Janet Williamson

In 1899 Williamson was one of nine nurses selected from 50 who applied to serve in the Boer War in South Africa.^[2] She was appointed Sister-in-Charge of the contingent, which left New Zealand on board the Talune, and arrived in Cape Town on 5 April 1900.^[3] The nurses were first sent to Wyneburgh and then to No. 10 General Hospital in Bloemfontein, where Williamson was placed in charge of the hospital.^[2][4] The nurses were stationed there for 17 months.^[2] Williamson left South Africa on a troop ship in September 1901.^[3]

In 1901, Williamson was awarded the Royal Red Cross, an award for military nursing; it was presented by King Edward VII later that year.^[1] She also received the Queen's South Africa Medal.^[1][3]

On her return to New Zealand, Williamson was appointed Matron of Nelson Hospital, but resigned in 1903 due to poor health. She moved back to Dunedin and worked as a private nurse.

In 1907 Williamson was a founding member of the Dunedin Trained Nurses' Club.^[2] In 1914 she was invited to meet with the Minister of Defence, James Allen; she did so, and requested that the government establish a Nursing Service for overseas duty.^[2]

Williamson died in Dunedin on 12 March 1936 and is buried in the Dunedin Southern Cemetery.