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 

Reminiscences of a Second World War QAIMNS(R) Nursing Sister by Maggie Lane.

This ‘blog’ will relate some the reminiscences and experiences of a Nursing Sister who served in WW2.

This Nursing Sister was my mother, Alice Irene Parkinson, the daughter of a tenant farmer and the village wheelwright living in Bitchfield near Grantham. She left school at twelve years of age, due to family poverty and the death of her father, which precluded any further ongoing education. However, she read enthusiastically to ‘broaden’ her education, in between assisting with the farm, until she was age 21 years, the legal age to start nurse training. She completed her Nurse training at The Radcliffe Infirmary in 1938, and her Midwifery Training at the Simpson Maternity Hospital, Edinburgh.

 

Her direct accounts and reflections, passed on to me over her lifetime, remain firmly in my memory. Since her death in 1994 I always regret not asking her to expand more on her experiences. Many of her related ‘snippets’ were of course sad, but her clarity in the telling of events was very clear, and elicited several periods of humour during nursing in Algeria and Italy during World War II.

‘Parky’ as she was generally known, had just completed her Midwifery Training in Edinburgh, and joined the Civil Nursing Reserve, prior to enlistment into the QAIMNS(R) at Maidstone Barracks in Kent. Following enlistment and kitting out, a tailor fitted her with an outdoor suit and working dresses. After that it was off to the Queen Victoria Hospital at Netley, Southampton. She told me she didn't do much in the hospital, except attend compulsory security lectures, and often enjoyed tea in the YMCA canteen, which still exists in Victoria Country Park today. 

A group of happy QA’s and TANS(Territorial Army Nursing Service) at Netley Hospital awaiting deployment.

Mother was fortunate and billeted in Netley Village, being very well looked after by a naval captain's widow. She never knew when she would leave,  perhaps never to return, but every day she had to go to the hospital with all her kit ready to move. Suddenly one day, she had ‘a hunch’ that ‘today would be the day’ they would leave. Surely enough, it happened, and the 103(GH) was transported by train from Netley to Avonmouth Docks, no one knowing where they were sailing to, except, probably the captain. She left behind a new dressing gown to show appreciation to the widow for all her kindness and care. The ship that embarked them was the ‘Oranje’, having been used by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. She said it was quite luxurious! A few dockers waved them off.

The ‘Oranje’, a Dutch Ship converted to a hospital ship

The voyage took them around Northern Ireland then down the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar, where they were allowed to disembark for a day, enjoying a quick tour of ‘The Rock’, then onwards down the Bay of Biscay. During the voyage Mother recalled a Luftwaffe plane circling low around the ship, whilst she was sitting on deck. No action was directed at the ship and the pilot must have seen the crosses on the sides and funnel, and also women in nursing uniform on deck confirming the status of the ship.

Still no clue was given to their destination, but it was assumed that if the course from Gibraltar was down the South Atlantic, they were likely heading for the Middle or Far East. However, they turned into the Mediterranean, and knew then it would be to North Africa for them! The ship docked in Oran, French Algeria.

Their next move in 1943 from Oran was to a place called Chateaudun in French Algeria. Here was where the tented hospital was erected. All tentage was of the ‘bell tent’ type, with all staff assisting in the construction, as can be seen in these photos taken in Algeria.  Tents and nursing dress were not very practical in comparison to modern Field Hospitals!

The nursing included wounded allied service personnel, German and Italian prisoners. Her recollections were that many of the patients had severe burns to their backs whilst escaping from their burning tanks or vehicles. Sadly, on a very rare occasion an allied soldier would die suddenly from an undiagnosed cause. This upset mother and her colleagues. Perhaps death from shock or infection?

Mother and her colleague were assigned to the POW prison wards, these prisoners having already been segregated into German and Italian prisoners, due to the animosity by the Germans towards the Italians who felt the Italians ‘gave up’ the fight too quickly!

One recollection from this time was of a German prisoner being ‘cheeky’, and asking mother if she was going ‘dancing tonight’, then telling her confidently he would teach her how to dance when they got to London!  On another occasion her colleague was attending to an older German soldier festooned with medal ribbons. Asking him  jokingly ‘are you Herman Goring?’ The whole ward of Germans erupted with uncontrollable laughter. A pleasant memory was that every evening the Germans would all sing beautifully before sleeping.

The battle then moved across to Italy in 1944. Landing at Salerno, once the port was cleared, the 103 GH was moved to a small village named Nochera Inferiore. Mother said it certainly was an apt name for a ‘mucky’ area. Mussolini’s Barracks were commandeered as the hospital, with the nurses ‘housed’ in tents. 

One morning her colleague looked out, and said ‘Good heavens, I think Vesuvius has erupted’. It certainly had, and piles of ash were ‘raining down’ all over the compound. The sisters were issued with wellington boots, and ash was swept into piles. Mother retained these boots for a couple of decades after the war.

Ash from Vesuvius piled high in the hospital compound.

Although Mussolini had cleared the Pontine Marshes of Malarial mosquitos, there was still a risk from insect bites. Hence, slacks and blouses, being issued and worn specifically in the evenings and night time. This was a regulation.

By 1944 the allies were on the offensive moving up through Italy. Already casualties from Monte Cassino were being nursed. A sad reflection witnessed by Mother was that so many captured Germans were only young, and often teenagers, being terrified if an orderly went to help them shave or wash. Such was Nazi propaganda instilled by their regime as to encourage ‘fighting to the death’ rather than surrender,

Her other recollections of Italy outside the hospital were that of abject poverty and near starvation, especially in the Naples area. Armed guards had to put on the lorry convoys to stop supplies being stolen. She well understood the dreadful predicament these people has endured. Another topic not widely discussed in Italy during the war was ‘holding’ the VD patients for treatment in the hospital. This could be difficult for the guards and orderlies as on occasions they had to pursue patients attempting escape from treatments.

On a lighter note, Mother recalled a trip to Capri by Motor Torpedo Boat, where they visited Gracie Fields Villa, now designated for visits by the allies, and a large group audience with Pope Pious X11, in Rome.

The battle then moved north, the hospital closed and staff were redeployed to other Field Hospitals following the battle north. Mother, with others was then returned to England for demob. She later married my father an RAMC Staff Sergeant.


Maggie Lane (Rtd)