Nurses in World War 1 – Annie and Amy Warner

During the First World War, more than 2000 Australian nurses served in the Australian Army Nursing Service.  These nurses had to be aged between 25 and 40 and unmarried.  They worked in hospitals, on ships and trains which had been converted into makeshift hospitals and in casualty clearing stations close to the frontlines.  Whether motivated by a sense of adventure, loyalty to the country or the hope of being closer to loved ones, these nurses must have endured unimaginable hardships in the course of carrying out their duties of caring for the injured soldiers.  Twenty five Australian nurses died during the war and eight were awarded the Military Medal for bravery.  

This blog contains the stories of sisters who were born in Gympie and who served in different areas of the conflicts.   

 Nurses from World War 1

Annie Isabel & Amy Edith WARNER

Annie Isabel WARNER was born on the 6th November 1876 in Gympie.

Published in the Family Notices in the Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette on Wednesday 8th November:
WARNER At her residence, Calton Hill, on the 6th inst,
Mrs J R Warner of a daughter.

Amy Edith WARNER was born on the 25th October 1878 in Gympie.

Published in the Family Notices in the Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette on Saturday 26th October:
WARNER On the 25th October, at Gympie,
the wife of Mr J R Warner, of a daughter.

Their parents are John Reid Warner and Lucille Jeanette nee Symes.

Parents: John Reid Warner, Land Commissioner and Land Agent, was born in July 1843 in Hampshire, England and died on the 17th September 1902 in Toowoomba Qld.
He married Lucille Jeanette Symes on 30th July 1869 in Toowoomba Qld.
Lucille Jeanette Symes born on the 10th July 1852 in Port Adelaide SA and died on the 7th April 1934 in Brisbane Qld.

Annie and Amy’s siblings are: Mary Maud Lucille 1870–1944, Frederick John Lionel 1871–1926, Seymour Herbert 1874–1944, Caroline Lillian 1875–1905, Robert George 1880–1955, Ellen May Gordinia 1883–1966, William Percy 1885–1972, Ida Constance 1887–1966, Norma Irene 1889–1933, Eleanor 1891–, Dorothy 1892–1971.

Annie Isabel WARNER did her Nurses training in Toowoomba.

World War 1 Service
Annie enlisted with the AANS on the 11th April 1916, nursing at the 13th Australian General Hospital in Enoggera Brisbane until embarking on the HMAT Themistocles at the end of December, disembarking at Plymouth England in early March.
By mid March she was posted to the 12th Stationary Hospital in Rouen France then onto 25th General Hospital from mid July, doing a month posting at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station (out in the field) at various times whilst posted with the 25th General Hospital.
She was granted 4 weeks leave, end December 1917 early January 1918, spending 2 weeks in France then 2 weeks in England., returning to the 25th in France.
Promoted to Sister on the 29th December 1918.
In early March 1919 she proceeds to England for return to Australia via SS Marathon as Nursing Staff towards the end of April 1919.
Annie is discharged from the AIF on the 19th July 1919.

Annie Isabel Warner did not marry, she died 12th December 1938 in Qld aged 62. 

WARNER, Annie Isabel. AANS
An informal portrait of Australian nurses homeward bound on HMT Shropshire.
From left to right are Nurses Quinn, Warner, Homewood, Baron and R A Skyring
https://www.awm.gov.au

Amy Edith WARNER did her Nurses training in Brisbane, passing her exams in 1908.

World War 1 Service
Amy enlisted on the 8th November 1917 embarking on the 16th November 1917 in Sydney on the SS Mataram for Bombay India where her first 3 weeks were spent in Quarantine.
Nearing the middle of January Annie was posted to the King George Hospital in Poona, India transferring from the 19th General Hospital in Rawalpindi to the 18th General Hospital Gharial by mid August 1919
Mid November saw her embarking the SS Dilwara for Brisbane Australia and being transhipped in Singapore to the SS Mataram.

Promoted to Sister in early November 1919.
Amy’s AANS position was terminated as from the 5th February 1920.

On her return she was an Anglican Sister at St Margaret’s in Albion, St Mary’s in Herberton and St Catherine’s in Warwick .

Amy Edith Warner did not marry, she died on the 8th February 1962 Qld. aged 83 years

WARNER, Amy Edith. AANS.
Poona, India. Group of fifteen Australian nurses outside King George War Hospital.
This hospital opened in 1917 and was staffed by Australian sisters
under an Indian Army Regular Matron, Miss Nancy Harris.
Back row, left to right:
Warner (Qld); Hocking (Qld); Flae; Somerville (Vic); Overell (Qld); Russell (Qld); Wiltshire (Qld).
Front row:
Butler (Qld); McGeoch (Vic); Lancton (Vic); Staff Nurse Irene McPhail (Vic); Munroe (Vic); Hockings (Qld); Durack (Qld); Harris (Qld).

This story was written by Conny Visini.

Sources 

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au

https://www.ancestry.com.au (public members tree)

https://trove.nla.gov.au

https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au