Inez Clare Cronin
From Our Contribution
 taken from photo below rear row, first on left | |
 Group photo of Nurses from HMAT A67 Orsova Jul 1915 outside Ivanhoe Hotel London | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1888 |
| Place of Birth | Deniliquin, New South Wales |
| Death | 17 Apr 1976, aged 87 |
| Place of Death | Shenton Park, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 25 years old |
| Occupation | nurse |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'The Chestnuts', Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Agnes Alice Cronin |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | Sister |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jun 1915 |
| Rank | Sister |
| Unit/Formation | Australian Army Nursing Service |
| Date of Embarkation | 22 Jul 1915 - Oct 1919 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A67 Orsova |
| Date of Return |
9 Nov 1919 Bombay to Singapore 10 Dec 1919 - 20 Dec 1919 Singapore to Sydney |
| Ship Returned On |
SS Kashgar to Singapore SS Charon to Sydney |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument | Jarrahdale Honour Roll |
| Medals |
1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Prior to enlisting Inez had trained for three years at the Perth Public Hospital, graduating on 7 Dec 1914. From February 1915 she was on staff At Perth Public Hospital, including a period as acting Sister in the Surgical Ward.
Electoral Roll entries: 1912 - 1914 Perth Public Hospital, nurse.
War Service
Inez was appointed to the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) on 12 Jun 1915, with her then enlisting in the AANS AIF when she embarked on HMAT A67 Orsova in Fremantle on 22 Jul 1915. Having disembarked in Egypt, Inez returned from Egypt as nursing staff onboard the No.2 Australian Hospital Ship HMAT A61 Kanowna.
Inez served on the Kanowna for voyages to and from England during 1916 and 1917, and when in England, while the ship was being resupplied, she was temporarily attached to the 1,200 bed 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
Promoted to Sister on 8 Nov 1916. Inez was struck of strength of No.2 Hospital Ship HMAT A61 Kanowna following a period of leave after she arrived back in Australia on 25 Sep 1917. (Service in Australia was not deemed to be service in the AIF, but was called Home Service, or AANS AMF.) Her first period of active service terminated at her own request on 18 Oct 1917. She then transferred to the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle on Home Service during November 1917.
On 25 October 1918 Inez again enlisted with the AANS AIF, and on 16 Oct 1918 she boarded the HMT Malta in Sydney for the voyage to Bombay, India, arriving on 14 Nov 1918. On arrival she was posted to the 34th Welsh General Hospital in Deolali. Transferred to the 18th British General Hospital in Gharial on 27 May 1919, and the next day to the 19th British General Hospital in Rawalpindi. Inez was transferred again, this time to the 53rd British General Hospital in Kuldana on 20 July 1919 where she remained until she embarked in Bombay on 9 November 1919 aboard the SS Kashgar for home via Singapore. In Singapore on 10 Dec 1919 she boarded the SS Charon.
Inez was discharged from the AANS AIF on 10 Jan 1920, transferring then to the AANS Reserve, and then in 1925 to the reserve list, (effectively retiring).
Post War
Inez trained at the Women’s Hospital in Carlton, Victoria obtaining her midwifery certificate in 1922.
In 1927 the NSW BDM records that in Sydney, Inez married Alan Lewis Ashmeade De Groen (b. 4 May 1903). However, the 1928 article 'WEDDING.', Papuan Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : 1917 - 1942), 31 August, p. 8., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251065379 records their marriage as being 30 August 1928 in Port Moresby where Inez had been working as a sister in the local hospital.
Alan spent his adult life in Papua, and during WW2 he enlisted in the Army on 15 Jan 1943 in Port Moresby and served as a Captain in the Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit until he was discharged on 5 Feb 1946. Alan died in Buderim, Queensland on 28 Oct 1965. Inez died in W.A. on 17 Apr 1976 and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.
Electoral Roll entries: 1922 Carlton Women's Hospital, nurse; 1943 "Bonnin Brae" Braeside street, Wahroonga, NSW, nurse; 1968 at 48 Mount street, Perth.
Notes
Inez's mother, Alice died in Jarrahdale on 24 Feb 1931.
Additional details and references supplied by Dr Kirsty Harris