Florence Josephine Reardon (1887 – 1983) by Samantha Ehrenfeld

Florence Reardon c.1917

In my family there is a sentiment “that it is the women who went to war, while the men stayed at home”. This maybe a slight exaggeration, but is fuelled by the respect and reverence we have for our tenacious great aunt Florence Josephine Reardon, who served as a Reserve in the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service.

Born in 1887, in Cootamundra New South Wales, and growing up primarily on her family’s farm Mylbie in Condobolin. Florence’s father William Reardon is rumoured to have been at one point in the early 1900’s the largest landowner in the State of New South Wales, or at least he owned the most sheep! Whatever the rumour, it mean’t his children found themselves in a somewhat privileged position – born into the Australian version of the “landed gentry”, which was ironic as both William and his wife Frances (nee Worthington) were the descendants of Irish and English Convicts – not all of which were your nice’ hanky stealing’ kind.

Being landowners in their own right seems to have spared William and Frances’ sons from enlistment, with their skills needed on the land. However the skills of their daughter Florence Josephine Reardon were much needed, on the declaration of war in 1914.

Florence trained as a nurse at St Vincent Hospital in Sydney, qualifying in 1911. On 18th of December 1915, much to their dismay, and against the wishes of her family (they were of Irish Republican sentiments), she embarked on the Karoola to England to serve a contract as Q.A.I.M.N.S nurse in reserve division.

Florence began her service at the 1st Birmingham War Hospital, and was then posted to Stationary Hospital No.14 in France on the 1st of July 1916.

Florence’s service with Q.A.I.N.M.S.(R) all took place on France’s Western Front, Europe’s main theatre of war, the largest battles of World War I, such as Marne, Ypres, Verdun, the Somme were fought on the Western Front, and an estimated 4 million people dying here.

Florence Reardon in Wimereax

Florence’s also served at Casualty Clearing Stations No 1, 53, 22 and 23, located a few hundred yards from battlefields. They were the first place of admittance for injured soldiers, who underwent treatment within the Casualty Clearing Stations or were held in the Clearing Stations until transferred to other facilities. Casualty Clearing Stations were considered dangerous places, with the noise and vibrations of exploding shells heard from the nearby battlefields.

Florence also nursed in Stationary Hospitals No.10 & 12, these were larger facilities, often centered within pre-war buildings such as seaside hotels. The hospitals grew hugely in number and scale throughout the war. Most of the hospitals move very rarely until the larger movements of the armies in 1918.

During her service Florence became in-firmed on three occasions. In January 1916, Florence became sick, she was herself a patient at No.5 General Hospital, No.2 Stationary Hospital and was then moved to the Nurses Home at Abberville, and later sent to a Convalescent Home in Nice in the South of France to recover. War Office: Directorate Florence served as a nurse with Q.A.I.M.N.S (R), until Armistice in. Demobilised in the United Kingdom in 1919, she worked at the Lord Derby War Hospital in Warrington before returning to Australian on board the Osterly on 8th of July 1919.

Florence was welcomed along- side other returning nurses and soldiers in her home town of Condobolin on 16th of September 1919. The town’s Mayor who was first to speak said:

“No welcome home had given him greater pleasure than this, because in addition to soldiers, they had two nursing sisters, both Condoblin born girls. Every soldier had the greatest respect for a nurse. Often a “digger” would not salute an officer unless compelled to, but he never failed of his own accord to salute a nursing sister “

(Lachlander and Condobln and Western Districts Recorder NSW: 1899 – 1952 Wednesday 17 September 1919, p.4)

Following the War Florence continued to work as a nurse, both professionally and in nursing her father in his later years. She never married, which has led to much family speculation that she may have loved and lost someone during her time on the Western Front.

Florence’s Q.A.I.N.M.N.R Qualification Badge remained in her possession until her death in 1983, when it passed, like most of her possessions to her niece Beryl Reardon. Beryl recalls that Florence never spoke about her time in France, and never applied for the additional Service Medals, once she returned to Australia. It was thought that her experience of “The Western Front’ was one she wished to forget.

Q.A.I.M.N.S (R) Service Badge belonging to Florence Reardon

Florence’s family has always looked upon her service with pride, admiring her bravery. In 2006 Beryl bequeathed the badge to her second cousin, and Florence’s great niece Noelene, who is also a nurse, with the condition that the Badge stay with those in the family who also chose a medical vocation.

Florence’s QAINMS badge is worn each Anzac Day to the dawn service in Kings Park in Perth by one her relatives. Each year an extra pin is added to the fraying ribbon to ensure it is held secure during the service. However next year it is hoped that the badge will have undergone a full restoration, including with a new ribbon.

I have been of two minds with regards to replacing the ribbon. As student of history and archaeology the thought of replacing the original brings forth feelings of desecration. However for my children and grandchildren, I suspect the meaning of the artifact and the recognition of the sacrifice of previous generations will be in its wearing!

Florence is remembered with great pride, not only because of her bravery and contribution to the War effort, but also because Florence signified a new brand of women who chose vocation over home life – participating not only in her own in emancipation, but of those women who would follow her.

Samantha Ehrenfeld - Great Niece of Florence Reardon