The "Bluebirds" were a group of twenty Australian civilian nurses and a masseuse who volunteered for service in France during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Recruited through the

Australian Red Cross Society The Australian Red Cross, formally the Australian Red Cross Society, is a humanitarian aid and community services charity in Australia. Tracing its history back to 1923 and being incorporated by royal charter in 1941, the Australian Red Cro ...

, the group's nickname referred to the colours of their specially-designed uniforms. After arriving in France the nurses were split between different hospitals where they treated wounded and ill soldiers. They returned to Australia individually following the war and did not receive any medals or veterans' benefits from the Australian government.

Selection

Following the outbreak of World War I the Australian Red Cross Society contacted the French Government offering to provide a team of nurses. The French Government accepted this offer.Hetherington (2009), p. 58 The Red Cross Society subsequently placed an advertisement in the Australian press seeking medically qualified nurses who were able to speak French. A total of 90 applications were received. Of the applicants, the Red Cross Society eventually selected 11 Sisters, nine nurses and a masseuse, among whom was Dorothy Ellena Duffy, Sister Hilda Loxton and Sister Lynette Crozier. Most of these women were aged in their late 20s or early 30s. A French teacher was also engaged to accompany the team on their voyage to Europe. The nurses signed contracts agreeing to serve for twelve months or the duration of the war, whichever was shorter. While the nurses did not form part of the military, the

Department of Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

funded their passage to Europe. The

Australian Jockey Club Australian Turf Club (ATC) owns and operates thoroughbred racing, events and hospitality venues across Sydney, Australia. The ATC came into being on 7 February 2011 when the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) merged. The ...

initially volunteered to pay the first six months of the Bluebirds' salaries at the same rate as those of military nurses, but may have subsequently funded the nurses' salaries for the duration of the war. The department store chain David Jones donated the nurses' distinctive uniforms, which were made from dark blue material.

List of Bluebirds

Alphabetised by family name during their deployment, with known married names in parentheses: * Elsie Cook, 1890-1972 * Nellie Weston (Barker) Crommelin, 1882-1958 * Lynette Edgell (Lloyd Jones) Crozier, 1888-1948 * Dorothy Ellena (Barton) Duffy, 1888-1973 * Alice Fullerton (Moritzson) Grey, 1879-1937 * Fanny May Harris, 1892- * Winnifred Annie Hough, 1883-1975 * Susan Mary Hughes, 1881-1962 * Mary Catherine Hungerford, 1875-1963 * Jessie Isabella Hutchison, 1884-1963 * Annie Jamieson, 1882-1928 * Hilda Mary Loxton, 1879-1963 * Jessie Donaldson (McKillop) McKillop, 1885-1961 * Olive Hayes (Edols) Norman, 1885-1964 * Ida Jeanette (Brissenden) Reynolds-Moreton, 1883-1970 * Alice Elaine Robinson, 1882-1957 * Elizabeth Grace (Henderson) Sheridan, 1884-1968 * Lillian Fraser (Fitzhill) Thompson, 1887- * Helen Sutherland (Wilkinson) Wallace, 1889-1959 * Elfrieda Warner, 1887-1947 * Sophie Isabel "Iza" Hamilton Moore, 1867-1941 Stories and photographs of these nurses and list of diaries and letters held at the AWM can be found in Rogers, 2017.

Deployment

The Bluebirds left Sydney on board the hospital ship No. 2 Hospital Ship ''Kanowna'' on 4 July 1916, which sailed to the United Kingdom. After arriving in France the nurses were split up and worked in different hospitals. Most served in permanently established hospitals well away from the war zone where they mainly cared for French soldiers. However, several of the nurses were assigned to a mobile hospital that operated near the front lines; this hospital was bombed by a German aircraft on one occasion, and was also near the edge of a region affected by a poison gas attack on another occasion. One of the Bluebirds was appointed the matron of a hospital, and two others were placed in charge of floors of their hospitals. None of the nurses were injured as a result of military action during the war, but several suffered from periods of prolonged illness.Hetherington (2009), pp. 59–60

Return

The nurses returned to Australia individually after the war. In contrast with their departure from Australia, their return voyages were not organised by the Australian Government and several of the women paid for their passage by working as nurses on board ships sailing from Europe to Australia. The Australian Government also did not provide the Bluebirds with medals or veterans benefits as they were civilian rather than military nurses. However, several received the ''

Médaille de la Reconnaissance française The Medal of French Gratitude (french: "Médaille de la Reconnaissance française") was a French honour medal created on 13 July 1917 and solely awarded to civilians. The medal was created to express gratitude by the French government to all t ...

'' from the French Government in recognition of their service.Hetherington (2009), p. 60

References

;Citations ;Works consulted *

Selection

List of Bluebirds

Deployment

Return

References

Further reading