NEW ZEALAND WEDDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1941, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WEDDING

FIRST WITHIN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. CEREMONY IN EGYPT. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, October 25. The first all-New Zealand wedding within the 2 N.Z.E.F. took place at Saint Paul’s Church, Helwan, on a recent evening, when Sister Eileen Barker, of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, and formerly of New Plymouth, and at present of a New Zealand base training depot, was married to Sergeant Walter Brown, also of New Plymouth. Attended by Sister E. M. Sutherland, of Dunedin, as bridesmaid, the bride was given away by Colonel D. Pottinger, of Invercargill, officer commanding a New Zealand general hospital. Sergeant Smith, formerly of Wellington, was best man. Red dahlias, jasmine and zinnias decorated the church, which was crowded with New Zealand nursing sisters, members of the hospital staff and fellow soldiers of the groom. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. R. T. Dodds, C.F., of Dunedin, while wedding music was played by Pte. T. Morsby. On the route to the Kiwi Club where the reception was held, the newly-weds passed through a guard of honour provided by members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service to pipe music played by Sister P. Dewar, of Bennetts, North Canterbury. At the reception, Matron D. I. Brown acted as hostess. The beautiful three-tiered wedding cake had been sent from New Zealand by friends of the bride. Senior officers of the New Zealand Medical Corps were among those present, including the brigadier in charge of the New Zealand medical services in the Middle East, and Col. F. M. Spencer, E.D. Among the senior members of the Army Nursing Service who were among the guests were Miss E. M. Nutsey, matron-in-chief, Matrons D. I. Brown and E. C. McKay, and Sisters V. M. Hodges, K. G. Hall, and M. Hennessy.