Constance Mabel Keys RRC (30 October 1886 – 17 March 1964) was one of the most highly decorated nurses from Australia who served in

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 ...

. She was mentioned twice in despatches, was awarded the Royal Red Cross, First Class and the

Médaille des Epidémies The Military Health Service honour medal (french: "Médaille d'honneur du service de santé des armées") is a French decoration created 30 August 1962. The medal recognizes individuals who have contributed or lent their support to the French ...

Biography

Keys was born in Mount Perry, a small town in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, the seventh child of Irish immigrant James Keys, a schoolteacher and

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, and his wife Margaret. Trained at the

Brisbane General Hospital The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) is a tertiary public hospital located in Herston, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is operated by Metro North Health, part of the Queensland Health network. The hospital has 929 bed ...

as a nurse, she enlisted in September 1914 in the

Australian Army Nursing Service The Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) was an Australian Army Reserve unit which provided a pool of trained civilian nurses who had volunteered for military service during wartime. The AANS was formed in 1902 by amalgamating the nursing servic ...

, and was sent first to Egypt, later travelling onto Britain and then to France. She was the mother of Australian naturalist and conservationist

Margaret Thorsborne Margaret Grace Thorsborne (3 June 1927 – 16 October 2018) was an Australian naturalist, conservationist and environmental activist. She was notable for her efforts, with her husband Arthur Thorsborne, in initiating the long-term monitoring ...

References

1886 births 1964 deaths Australian women nurses Australian military nurses Female nurses in World War I Members of the Royal Red Cross {{nurse-bio-stub