Nellie Mabel SAW. Staff Nurse 2 Reserve/S348 QAIMNSR.
Born 4 March 1890 at Albany, West Australia to Thomas Henry and Eliza, nee Cooper of Bow River, Denmark, Western Australia.
13 December 1915 Nurse at in a hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Served in France and Belgium. Resigned from the army 17 March 1918
Died at 3-30pm in Albany, Western Australia 31 March 1919 aged 29 of tuberculosis, contracted whilst nursing wounded soldiers in France. At rest in Methodist Section in the (Old) Albany Memorial Park Cemetery, Western Australia.
Notes from her service record, QAIMNSR.
Joined up 10 February 1916. Her father Thomas Henry Saw of Bow River, via Denmark Western Australia.
Active service in England and France 1916-1917.
She embarked for England from Freemantle Western Australia 24 December 1915. 4 April 1916 she embarked with the B.E.F. for duty in France and posted the same day to 26 General Hospital, Le Touquet, Etaples, France where she fell ill with pneumonia and was admitted into her hospital 1 October 1916. 4 October 1916 invalided to Queen Alexandra Hospital Vincent Square, London, England. She was on a Medical Board 24 October 1916 and was granted sick leave to 23 November 1916. At date not recorded, she returned fit for duty in France. She was again invalided to England from France 16 September 1917 and admitted into Woolwich British Military Hospital, London suffering from Broncho pneumonia. 17 September 1917 she was on a Medical Board at Woolwich B.M.H., London where she was given six months leave to Australia. The Australian Medical Authorities arranged a passage for her early in October 1917. 16 December 1917 she left for Australia by Ambulance Train which started from Southall Station, London at 2-30pm and then on S.S. Kawau. Arrangements were in place for her return after her six months leave to light duties in a Hospital Ship from Australia to England. She had been instructed to join the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich 1 May 1917. She never regained her health and died four months into her leave. She contracted the disease while attending to the wounded which she persisted in doing in spite of her sickness.
Notes from her record held in Australian Archives R40618 -
She served in the QAIMNSR. These documents relate to returning to her home Australia on sick leave, treatment and after her death finalising her affairs etc.
The following is part extract from Minute Paper of the Department of Repatriation.
She applied for enlistment at Perth Western Australia on 13 December 1915 in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) There were no vacancies but she was offered and accepted an appointment in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and was attached to the QAIMNSR. Appointment dating from 17 December 1915. She did duty in England and France and was sent to hospital suffering from pleurisy for eight days. She returned to duty June 1916 till 1 September 1916 when she again broke down and was in hospital two months with broncho pneumonia. She was invalided to England and had leave till 8 December 1916 remaining on duty, then ailing frequently until the Medical Board gave her six months leave to Australia from 17 December 1917 on S.S. Kawau. In Australia she was sent for treatment to Wooroloo Sanitorium, at 22nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Western Australia. She remained there from three months after which she was sent to a private sanatorium in Melbourne. She had to leave this sanatorium because the doctor who owned and treated her stated that he could do nothing for her medically. She was then put into a home in St Kilda, Melbourne accompanied by her sister who remained with her while she was being treated. Her sister had to do the day nursing as the was no one available to do it. Nellie wanted to go home in Western Australia. She was not permitted to travel alone and it was agreed that her sister was permitted to accompany her. She and her sister got passage home on S.S. Karoola October 1917 whilst at home she was confined to her bed.
Image of ship credited to
https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/gallery/209538Mabel Saw
Click on link for the Wartime Nurses Memorial
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