MEMORIAL TO OVERSEAS NURSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 64

MEMORIAL TO OVERSEAS NURSES.

WOMEN’S HOSPITAL APPEAL. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 14. To a large gathering at the Mansion House, which included Mrs Stanley Baldwin and the Mayoresses of London boroughs, the Lady Mayoress appealed for support for the extension fund of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital. A sum of £75,000 is required. Dame Millicent Fawcett spoke of the struggles of her sister, Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, to secure the opening of the profession of medicine to women. "When I recall how my father, a country merchant, and my sister, a girl of 22, fought the medical world, assisted only by one or two loyal friends, I am reminded of how St. Theresa set out with a child to coqyert the M00r9,” she said. A famous doctor, in reply to her father’s appeal for help, sent her sister out of the room, and said to him: " I have a beloved daughter, and I would rather see her in her coffin than have her enter the profession.” Nevertheless, the opening of the profession to women had proved one of the greatest blessings in modern life. The gratitude of poor women for the skill of women doctors and surgeons was overwhelming, and they had contributed £3OOO to the upkeep of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital through the Old Patients 1 ’ League. HOME FOR OVERSEAS NURSES. Lady Galway gave details of a scheme for building the nurses’ home as a memorial to members of the overseas nursing services who gave their lives in the war. Permiasion to do so had been received from the dominion Governments. No such memorial had as yet been raised in this country. The number of these heroic women was 87, of whom 39 were Canadians, 24 Australians, 15 New Zealanders, 4 South Africans, while three were members of the Colonial Nursing Association, and ono belonged to the Indian Military Nursing Service. Other speakers at the meeting included Mrs Hilton Philipeon, M.P., Dame Louise Aldrich-Blake, Miss Marie Tempest, Lady Plender. and Mr Gordon Pollock (chairman of the hospital). Subscriptions may be sent to the hon. treasurer of the appeal fund, the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, 144 Euston road, London, N.W.I.