Edith Marion Wilson
From Our Contribution
 | |
 Nursing Sisters 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital 1918. Edith is second from left in middle row. | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown 1876 |
| Place of Birth | Athlone, Ireland |
| Death | 7 Nov 1955, aged 79 |
| Place of Death | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 40 years old |
| Description | none provided |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Glen Innes', Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Sister Miss L. Wilson |
| Military Information | |
| Date of Enlistment | 10 May 1917 |
| Rank | Staff Nurse |
| Unit/Formation | Nurses (July 1915 - Nov 1918) / Australian Army Nursing Service |
| Date of Embarkation | 21 May 1917 - 19 Jul 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A24 Benalla |
| Date of Return | 18 Jan 1919 - 23 Feb 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMHS Margha |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none at present |
| Medals | British War Medal |
Pre War
Daughter of Samuel and Lavinia WILSON. Her father's family owned Wilson's Bobbin Company which was one the worlds largest producers of bobbins. The family also owned the Shannon Saw Mill in Athlone. The family returned to England before migrating to South Africa and later Australia and New Zealand.
Electoral Roll entries 1903 & 1905 at 22 Marlborough street, Perth, domestic services; 1910 she is a Lady's help in Stirling street, Bunbury; in 1912 & 1913 a nurse at the Fremantle Public Hospital; 1915 at Ord street, West Perth, nurse; 1916 & 1917 a nurse at the Public Hospital Meekatharra.
War Service
Enlisted at No 8 General Hospital in Fremantle, and sent immediately to England.
Initial detachment on 19 Jul 1917 is to Hotel York, and then on 11 Aug 1917 to the Croydon War Hospital. Her next posting was on 22 Nov 1917 to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital (1AAH) at Harefield. 1AAH specialised in battle casualties, in particular amputees to be returned to Australia.
Between 5 - 13 Nov 1918 Edith was a patient in Southwall Gardens Hospital with bronchitis.
In Nov - Dec 1918 she was attached to St Albans Hospital before on 18 Jan 1919 Edith was attached as a member of nursing staff aboard HMHS Margha returning to Australia. As Edith's records do not contain any entry relating to the period 24 Feb - 21 Dec 1919, we might assume she was attached to No 8 General Hospital Fremantle.
Appointment terminated 5th Military District 21 Dec 1919.
Post War
Edith did not marry. Sunday Times 20 Aug 1919 reports a Nurse Emily Wilson (Edith's sister) from Armadale going to Blackboy Hill Camp to nurse influenza patients. She is listed in the 1920 Post Office Directory as nurse, Armadale.
Electoral Roll entries 1922 at No 8 AGH, Fremantle, nurse; 1931 - 1937 at Onslow cottage, Kalamunda, nurse; 1943 - 1949 at 125 Lawler street, Subiaco, retired.
Notes