Alice Blanche ATKINSON

Alice Blanche (k/a Blanche) ATKINSON. Staff Nurse QAIMNS.

Born 1878 at Crafters, South Australia to Frederick John ATKINSON (Station Owner) and Mary Ann Martha nee Church. Trained at the Adelaide Hospital August 1907 - September 1910. Charge Nurse at Alberton Private Hospital for 6 months

Staff Nurse at Private Hospital Perth, Western Australia. Private Nursing May 1911 to September 1914. Resided 3 Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, Western Australia. She embarked from Adelaide on the SS 'Beltana and travelled 3rd Class. Disembarking at London Port 22 July 1915 to Brockenhurst Military Hospital, New Forest, Hampshire. Formerly Staff Nurse, Royal Red Cross. joined the QAIMNS at Brockenhurst Military Hospital. She fell seriously ill April 1916 and was a patient in Netley. Her mother received a cable from her daughter 7 August as follows - “Coming, meet ship….” The second word presumably giving the name of the ship has been censored. No arrival date was given. Her mother did make enquiries with the Officer in Charge of Base Records, Melbourne. They in return were unable to help as they had no record of her daughter leaving with the Australian Imperial Army. It appears that her mother not knowing the name of the ship may have been unable to meet her daughter.

She died post discharge of tuberculosis at her mother’s home in Crafters, South Australia 9 December 1916 aged 38 years. At rest in Stirling District Cemetery, South Australia.

Awarded (ARRC) Associate Royal Red Cross

Recorded with the CWGC as Blanche.
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/795778

https://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/nurse/atkinson-blanche/