Catherine Ann McGillivray

Catherine Ann McGillivray

taken from photo below - 4th row, fifth from left
Group photo of Nurses from HMAT A67 Orsova Jul 1915 outside Ivanhoe Hotel London
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1891
Place of Birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Age at Enlistment	25 years
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr James MGillivray
Military Information
Date of Enlistment	12 Jun 1915
Rank	Sister
Unit/Formation	2nd Australian General Hospital, Special Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	22 Jul 1915 ‒ ?? Aug 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A67 Orsova
Date of Return	12 Jul 1918 ‒ 17 Aug 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Port Darwin
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Trained as a nurse from 8 Jan 1912 until 27 Jan 1915 at the Perth Public Hospital. Registration granted on 13 APr 1915

War Service

Catherine's early records are not in the National Archives, but it would appear that early on she served on Hospital Ship No 1 Karoola HMAT A63 Karoola during 1915 while it operated as a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. On 22 Sep 1916 Catherine was re-assigned to Duty in Egypt, and three days later was assigned to the Infectious hospital at Shubra, a suburb of Cairo. On 22 Oct 1916 she had need of medical attention herself suffering with an infection. She was confined in the Sisters Quarters of the 14th Australian General Hospital until 16 Nov 1916 when she returned to duty. On 20 Jan 1917 she was transferred from the Infectious Hospital at Shubra to the 14th Australian General Hospital.

Admitted as a patient to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Cairo on 8 Oct 1917 with debility and transferred next day to the Bulkeley Convalescent Home in nearby Abbassia. Catherine had recovered by 16 Oct 1917 and rejoined the staff of the hospital.

On 4 Dec 1917 at 14th Australian General Hospital annex in Port Said, Catherine was promoted Temporary Sister, but is transferred to the Government Hospital in Suez on 9 Dec 1917. Transferred again, this time to the 27th General Hospital at Abbassia on 21 Mar 1918 where it appears she remained until on 12 Jul 1918 when she left Suez aboard the Port Darwin on nursing duty for Australia, having reverted to Staff Nurse on embarkation.

Returned to Australia on medical grounds. Return was initially to Sydney. Her appointment was terminated on 10 Sep 1918 by 5th Military District.

Catherine's rate of pay as a Staff Nurse was 7/10d per day (compared to 6/- for a private soldier) - higher when acting as a Sister.

Post War

Electoral Records: 1919 at 175 Goderich street, Perth. 1923 she was living at 9 Biden Mansions, Pritchard street, Johannesburg, South Africa.

"A quiet but very interesting wedding was celebrated at St. George's Church, Noord street, Johannesburg, when the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Adler, well known pioneers of Johannesburg, was married to Miss Catherine MacGillivray, daughter of Mrs. and the late J. MacGillivray, of Perth, Western Australia. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. M. Biggar. The bride, who was given away by Mr. G. W. White, was simply gowned in a charming frock of lemon georgette over charmeuse of a lighter shade. The skirt was heavily embroidered in ivory, silk almost to the waist, where it was pin-tucked and finished with a plait belt. The sleeves were tucked and fell in a graceful cape effect. Her hat of white straw was underlined with lemon georgette and encircled with a band of gold ribbon finished with a big rosette. The bridesmaid, Miss Anne Ormiston, wore powder blue marocain and georgette embroidered in the same shade with rows of gauging to form the waistline. Her hat of black crinoline straw was trimmed with powder blue flowers. Both bride and bridesmaid carried bouquets of daffodils. Mr. Hugh Mitchell acted as best man. After the ceremony a delightful reception was held by Mr. and Mrs. George White, who are intimate friends of the bride. Mrs. White was handsomely gowned in a three-piece suit of pearl grey marocain embroidered with Mary blue silk, and she wore a smart toque of pearl grey georgette. Mrs. Henry Adler, mother of the bridegroom, wore a delicate dress of biscuit georgette with black silk embroideries with a short georgette coat of the same shade and a smart black hat trimmed in autumn shaded flowers. Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Adler left later in the day for Muizenberg, where the honeymoon will be spent. The bride's travelling costume was of nigger brown suiting with a bodice of Paisley marocain and soutache and Tutankhamen embroidery. A smart brown hat trimmed with a wreath of brown flowers and silver leaves completed the costume. Mrs. Adler 's address is now Crown Mines, Ltd., Johannesburg.