march december australian military nurse world war trained nurse sydney enlisted june serving france 1st 3rd assigned 38th near august august camp heavily bombed enemy aircraft remained calm continued tend patients despite danger bravery awarded military medal seven australian nurses decorated world war following armistice went work nurse public hospitals donated large collection father photographs early life born march second child photographer née growing family ranch near southern new_south_wales sister lives extensively recorded father professional photographer educated attending public school town undertook nursing training private hospital sydney qualified general nurse military years june enrolled staff nurse left aboard june arrived egypt july year assigned 1st assisted treatment soldiers involved march group nurses sent aboard castle hospital ship arriving early april sent aboard train destined 2nd train poorly equipped missing amenities toilets water women forced washing cologne time british hospital looked forward returning australian hospital boys australian soldiers found british nurses day year landing gallipoli australian nurses commemorated occasion wore tree leaves gave small cigarettes matches australians interned hospital gifts went serve 1st june remainder year january went england leave february served july exception leaves england october paris february sent join 3rd briefly posted 38th june serving 3rd months posted august military medal deliberately sited close line possible injuries caused battle required urgent attention time travel field hospital allowed seven miles line considered extremely dangerous having nurses attend stations debated military result proximity station come enemy attack case 38th august suffered heavy air raid german forces room destroyed camp hit numerous bombs despite heavy attack attending wounded time remained calm continued aid patients actions recommended later awarded military medal war office 23rd august majesty king pleased approve award military medal lady distinguished service field recorded staff nurse pearl courage devotion occasion enemy air raid continued attend wounded regard safety enemy aircraft overhead example greatest value alarm patients initially deserved award concerned having purchase new dress wear meeting king award heavily celebrated men described letter mother today word came awarded sent bottle champagne drank health medical officers giving dinner honour event deserve don like having face old george mary medal cost new mess dress suppose wearing left australia later service day following action august posted 1st went leave united_kingdom retained service 1st london august promoted rank sister october continued serve hospital returned australia january discharged june later life memorial commemorating efforts war erected presented medal governor general lord foster following war went pursue nursing career serving nurse hospitals australia overseas senior sister district hospital new south wales donated large collection father photographs thousand piece collection personal photographs pictures area later create book taken engagement calendar skilled lead centenary supper cloth duty example decorative crafts era number photographs taken duty donated australian war memorial died december new_south_wales unmarried
Pearl Corkhill