Evelyn Davies

Sister Davies, of Healesville, Victoria, was 31 years of age on enlistment. She had had 3 years training at Geelong Hospital.

• Embarkation from Australia – 18 May 1915
• 3rd A.G.H., Lemnos – 1915
• Alexandria, disembarked from Mudros – 27 January 1916
• Left Egypt, Hospital Ship Neuralia for service in Bombay – 10 July 1916
• Struck off strength from 3rd A.G.H., to Indian Medical Service – 12 July 1916
• Disembarked at Bombay – 23 July 1916
• Posted to Station Hospital, Peshawar – 23 July 1916
• Embarked at Bombay S.S. Mooltan – 15 January 1917
• Detached to Netley Hospital, London – 20 February 1917
• Promoted Sister – 5 May 1917
• 2nd A.A.H., Southall – 27 July 1917
• 1st A.A.H., Harefield – 29 July 1917
• 25th General Hospital, Hardelot-Plage – 1 February 1918
• 3rd A.G.H., Abbeville – 20 October 1918
• 25th General Hospital, Hardelot-Plage – 18 December 1918
• 2nd A.A.H., Southall – 17 January 1919
• 25th General Hospital, Hardelot-Plage – 20 January 1919 [?]
• Sick Sisters Hospital, Hardelot [sprained ankle] – 25 February 1919
• 25th General Hospital, Hardelot-Plage – 2 March 1919
• Royal Sanitary Institute, London – training – 10 March to 2 May 1919
• Liverpool, returning to Australia per Nestor – 20 May 1919
• Discharged – 23 January 1920

Service Record – National Archives of Australia

Sister Davies’ photographs

DRL 3398 3rd series; Donor: Davies, A; Personal records of: Evelyn Davies, AANS, photograph album; AWM file 419/25/12 – refer also AWM 3DRL/3398(B)

View photos & captions on Flickr →

Sister Davies’ letters

We are enjoying life on this boat although still in the Harbour, the food is just lovely to what we have been used to lately, besides which we have china crockery, table linen and nice cutlery, it will spoil us for rough living once more but we’ll settle down I suppose if necessary, anyhow we can’t have worse times than we had the first two months on Lemnos. Still I never regret going there, it must be awfully ‘flat’ to settle in England and live a humdrum life, one could do that any time…

View our transcripts of excerpts relating to Lemnos →

Newspaper references

Sister Evelyn Davies, a young lady who was born and educated in Healesville, is now in France, after having working among the wounded in various localities. She went on active service on May 11th, 1915, and was on Lemnos at the Evacuation. Afterwards she was sent to Abassia, in Egypt; then to Northern India, near the famous Khyber Pass, and after some months spent in the last-named spot, she was sent to Netlez Military Hospital, where she was in charge of shell-shock cases. Sister Davies was transferred to France in January last.

1918 ‘PERSONAL.’, The Lilydale Express (Vic. : 1914 – 1918), 17 May, p. 2, viewed 5 August, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74599907

A big crowd attended the local railway station on Thursday evening last week, when Sister Evelyn Davies, who has had over four years of service in India, Egypt and France returned to her native place. Cr. Burnside, president of the shire, welcomed Sister Davies on behalf of the people of the district, and in his remarks stated that they had extended greetings to many returned soldiers, but this was the first occasion they had had the privilege of welcoming a “returned sister” – the only lady who had gone to the front from Healesville. Cr. Parker, on behalf of the Red Cross Society, also extended a welcome and spoke of the great and good work performed by the nurses and the Red Cross. Mrs Probert presented Sister Davies with a basket of flowers, as a mark of appreciation from the Red Cross. The band was in attendance as usual and contributed several selections.

A pleasant evening was spent at “Balayong,” the residence of Mrs Pierce, where a few friends gathered to meet Sister Davies, on her return after over four years on active service. The evening was spent with chatting and musical items. Mrs Davies, of “The Fromes,” Fernshaw road, mother of Sister Davies, is one of the oldest residents of the district, and is naturally delighted to have her daughter home again. Mrs Pierce spent her childhood at “Glenwatts,” which is on the opposite side of the road to “The Fromes.”

1919 ‘Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian and Standard.’, Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian (Vic. : 1900 – 1942), 12 July, p. 1, viewed 5 August, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60213246

MONSTER WELCOME HOME
GATHERING AT HEALESVILLE.

On Friday evening the local Entertainment Club held a monster welcome home to Sister Evelyn Davies and about 30 returned boys. Cherry’s big hall, which accommodates 500 people, was taxed to its utmost capacity, many persons being unable to obtain admission. The whole turn-out was a huge success and was a glowing tribute of appreciation to those who so nobly did their duty. The organisers, led by the hon. secretary (Miss E. M. Jones), who has worked with untiring energy on behalf of the soldiers, are to be heartily congratulated on their efforts. The Healesville Brass Band played tunes from 7:45; then assembled in the hall and played a march as the soldiers entered the hall and marched on to the stage. Sister Davies, who was seated in the centre, with the boys surrounding her, was presented with a beautiful bouquet…

[Unfortunately the scanned copy is indecipherable from this point.]

1919 ‘MONSTER WELCOME HOME.’, Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian (Vic. : 1900 – 1942), 19 July, p. 2, viewed 5 August, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60213253

See also:

• 1918 ‘A WAR NURSE’S EXPERIENCES.’, Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian (Vic. : 1900 – 1942), 18 May, p. 2, viewed 5 August, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60211898 – this article features a letter now in the AWM collection regarding the evacuation of Gallipoli and Christmas on Lemnos

Published Sunday April 15, 2012 · Last modified Sunday August 5, 2012
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