In Memory of Overseas Nurses

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 3, 1 July 1925, Page 140

In Memory of Overseas Nurses

The authorities of the Elizaibeth Garrett Anderson Hospital have lately been in communication with the various Governments of the Dominions with regard to incorporating, as part of their extension scheme, a memorial to members of the Overseas' Nursing Service who died in the Great War. The proposal is to dedicate the new Nurses' Home of the Hospital in their honour, and we are pleased to learn that the idea has been very well received by the various Governments, and permission gladly given. The Home is to be dedicated to 30 members of the Canadian Nursing Services, 24 members of the Australian Nursing Service, 15 members of the New Zealand Service, 4 members of the South African Service, 3 members of the Colonial Nursing Association, and 1 member attached to the Indian Military Nursing Service — a total of 77 in all. Hundreds of nurses, during the years 1914-1919, were brought into contact with the Overseas nurses, and so realised at first hand the skill and devotion with which they nursed the sick soldiers. We think that many of these may like to send a trifling sum to the Appeal Treasurer at the Hospital, to show their appreciation of sisters-in-arms, who gave their lives in fulfilment of their duty. From "The Nursing Mirror. M

The Department has referred the list of New Zealand nurses' names submitted to the Matron in Chief. The name of the 15th nurse is not known and she was not a member of the Army Nursing Service but may be a New Zealander. Another memorial is also being established for the 583 women who gave their

lives in the service of their country in the great war. Money to the amount of £3,000 has been collected to restore and preserve a very famous window in York Minster known as the Five Sisters window of which it is said that the five lancet shaped lights form the best known window in the world. It has been decided to preserve the five lights as the women's national memorial to all the sisters of the Empire who laid down their lives in the great war. The Roll of Honour whieh will contain the names of all women who died as the result of their service (over 1370) will be inscribed on an oak screen adjacent to the window. One of the panels will contain the names of the members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service with their badge inscribed thereon — Sisters Marion Brown, Isabel Clark, Ella Cooke, Catherine Fox, Mary Gorman, Ada Hawken, Nora Hildyard, Helena Isdell, Mabel Jamieson, Lily Lind, Mary Rae, Lome Rattray, Margaret Rogers, Esther Tubman, and Mabel Wishaw. Also, an invitation has come from Mrs. Edwin Gray, executive member of the N.C.W. and^ the 1.C.W., and from Mrs. Blakeway Little, of York, who asks us to consider whether, as the names of our New Zealand Sisters who gave their lives are being included in the Roll of Honour in connection with the Five Sisters' Window we will care to hold a Memorial Service for them and the other Sisters of tlie Empire who made the supreme sacrifice, on the same date as the unveiling ceremony will take place in York Minster, and thus emphasise the Imperial Sisterhood. The same request is being made to the National Council of Women in other Dominions.