World War 1 COLLIE Girls – Women at War

Women at War

Australian women served in the Army as nurses and as other medical workers during WW1. There were also a number of Red Cross volunteers who provided comforts to the troops. Nurses were expected to be single or widowed they served in Egypt, Salonika, France, Belgium, Lemnos, Palestine, the Persian Gulf, Italy, Burma, Vladivostok and Abyssinia. Often in trying conditions, they were exposed to shelling, aerial bombardment and outbreaks of disease. 2139 women served with the Australian Army Nursing Service, and 130 worked with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service (British).  Twenty-three of these women died in service during the war. Seven women received the Military Medal for bravery under fire.

Other women also performed valuable services. They set up the Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau, which was instrumental in ascertaining information for families of the circumstances of those who were missing through death, wounding or capture (POW). Red Cross nurses, known as ‘Blue Birds’, also served in French front-line hospitals.

Collie Girls

There were three (3) Collie Girls who enlisted as Nursing Sister’s and served overseas during WW1.

CARSON Mary Catherine            Senior Nurse Australian Army Nursing Service

COLEMAN Katherine Mary            Staff Nurse then Sister Australian Army Nursing Service

DOYLE         Helen Grace (Nellie)    Senior Nurse WO 399/2340 (British QAIMNS)

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Red Cross Nurse ‘On Service’ by Harold Copping 1916

“Ever at Duty’s call, the Red Cross Nurse, an invaluable unit of the Army, is the personification of gentleness and unselfishness. All honour to her, whose skilful administrations have made her indispensable to our brave fighting men, easing pain with her timely care and devotion, and lightening their hearts with her tenderness and sympathy. Truly does the work of this noble Army of women, brought into being by the brave and devoted ‘Lady of the Lamp’ fill all hearts with reverent admiration”.

The Red Cross Nurse.

She goes amid the maddened press
Of Teuton, Briton, Slav, and Gaul,
Our Nation's White Ambassadress,
The foe of none, the friend of all.

Above the guns, above the cheers
For flag of Kaiser, Folk or King
The common cry alone she hears,
The cry of human suffering.

Still men will play the devil's game,
Though all must lose and none may win,
And still a foolish world's acclaim

Arthur Guiterman