Mary Ann Muir (13 October 1881 – 5 October 1962) was a New Zealand nurse 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 ...

. Muir was born and raised in south

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

, in New Zealand's North Island. Her parents were farmers in Oaonui. Muir completed her nursing training at

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

Hospital in 1909 and worked as a district nurse in her home area. In 1915 she joined the New Zealand Army Nursing Service and departed on the

SS Maheno SS ''Maheno'' was an ocean liner belonging to the Union Company of New Zealand that operated in the Tasman Sea, crossing between New Zealand and Australia, from 1905 until 1935. It was also used as a ship by the New Zealand Naval Forces during ...

. However, Muir contracted

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

and was sent back to New Zealand. After recuperating at Trentham Military Camp, Muir went back to England and nursed in a general hospital there. She was later sent to France and served on the Western Front at

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...

. For her war service, she received the

1914 Star The 1914 Star, colloquially known as the Mons Star, is a British World War I campaign medal for service in France or Belgium between 5 August and 22 November 1914. Institution The 1914 Star was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in Nov ...

and the Victory Medal. After the war, Muir returned to New Zealand and Taranaki and worked with her sister Catherine to set up the Iona Private Hospital in New Plymouth. The pair ran the hospital for 20 years. Shortly after her return, the people of Oaonui presented her with an engraved medallion to show their appreciation of her war work.

References

1881 births 1962 deaths Female nurses in World War I World War I nurses People from Taranaki {{NewZealand-mil-bio-stub