Nurse was born in Southland in 1871, to mother Alice Louisa Price and father William Hugh Nurse.[1][2] She completed her nurse training in 1904 in Wellington, and was the first New Zealand nurse to enlist in the Expeditionary Force.[1][3]
New Zealand Nurses at Apia Hospital, Samoa, August 1914.
Nurse remained in Samoa until March 1915, returning to New Zealand to then leave to serve in Egypt on board the SS Rotorua, in April 1915.[6] She became matron of Pont de Koubbeh Hospital, taking over Matron Michel.[7][4]
On 6 February 1917, Nurse was called to attend a meeting in London, where she was told she would be recalled back to New Zealand.[7] After some confusion, it was found out that this request was made by her medical officers purely due to friction between Nurse and the officers.[7] Her requests to remain in England were denied and she spent the remainder of time in England at the Nurses Rest Home in Sandwich.[7] Nurse returned to New Zealand as matron on board the HMNZT Maunganui on 17 March 1917.[7] Matron Hester Maclean supported Nurse in her unfair dismissal and found her work at the Trentham Military Hospital.[7] She then worked as matron at Masterton Hospital.[7]
Nurse had a sister Frances Louisa Nurse (born 1876) who also served as a nurse in World War I.[8] She also had a brother, Charles Edward Nurse (9 July 1869 – 10 June 1945), who served in the South African War, World War I and as a home guard during World War II.[9]
Nurse died at the Nurse Maude Convalescent Home in Christchurch, 20 December 1960 at age 89.[3] She is buried at the Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Christchurch.[10]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rodgers, Jan. A (1994). A Paradox of Power and Marginality: New Zealand Nurses' Professional Campaign During War, 1900-1920. pp.33–128. ISBN9780473314675.
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