About five years ago Anne Hanson read Peter Rees’ excellent book, The Other Anzacs; Nurses at War, 1914-1918. At the back of this book is an Australian World War 1 Nurses Honour Roll. Being an avid student of Beechworth’s history, Anne was surprised when she noticed a listing for Elizabeth (Lizzie) Rothery  a nurse who in June 1918 died while home on leave in Beechworth. Inspired by this piece of information, Anne has discovered that at least sixty-two nurses from north east Victoria and the Upper Murray served in Great War. 

The daughters of farmers, doctors, miners, coach proprietors, small business owners, school teachers, ministers of religion and public servants, they served in hospitals in Egypt, Greece, England, France and India and on troop and hospital ships. In Greece they survived primitive living conditions, near starvation, freezing winters with inadequate clothing and, in summer, swarms of malaria bearing mosquitoes. Cholera, paratyphoid and venomous snakes were all part of the Indian nursing experience. Those posted to Wimereaux near the Somme in France, lived through numerous bombing raids. Serving on troop and hospital ships in certain waters with the constant danger of being torpedoed, together with the extreme unrelenting heat, was physically and emotionally exhausting. Several went above and beyond the call of duty and were awarded the Royal Red Cross and/or mentioned in despatches.

 Tarrawingee born Alma Bennett was one of four north east nurses who were awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC).  To learn more about Alma use this link Alma Bennett's Story

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Netta Forrest from Beechworth was awarded a Royal Red Cross 2nd Class. Her story can be read here Netta Forrest's story