt only 60 percent of the salary of her male counterpart, as you can see from this article below. The annual salary of the male Health Inspector ranged from £382 to £400 and her annual salary from £228 to £240. Also as you can see her sister, Aileen Best,  worked for the Council, she was the Assistant Nurse at the Baby Health Centre (20). 

Salaries City of St Kilda staff in 1929 - both Norah and Aileen were employed by the Council.

Prahran Telegraph October 11 1929 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165009264

 Aileen died in December 12, 1953 aged 68. The death notice in The Argus listed her as  late first A.I.F and the mother of Dr Jim Best  and the grandmother of three. Norah Lehman died on May 24 1949 and this obituary, below,  appeared in the Dandenong Journal. (21).

Obituary of Norah Lehman.

Dandenong Journal June 8 1949 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222210880

Norah and Aileen Lehman were well trained and highly skilled nurses and health care professionals, who served their country during the First World War and were held in high regard by their colleagues and patients

Trove list -  I have created a list of newspaper articles on the Lehman family, click here for access.

Footnotes
(1) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, August 21 1919, see here

(2) Family details - Indexes to the Victorian and Queensland Birth, Deaths and Marriages; Genealogy SA https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
(3) The Argus, February 22, 1889, see here.
(4) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, May 10 1893, see here.
(5) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 1, 1896. see here.
(6) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 1 1902, see here.

(7) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Death notices - The Argus, January 28, 1932, see here; The Argus, January 2, 1941. see here.

(8) Training listed on their Attestation papers (see Footnote 13 for links). Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association - see formation of in The Argus July 6, 1901, here and Nursing entry in EMelbourne https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01071b.htm All nurses had to undertake and pass RVTNA examinations alongside their training in hospitals.

(9) Albury Banner, March 17, 1911, see here; Albury Banner, July 21, 1911, see here; Albury Banner, March 15, 1912, see here; South Bourke & Mornington Journal, May 8, 1913, see here.
(10)  South Bourke & Mornington Journal, May 8, 1913, see here.
(11) The Argus, February 20, 1912, see here.

(12) Upper Murray and Mitta Herald, March 11, 1915, see here.

(13) Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia - Norah, see here; Aileen, see here.

(14) Marriage notice of Aileen Lehman

The Argus, December 24, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1671064

(15) Attestation papers - see footnote 12.

(16) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 31, 1919, see here.

(17) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 10, 1920, see here.

(18) The Age, February 18, 1925, see here.

(19) The Argus, January 29, 1930, see here.

(20) Prahran Telegraph, October 11, 1929, see here.

(21) Death notices - The Age, May 25, 1949, see here; The Argus, December 14, 1953, see here.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched,  that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.