Fourth of nine children born to Rachel Atcheson and George Humphrey at Stawell, originally known as Pleasant Creek. May a twin, was born in 1877 and her twin sister Maud was also a nurse.

From the June 1905 UNA Journal - OVENS DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

… Nurse May Humphrey resigned her position as staff nurse, and left last Thursday to enter upon her duties as matron of the Corowa Hospital, N.S.W. She was here 5½ years. Although sorry to lose her services, we are all pleased at her promotion to a better position. The nursing staff and myself presented her with a case of afternoon tea spoons and a pair of vases, wishing her every success in her new sphere of labour – written by M. Winning, Matron.

Valedictory

The president and members of the board bade farewell to Nurse Humphrey who had received the appointment of Matron to the Corowa Hospital and the opportunity was taken to express appreciation of her ability and her appointment to such an important position.

Nurse Humphrey returned her thanks for the kindness expressed and said she would never forget the institution in which she had received so thorough a training and would always be pleased to renew her acquaintance with her friends in Beechworth - Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 17 June 1905.

Corowa Hospital

CORRESPONDENCE

… From May Humphrey, Beechworth, thanks for appointment of matron and that she would present herself at Corowa on June 15.

… From the Department of Public Health, N.S.W., that the appointment of Nurse May Humphrey to the position of Matron had been approved of conditionally on her becoming registered with the Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association within three months from date of appointment. Corowa Free Press, 20 June 1905.

Miss May Humphrey, matron of the local hospital, left on Tuesday’s train on her annual and well earned holidays. …Corowa Free Press, 14 February 1908.

Corowa Public Hospital

At a special meeting of the committee of the above on Monday evening last the resignation of the Matron (Miss May Humphrey) was read. The Matron gave no reason for the step she has taken. The resignation could not be dealt with at the meeting, … Corowa Free Press, 25 March 1910.

A special meeting of the committee of the Corowa Hospital was held last night to consider applications for the position of matron of the institution rendered vacant by the resignation of Miss May Humphrey … Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, 8 April 1910.

The Hay Hospital

… Miss May Humphrey, of the Adelaide Hospital, the newly appointed matron wrote stating that she would take up her position on 25th November, or earlier, if possible, and thanking the committee for her appointment. … A departmental letter stating that the Chief Medical officer to the Government had approved of Miss Humphrey’s appointment was received. The Riverina Grazier, Hay, 11 November 1910.

COROWA

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Monday, November 28

Miss May Humphreys, late matron of the local public hospital has been appointed to a similar position at Hay, and is at present in Corowa on her way to her new scene of activities. Since leaving Corowa Miss Humphreys has been following her profession in Melbourne.

Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, 2 December 1910.

HAY HOSPITAL

… The Matron, Miss Humphrey, wrote resigning her position, as she had accepted an appointment in another State. Mr Maclure moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. They were losing a very zealous, conscientious and capable officer, and he was very sorry she was going. Mr Layh [sic] seconded the motion, which was carried. The Riverina Grazier, Hay, 10 January 1913

THE HAY HOSPITAL

Farewell to the Matron.

A meeting of the Hay Hospital Committee was held at the hospital on Tuesday evening [14 January 1913] to say farewell to their matron, Miss Humphreys who has resigned, having accepted a similar appointment at the Bairnsdale Hospital. There were present: Mr. G. Horton (president in the chair), Messrs Layh, Donohoe, Proctor, Barnett, Weir, Rawnsley, Maclure, Dr. Hartridge, and Revs. Robertson and Pitt. Th nursing staff were also present.

… The President, in proposing the toast of “Our Departing Matron,” said they had met to say good-bye to their matron who was leaving the next day. She had been over two years in charge of the hospital and during a great deal of that time repairs to the building were being effected. This made the working of the institution, at times very difficult, as there was much inconvenience and also continual cleaning up after the workmen, but the matron always met these and other difficulties uncomplainingly and cheerfully, and now when everything had been brought up to date, she was leaving them. The patients all spoke very highly of her treatment of them. Owing to the great difficulty there had been to obtain nurses and servants lately, and as the number of patients under treatment during the latter part of the year had been unusually large, the work of the institution was carried on at high pressure, so much so that for a week the matron did the cooking. She had endeared herself to the nursing staff, and they would miss her very much. He hoped she would be long spared to carry on the good work she was engaged in. (Applause).

Messrs Rawnsley and Maclure spoke in very flattering terms of the good service rendered to the institution by the matron and of the loss the committee were sustaining by her departure. Dr. Hartridge spoke of the very pleasant relationship which had always existed between the matron and the medical staff of the institution.

Mr Layh said he regretted very much the loss of so able and devoted an officer as the matron. He found when he was recently out canvassing' the town for the annual subscriptions, that all were very pleased to subscribe, and to a large extent, the personality of the matron should be credited with this.

Mr Proctor, the senior member of the building committee, said he was very sorry that the matron was leaving them, as it was a big loss to the institution. Almost from the time she came to Hay, the hospital had been in a state of upset with renovations and alterations to buildings and equipment, which added enormously to her work and worries, and made her position sometimes most trying and vexatious, yet she met every difficulty smilingly. He joined the previous speakers earnestly in wishing the matron health and happiness wherever she went.

The toast was then honored in a very enthusiastic manner with musical honors. The Rev. Mr Pitt responded on behalf of the matron in a very appreciative manner. The Matron rose, and after long applause, said she would like to say a few words to thank the committee for the kindness and consideration they had shown her during the whole time she had been with them. She now felt exceedingly sorry she was leaving, and if she had thought she would have felt it so much she was afraid she would not have been able to resign. (Applause).

Mr Rawnsley broke the usual order of things by proposing the health of the President. This was very warmly received, and in responding the President said he felt proud that so many members of the committee were present at that inconvenient hour and place. They felt it was their duty, as well as their pleasure, to pay honor to whom honor was so richly due. (Applause.) Hands were joined, and Auld Lang Syne was rendered very heartily, then the company said ' good-bye ' to the matron, and dispersed.

The Riverina Grazier, Hay, 17 January 1913.

Off to the War

On Wednesday [16 June 1915] last the matron of the Bairnsdale District Hospital received word to proceed to Melbourne, prior to leaving for one of the military hospitals abroad for service in nursing wounded soldiers. Matron Humphrey, who left by the early train on Thursday morning, was highly esteemed by the staff of the hospital, and as a token of their good wishes they presented her with a very serviceable gift in the form of a tea basket … At the last meeting of the committee of the hospital the matron was granted 12 months’ leave of absence, on notifying that body of having volunteered for service abroad. Bairnsdale Advertiser and Tambo and Omeo Chronicle, 19 June 1915.

Bairnsdale District Hospital

Correspondence

From Matron M. Humphrey saying it was with much regret she had to leave Bairnsdale without thanking the committee for granting her 12 month’s leave of absence to enable her to go to the front and expressing her appreciation for the courtesy and consideration extended her by the committee during the past 2½ years, which period had been a very happy one, and trusted that the war would soon be over and that she would be able to take up her position again.

Bairnsdale Advertiser and Tambo and Omeo Chronicle, 14 July 1915.

Whilst we were there London was visited by an air-raid. One evening at 11.30 a terrific bang, bang was heard; we knew at once what it was, and immediately went down to the basement of the hotel, as we were all directed to do in the event of an air-raid taking place.  What surprised me was everyone was so remarkably cool; there was not the slightest panic. Two of our staff were returning home. and were put into a cellar by a policeman until the danger was past.  Some were at the theatre, and they spoke highly of the presence of mind displayed, everyone was so calm. The Zeppelin could be distinctly seen from the doorway of the hotel. and a considerable amount of damage was done within five minutes' walk from us.

25th September was the date given us to be on board the "Kanowna" which is No. 2 Australian Hospital Ship, and we sailed from the Royal Albert Docks about noon. The ship looked well painted white, and a broad green band round, and a large red cross on either side. We had on board 300 R.A.M.C., and some English and Canadian nurses, and Sister Allander (Melbourne). These were going to Alexandria, Lemnos, etc.

There are eleven wards. Instead of bunks, we have cots which can be kept stationary or move with the motion of the ship, as desired, and these are said by the patients to be most comfortable.  The sterilizing is done by steam, and boiling water is provided by means of small fountains heated by steam. The operating theatre is well equipped, and a number of operations were done on the way out. Sister Leitch is in charge.  The nursing staff goes on duty at 7 a.m., and comes off at 9 p.m., with a couple of hours off duty during the day if convenient, and we had the luxury of one whole day off coming out. Our cabins are comfortable; two bunks in each, which are found to be quite enough when coming through the Red Sea and the Tropics. Arrangements have been made to sleep on deck if you do not object to being awakened very early in the morning. There are two pianos on board, and concerts are frequently arranged by the A.M.C. which the patients enjoy. We also have a couple of gramophones. which help to break the monotony of ship-board life. The padre comes along and sees that the patients are well supplied with magazines and books, of which we have a good supply.

3rd October - Malta was our first stopping place. Here we were allowed to go ashore for a few hours, when we visited the Cathedral. which is very fine. We then went to Blakley's and had ice cream, and tea of course.

8th October - Alexandria was our next port, and here we said farewell to the members of the R.A.M.C. and English sisters. We stayed there six days.  Alexandria we were not charmed with, it is so dusty and smelly, but we thought Cairo much nicer. We had the opportunity of spending the whole day there. We went from Alexandria by rail. The journey was very interesting, as the railway runs through land irrigated by the Nile. Whilst there we went to Heliopolis Palace to see Sisters Agnes Jackson and Ralston, then to No. 2 A.G. Hospital to see Sisters Lehman and Simeons. They all seemed very happy. We also met Colonels Ryan and Springthorpe. We visited the pretty little English cemetery where Sister Bicknell is buried. Some of her friends have erected a tombstone to her memory, but her memory will always live in the hearts of those who knew her, she was such a splendid woman in every way. All round are to be seen small mounds with a wooden cross at the head with a number on it. These are the, graves of the soldiers who have died in and around Cairo.

16th October –Port Said was our next port, and there is no doubt it deserves the reputation it has of being very dirty. We coaled there and whilst that was going on we went to see the Bazaars, and came across Sister Marie McCameron[1], who was in charge of some New Zealand nurses and are attached to No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital. They were awaiting orders to embark any day, and expected to be sent to Salonika.

17th October – We arrived at Suez and very beautiful it looked too: the purple green of the mountains, the peculiar green of the sea, the white houses and red roofs. the beautiful green palms and shrubs and bright-coloured flowers and coloured boats making a fine picture. Three hundred patients came from Cairo by rail, some blind, and a good number of helpless ones. They were delighted to get into a comfortable bed after the hot and trying journey from Cairo.

19th October - It was extremely hot coming through the Red Sea, as the breeze was behind us, but the patients stood it very well. Certainly, the electric fans in the wards made them bearable, but one and all were glad when we left it behind us.

2nd November - We arrived at Colombo and we were all pleased when permission was given to everyone able to go ashore, and motor cars had been provided for those unable to walk by some of the residents of Colombo.  We were driven out to Mt. Lavina, where afternoon tea was provided, and we afterwards took a drive round some of the most interesting parts of Colombo on our way back to the ship. Everyone was delighted with the time spent ashore, and there is no doubt Colombo is a very beautiful place, so different in its beauty to any other port we visited. The gay colours the shiny natives wore, the vivid green palms and shrubs, the bright-coloured flowers and creepers, the red roads and white bungalows. the pretty dark-eyed children, give the place a charm of its own.

14th November - We arrived at Fremantle. There had been a big swell on for a few days previously, and it was hard to keep our feet in the wards. You were reminded of a skating rink. A bang would be heard, and one knew something had toppled over. It is not very easy to do dressings, especially syringing wounds at such a time, but we knew it was one of the things we had to expect. The Fremantle Band welcomed the returned soldiers and some of the ladies went over the ship and supplied all the patients with cigarettes, cakes, fruit, etc. We did not stay any time at Adelaide, and no one was allowed to go ashore. Major Hamilton, one of our staff, we had to say farewell to and one and all were very sorry to have to do so.

22nd November - We arrived in Melbourne, where almost half of our patients disembarked. They were all very delighted to be home again, and although they had almost all made wonderful improvement during the voyage out, still one could not but think what a shock some of their friends and relations would get when meeting them, especially the blind and helpless. Many times, we have felt grateful to the Red Cross for the comforts supplied to us.  They were a perfect boon to the patients during the voyage, and much appreciated.

MAY HUMPHRY.

[1] May is referring to WW1 Matron Marie McNaughton Cameron. See Marie Cameron 

1916:

6 June 1916 left Australia

27 July arrived in England, sent to Harefield.

8 August stationed at 2nd AAH, Southall. (This hospital came to specialise in artificial limbs).

12 August sent to St Alban’s[1] for 1 weeks’ rest.

19 August returned to Southall.

12 September at Kitchener Military Hospital, Brighton.

10 October attached to 3rd AAH, Dartford, Kent.

Ladies Column

Matron Humphrey, daughter of Mrs and Mrs G Humphrey, Wimmera Street, has been on the staff of Netley Hospital[2] and has also met several Stawell boys there. Stawell News and Pleasant Creek Chronicle, 24 February 1917

In February 1917 during one of the worst winters France had experienced for almost a century, May was posted to the 2nd AGH at Wimereux near Boulogne. The 2nd AGH was a large tented hospital with most of its patients coming straight from the battle field. In time and despite numerous bombing raids, the hospital came to specialise in the treatment of fractures.

The intense cold led to the staff wearing thick woollen gloves, cap comforters and balaclavas with bed socks tied on over their shoes. The ice covering the spirit lamps had to be melted before they could be used. Freshly washed floors froze causing staff to slip on them.

6 June admitted to 14th General Hospital, Boulogne, France suffering from pyrexia of uncertain origin.

20 June rejoined 2nd AGH.

7 November returned to England and rejoined the 2nd AAH.

23 November joined the No. 1 Australian Hospital Ship, SS Karoola for transport duty.

30 October 1918 finally arrived home on the Karoola and was discharged from the AANS.

The new matron of the Horsham District Hospital, Miss May Humphreys, is a daughter of Mr. George Humphreys, Wimmera Street, Stawell. She has had considerable nursing experience including four years on war service.

The Horsham Times, 2 Mar 1920

May 1927 - May spent part of her annual holidays at the Victorian Trained Nurses' Club hostel in Melbourne.

HORSHAM

… Matron Humphrey’s of Horsham Hospital, who is to spend a six months’ holiday abroad, has been presented with a travelling case and rug. The Age, 4 May 1928.

Matron Humphreys of Horsham, who has accepted an appointment as matron of the Police Hospital, St. Kilda Road has been congratulated by the Horsham Hospital Committee which regretted losing her valuable services since the hospital was recently enlarged to a base. Matron Humphreys was farewelled by the committee and friends some weeks ago, when she started for six months’ furlough abroad. She received the offer before embarkation and her resignation came from Colombo this week to the hospital secretary. She has cancelled her trip and will return to take up her new duties next month. The Herald, Melbourne, 25 May 1928.

1931 - 1937 ER Police Hospital, St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

1943 ER living with her sisters, Winifred Rose and Ethel Mary at Winslow, Stonnington Place, Malvern.

May died 27 September 1947. Death entry on the Vic Death Index is in the name HUMPHREYS. Died aged 70 at Parkville. Buried with her sisters Ethel May & Rose Winifred at Box Hill Cemetery, 29 September 1947.

[1] Most likely St Albans V.A.D. Hospital, also known as Bricket House, Bricket Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

[2] A large military hospital in Netley, Hampshire, England. Also known as the Royal Victoria Hospital.

©Anne Hanson, 2023                                                                                          E-mail:  Anne Hanson