Edith Clare Cameron
Edith Clare Cameron was one of the 2139 that served as a nurse in World War One. She was one of the more fortunate as she made it home after World War One. She was born in 1889 in Merino near Coleraine, being one of the four children. She was the only one of her siblings to enlist in the war (Australian nurses in ww1, 2013).
Edith Clare Cameron’s life, began in the western district of Victoria and she lived at 87 Powlett Street, East Melbourne, Australia and received an education at Presbyterian Ladies’ College. She was 25 years old according to her application and had previous experience as a staff nurse and worked as a sister in charge of a ward. “She sailed from Melbourne on the hospital ship 'Kyarra' with 160 other nurses and medical officers” (East Melbourne Historical society, 2017).
After final farewells from the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association, the group left on the 5th of December 1914. Edith was promoted to a Sister on the 1st of December 1915. In March 1916, 1st Australian General Hospital (1AGH) including Edith Clare Cameron packed up and relocated to Rouen in Northern France, as the troops and battle fronts moved to the Western Front. A small number of 1AGH nurses including Edith were detached from 1AGH and sent forward to the Boulogne area with its massive concentration of military camps, hospitals and equipment (East Melbourne Historical society, 2017).
The military units Edith was attached to included the Australian Army Nursing Service, the Australian General Hospital, British General Hospital, Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Stationary Hospital, and Australian Auxiliary Hospitals. The medals and citations she received were: Royal Red Cross (Second Class) 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. The Red Cross medal is awarded to the nurses who devoted their time, services and professional care by the British Military Nursing (East Melbourne Historical society, 2017). Sister Edith was discharged from the Australian Army Nurse Service (AANS) on the 23rd of May 1919. After Edith’s service, she returned home and became the charge nursing sister of the 16th Australian Military Hospital in Melbourne that specialised in caring for returned troops with mental health issues. In 1921, Edith registered the midwifery certificate she had completed at McKellar Maternity Hospital in Hamilton near her birthplace in the western district of Victoria (Australian Nurses in WW1, 2013). In 1927, she travelled to South Africa for a 3 month visit where she renewed friendships with many army nurses from Victoria who were working in the South African General Hospital (East Melbourne Historical society, 2017).
Like other members of the Returned Army Nurses Club, she also spoke to school children as part of Anzac Day observances. In 1927, she worked as a nurse at the University of Melbourne, employed by the Melbourne University Union for £4 per week (ANIW, 2013). She remained there until 1934. Over the years, she was a valued and active member of the committee of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association (East Melbourne Historical Society, 2017). Edith was also a successful exhibitor in garden shows after she had left the forces. Edith remained passionate about nursing throughout her life (East Melbourne Historical Society, 2017). Edith Clare Cameron died in 1969, aged 80. Edith is remembered by the World War One plaque in the Holy Trinity Church, East Melbourne and also on the Great War Honour Board at St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne (East Melbourne Historical Society, 2017). Edith Clare Cameron like many other nurses will be remembered for their contribution to the war effort in caring for the wounded Australians. Her service as a dedicated nurse will never be forgotten.
Reference List
Australian Nurses in WW1 (2013) Edith Clare Cameron. Available at: http://ww1nurses.gravesecrets.net/ca.html (Accessed 4 September 2017).
East Melbourne Historical society (2017) Edith Claire Cameron. Available at: https://emhs.org.au/person/cameron/edith_clare (Accessed 4 September 2017)
(WW1 nurses, 2013)
(Getty images, 2017)
(RSL Virtual War Memorial, 2017)