Commander (CBE)
Evelyn Augusta Conyers CBE (Military), RRC Bar and Type 1 Commander Badge (Military) on Pre-1936 Ribbon
Evelyn Augusta Conyers CBE (Military), RRC Bar, MiD was a New Zealand-born, Australian Matron-in-Chief and an original member of the Australian Army Nursing Service during the First World War. She was the first AANS nurse to be awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal (FNM), the highest International Red Cross award for nursing service.
Her contributions to the war effort and nursing in general were rewarded by an initial appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military) in January 1919 and shortly thereafter, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) in March 1919. In addition to her CBE, RRC Bar and FNM, she also received the British "trio."
Matron Conyers joined the Australian Army Nursing Service as a sister in 1903. She was assigned to the Australian Imperial Force on October 11, 1914 and sailed on the transport Shropshire on October 20, 1914. She was assigned as senior sister to the 1st Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo. Upon arrival in Egypt however, she was sent to Cairo for urgent duty at the Egyptian Army Hospital in Abbassia, a neighborhood in Cairo, nursing New Zealand troops. On July 10, 1915, she rejoined 1st AGH, as night superintendent, before being appointed acting matron of 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, also at Heliopolis, on August 1, 1915.
During May 1916 she was transferred to the A.I.F. headquarters on Horseferry Road, London. Her skill in negotiation successfully reconciled not only differences between nurses and medical officers, but also helped to diminish the rivalry between the Australian and British (QAIMNS) nursing services. She was in constant consultation with Dame Matron-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force Maud McCarthy GBE, RRC Bar, travelling with her to Casualty Clearing Stations and auxiliary hospitals on the Western Front.
In 1919, AANS Matron Grace Wilson CBE, RRC, Sister Ethel Davidson CBE, RRC, Matron Ethel Gray CBE, RRC, Matron Adelaide Kellett CBE, RRC and NZANS Matron Mabel Thurston CBE, RRC were along with Matron Conyers all named Commanders (CBE) in the Military Division of the Order.
On April 15, 1915 Matron Wilson was appointed to the AIF as Principal Matron of 3 Australian General Hospital (3 AGH) and embarked with this unit for overseas service on May 15. Initially bound for England, the 3 AGH was transferred to Lemnos to treat casualties from the Gallipoli Campaign and by August was caring for 900 patients.
After the evacuation of Gallipoli, 3 AGH was transferred to Abbassia, Egypt. On New Year's Day 1916, Wilson was recommended for the Royal Red Cross, First Class for distinguished service in the field. She was also awarded three Mentioned in Dispatches (MiDs) that year on May 5, June 21 and July 13 for her service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
Matron-in-Chief AANS Grace Wilson CBE, RRC, MiD and Her Medals with the Type 2 Commander (CBE) on Military Ribbon
On September 25, Wilson embarked with 3 AGH from Alexandria to England to join the British Expeditionary Force. Arriving on October 5, she moved with the hospital first to Brighton, then to Abbeville in France on April 11, 1917. At Abbeville, 3 AGH operated from tents and huts and in May began to admit gassed patients, briefly treating them before they were sent on to other facilities.
On September 4, Wilson was transferred to England and attached to 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southhall. During the same month she was also appointed temporary Matron-in-Chief, AIF Headquarters. Relinquishing her Matron-in Chief role on April 5, 1918, Wilson returned to 3 AGH at Abbeville. She served with this unit for the remainder of the war.
Wilson was Mentioned in Dispatches for the fourth time on December 31, 1918 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) on January 1, 1919 for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France and Flanders.
Based on the Order of the British Empire as displayed at the Australian War Memorial, it appears obvious that Wilson, who served as AANS Matron-in-Chief during WW II, exchanged her 1919 award for the post-1935 Type 2 military version of the CBE. The Type 2 replaced the figure of Britannia on the central disc with effigies of George V and Mary of Teck and added a new ribbon with a pearl-gray central stripe to denote a military award.
In addition to Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Matron-in-Chief Wilson's Medals include: (1) the RRC (1916); (2) 1914-15 Star; (3) War Medal; (4) WWI Victory Medal with MiD device; (5) 1939-45 Star; (6) Africa Star; (7) Defense Medal; (8) 1939-1945 War Medal; (9) Australian Service Medal 1939-1945; (10) Jubilee Medal 1935; (11) Coronation Medal 1937; (12) Coronation Medal 1953 and (13) the Florence Nightingale Medal.
Evelyn Augusta Conyers CBE (Military), RRC Bar and Type 1 Commander Badge (Military) on Pre-1936 Ribbon
Her contributions to the war effort and nursing in general were rewarded by an initial appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military) in January 1919 and shortly thereafter, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) in March 1919. In addition to her CBE, RRC Bar and FNM, she also received the British "trio."
Matron Conyers joined the Australian Army Nursing Service as a sister in 1903. She was assigned to the Australian Imperial Force on October 11, 1914 and sailed on the transport Shropshire on October 20, 1914. She was assigned as senior sister to the 1st Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo. Upon arrival in Egypt however, she was sent to Cairo for urgent duty at the Egyptian Army Hospital in Abbassia, a neighborhood in Cairo, nursing New Zealand troops. On July 10, 1915, she rejoined 1st AGH, as night superintendent, before being appointed acting matron of 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, also at Heliopolis, on August 1, 1915.
During May 1916 she was transferred to the A.I.F. headquarters on Horseferry Road, London. Her skill in negotiation successfully reconciled not only differences between nurses and medical officers, but also helped to diminish the rivalry between the Australian and British (QAIMNS) nursing services. She was in constant consultation with Dame Matron-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force Maud McCarthy GBE, RRC Bar, travelling with her to Casualty Clearing Stations and auxiliary hospitals on the Western Front.
In 1919, AANS Matron Grace Wilson CBE, RRC, Sister Ethel Davidson CBE, RRC, Matron Ethel Gray CBE, RRC, Matron Adelaide Kellett CBE, RRC and NZANS Matron Mabel Thurston CBE, RRC were along with Matron Conyers all named Commanders (CBE) in the Military Division of the Order.
On April 15, 1915 Matron Wilson was appointed to the AIF as Principal Matron of 3 Australian General Hospital (3 AGH) and embarked with this unit for overseas service on May 15. Initially bound for England, the 3 AGH was transferred to Lemnos to treat casualties from the Gallipoli Campaign and by August was caring for 900 patients.
After the evacuation of Gallipoli, 3 AGH was transferred to Abbassia, Egypt. On New Year's Day 1916, Wilson was recommended for the Royal Red Cross, First Class for distinguished service in the field. She was also awarded three Mentioned in Dispatches (MiDs) that year on May 5, June 21 and July 13 for her service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
Matron-in-Chief AANS Grace Wilson CBE, RRC, MiD and Her Medals with the Type 2 Commander (CBE) on Military Ribbon
On September 4, Wilson was transferred to England and attached to 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southhall. During the same month she was also appointed temporary Matron-in-Chief, AIF Headquarters. Relinquishing her Matron-in Chief role on April 5, 1918, Wilson returned to 3 AGH at Abbeville. She served with this unit for the remainder of the war.
Wilson was Mentioned in Dispatches for the fourth time on December 31, 1918 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military) on January 1, 1919 for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France and Flanders.
Based on the Order of the British Empire as displayed at the Australian War Memorial, it appears obvious that Wilson, who served as AANS Matron-in-Chief during WW II, exchanged her 1919 award for the post-1935 Type 2 military version of the CBE. The Type 2 replaced the figure of Britannia on the central disc with effigies of George V and Mary of Teck and added a new ribbon with a pearl-gray central stripe to denote a military award.
In addition to Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Matron-in-Chief Wilson's Medals include: (1) the RRC (1916); (2) 1914-15 Star; (3) War Medal; (4) WWI Victory Medal with MiD device; (5) 1939-45 Star; (6) Africa Star; (7) Defense Medal; (8) 1939-1945 War Medal; (9) Australian Service Medal 1939-1945; (10) Jubilee Medal 1935; (11) Coronation Medal 1937; (12) Coronation Medal 1953 and (13) the Florence Nightingale Medal.
Website Maintained by Vaudezilla