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.