Fanny Maud Wilson (25 May 1874 – 11 September 1958) was a New Zealand army nurse and matron with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service Corps during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and the Samoan Expeditionary Forces in 1914. She was born in

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

on 25 May 1874 to mother Mary Jane Whitto and father, Samuel Wilson who both had died by 1895. Wilson became a registered nurse in January 1909. In 1916 Wilson became Acting Matron at the NZANS convalescent camp at Hornchurch in Essex.

Nursing career

Wilson completed her nursing training at Wellington District Hospital. After becoming a registered nurse, Wilson continued working at Wellington Hospital until 1914 when she joined a contingent of New Zealand nurses heading to German occupied Samoa as part of the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

upon the start of

.Wilson sailed on 12 August 1914 to

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of Tuamasaga. The Apia Urban A ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

onboard the ''Moeraki.'' Once returning from Samoa in March 1915, Wilson prepared to set sail with a group of other New Zealand nurses to England in April. Wilson sailed onboard the ''SS Rotorua'', arriving in

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

then traveling to

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

. She arrived in

Alexandria Alexandria ( ; ) is the List of cities and towns in Egypt#Largest cities, second largest city in Egypt and the List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea, largest city on the Mediterranean coast. It lies at the western edge of the Nile ...

on 16 June 1915, to serve as a theatre sister in the No 2 New Zealand Stationary Hospital close to

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

, which was later in 1916 renamed, No 1 New Zealand General Hospital.

After WWI

After serving in the Gallipoli campaign, Wilson worked in various military hospitals in England where she became matron. After the war ended in 1918, Wilson moved back to Wellington, New Zealand and managed the Willis Street, Malfia private hospital in Wellington with fellow nurse, Vida MacLean. She later worked at St Helens Hospital in Christchurch then matron at The Limes Hospital until her retirement in 1937.

Awards

Wilson was awarded a Royal Red Cross, second class in 1917 and Royal Red Cross, first class for her service during World War I. File:Medal, decoration (AM 2002.114.1-1).jpg, Example of Royal Red Cross, second class (front) File:Medal, decoration (AM 2002.114.1-2).jpg, Example of Royal Red Cross, second class (back)

Personal life

Wilson had two siblings, sister, Susan Wilson ( born 1871) and brother Samuel Frederick Wilson (born 1878). She never married. Wilson died on 11 September 1958 in Christchurch at age 84.

References

1874 births 1958 deaths New Zealand nurses New Zealand military nurses Health professionals from Christchurch New Zealand women nurses New Zealand Members of the Royal Red Cross {{Use dmy dates, date=April 2017