New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF)
Although six nurses departed New Zealand, seven arrived in Samoa. The seventh nurse was Lizzie Ida Willis OBE, ARRC who was stranded on holiday in Fiji. She was picked up during the convoy’s stopover for fuel. The group consisted of Sister-in-Charge Bertha Nurse RRC, Second-in-Charge Evelyn Brooke RRC Bar, MiD, Vida Maclean RRC, Louisa McNie RRC, Fanny Wilson RRC, Louisa Brandon ARRC and Lizzie Ida Willis OBE (Military Division 1944), ARRC, ED (Efficiency Decoration - 1945). Since the NZANS had not yet been established, the seven served as members of the NZ Medical Corps (not the NZANS).
NZ Expeditionary Force Nurses
Bertha Nurse, Fanny Wilson and Vida Maclean eventually joined the NZANS upon their return in 1915 and were among the first 50 nurses to be sent abroad.The other four eventually joined the NZANS and were also sent abroad.
Matron Evelyn "Eva" Brooke RRC Bar was the only NZANS nurse to receive the Bar to the RRC medal. Shortly after returning from Samoa, she departed again as matron on the New Zealand Hospital Ship Maheno. The ship left Wellington for Gallipoli, carrying 14 NZANS nurses During August and September 1915, the Maheno made five visits to Anzac Cove, nursing wounded and sick soldiers in the heat of summer. In January 1916, Brooke returned to New Zealand and worked as matron at the Trentham Military Hospital near Wellington. In November 1916 she was assigned as matron for the second voyage of the hospital ship, Marama. In May 1917, Brooke went to Brighton, England and took the position of matron at the New Zealand Hospital for Officers. At the end of the year, she was transferred to No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Wisques, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais Department in the Hauts-de-France region.
NZANS Matron Evelyn Gertrude Brooke RRC Bar, MiD and the British Trio
Lizzie Ida Willis OBE, ARRC, ED and Her 1945 George VI ED
In August 1914, while New Zealand nurse Lizzie Willis was on holiday in Fiji, the First World War started, leaving her stranded. She joined the advance party of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which had made a fuel stop in Fiji on its way to German Samoa. Six nurses had been dispatched to work at Apia Hospital, and she accompanied them, becoming the seventh member of the force. Once New Zealand had taken military control, the seven New Zealand women replaced the German nurses at the hospital. During July 1915 Lizzie became one of a contingent of 69 New Zealand Army Nursing Service (NZANS) members on board the Maheno bound for Egypt. Willis worked at the New Zealand General Hospital, near Cairo, which had beds for 250 patients. During June 1916 Willis transferred from Egypt to England with No 1 New Zealand General Hospital, at Brockenhurst, before being moved to No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens, France. By February 1920 Willis had moved into administrative work as assistant inspector of public hospitals, a position she would hold for the next 20 years. During this period, she remained a member of the NZANS Reserve, attending regular camps and instructing orderlies of the New Zealand Medical Corps. She was appointed Matron-in-Chief of the NZANS in 1934. As Matron-in-Chief of the NZANS during the outbreak of the Second World War, Willis directed overall nursing activities. She was awarded an OBE (1944 Military Division) in recognition of her service as Matron-in-Chief of the NZANS.
Although six nurses departed New Zealand, seven arrived in Samoa. The seventh nurse was Lizzie Ida Willis OBE, ARRC who was stranded on holiday in Fiji. She was picked up during the convoy’s stopover for fuel. The group consisted of Sister-in-Charge Bertha Nurse RRC, Second-in-Charge Evelyn Brooke RRC Bar, MiD, Vida Maclean RRC, Louisa McNie RRC, Fanny Wilson RRC, Louisa Brandon ARRC and Lizzie Ida Willis OBE (Military Division 1944), ARRC, ED (Efficiency Decoration - 1945). Since the NZANS had not yet been established, the seven served as members of the NZ Medical Corps (not the NZANS).
NZ Expeditionary Force Nurses
Matron Evelyn "Eva" Brooke RRC Bar was the only NZANS nurse to receive the Bar to the RRC medal. Shortly after returning from Samoa, she departed again as matron on the New Zealand Hospital Ship Maheno. The ship left Wellington for Gallipoli, carrying 14 NZANS nurses During August and September 1915, the Maheno made five visits to Anzac Cove, nursing wounded and sick soldiers in the heat of summer. In January 1916, Brooke returned to New Zealand and worked as matron at the Trentham Military Hospital near Wellington. In November 1916 she was assigned as matron for the second voyage of the hospital ship, Marama. In May 1917, Brooke went to Brighton, England and took the position of matron at the New Zealand Hospital for Officers. At the end of the year, she was transferred to No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Wisques, a commune in the Pas-de-Calais Department in the Hauts-de-France region.
NZANS Matron Evelyn Gertrude Brooke RRC Bar, MiD and the British Trio
Lizzie Ida Willis OBE, ARRC, ED and Her 1945 George VI ED
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