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VICTORIAN NURSES in the BOER WAR

Marianne RAWSON (in charge). Awarded Royal Red Cross.

She was one of only a few nurses from Britain''s Colonies to receive this award, presented sometime in 1900 by Earl Minto (PRO (UK) ref WO 145/1).

The rare Royal Red Cross, and Queen's South

Africa Medal. Similar medals would have been issued to Marianne Rawson.

But these were awarded to South Australian Sister Martha Bidmead.

Only three Royal Red Crosses were awarded to Australian nurses in

the Boer War. Photo provided by Chris Thomas.

Amy Robinson CHUTT (Alfred Hosp.)

Dora BURGESS (Melbourne Hosp.)

Diana TIDDY

Dorothy F. SMITH (Note: Dorothy Smith is mentioned in Berhard Smith's letter--below)

Ethel Mary Bernhard SMITH Read a letter from her by clicking here.

Annie Eliza Helen THOMSON

Eleanor Augusta Victoria LANGLANDS (Note: Sister Langlands is mentioned in Bernhard Smith's letter--above)

Ellen WALTER

Frances Emma HINES (died in Bulawayo Memorial Hospital, Rhodesia, 7 August 1900)

Isobel IVEY (mentioned in dispatches)

Julia B. ANDERSON

READ about their services at Bulawayo, Rhodesia, by clicking here.

Our Victorian Nurses sail for the Boer War.

Sailed for South Africa from Melbourne on S. S. Euryalus, 10 March 1900, with 3rd (Bushmen's) Contingent.

Departure of SS Euryalus.

THE FIRST POSTCARD HOME FROM A VICTORIAN NURSE (Cape Town, South Africa, April 1900)

. . . To her sister:

Eleanor Langland's postcard

We went on shore yesterday and had a look at the place. It is just swarming with soldiers & the Harbour is so full of ships that it is almost impossible to count them . . .

Text from her postcard

We are leaving again this afternoon for Beira up on the East Coast. We are to live in tents & are the first Australian Nurses to go to the front. Will write again earliest chance. E.Langlands. Cape Town. April 3rd, 1900.

(Thanks to Jeffrey Marks for this postcard).

Three additional names have been provided by Defending Victoria Visitor Lenore Frost. She found these details in 'The South African War 1899-1902: Service Records of British and Colonial Women. A record of the service in South Africa of Military and Civilian Nurses, Laywomen and Civilians', by Sheila Gray, Auckland, NZ, 1993.

LEMPRIERE, J M VIC Ex Aus to Cape Town 17.01.1900 Posted to School Hospital, Pretoria 23.04.1900 General Hospital Howick Posted to Hospital Ship MONTFORD 27.05.1901 General Hospital, Pretoria 22.11.1901

Nursing Sister Janey Lempriere and a colleague

at the Cape Town General Field Hospital, South

Africa. Detail from an AWM photo.

MCCREADY, A -- VIC Aus to Fort Napier Hospital, Pietermaritzburg JAN 1900 7 General Hospital, Pretoria to Estcourt 7.08.1901

VILLIERS, (no initial) VIC Ex Aus to DURBAN 6.11.1899

READ Max Chamberlain's authoritative article about Australian Nurses in the Boer War.

Bassett, Jan: Guns and Brooches: Australian Army Nursing from the Boer War to the Gulf War: Oxford University Press Australia: 1992, 1997.

Gray, Sheila: The South African War 1899-1902: Service Records of British and Colonial Women: A record of the service in South Africa of Military and Civilian Nurses, Laywomen and Civilians: The Author: 1993: Information about this valuable publication available from 14a Pembroke Crescent, Glendowie, Auckland, New Zealand 1071.

Were there more? Are there photographs available?