Australian and New Zealand Nursing Question
 

I have decided to watch the series "ANZAC Girls" as I've already enjoyed it twice before. But it raised a question about the badges worn by the nurses.

The story states at the beginning that X number of Australian nurses and some New Zealand nurses went to serve in WWI in 1915. The New Zealand nurses joining with the Australian nurses because New Zealand was not in a position to send their own detachment of nurses yet.

My question is would the New Zealand nurses that went with the Australian nurses have worn the silver Rising Sun collar size badge at their throat as the Australian nurses did? If not, did they have another badge of New Zealand origin that they wore?

Thanks in advance,

Terry

New Zealand nurses during WW1 were issued the "New Zealand Army Nursing Service badge."

Excellent, thank you!!! Yes, they show that in he series during one of he later episodes. I believe they show her wearing it on her tippet.

Assume then that the NZ nurses would not be wearing the silver RS collar badge?

Terry

So how hard is it to find a good badge and how costly ??

Regards Rob

An excellent question Rob. I probably don't want to hear the answer!!! One can dream though!

Terry

NZANS badges turn up every now and then, and usually sell between $65 to $100 NZd.

The early C.M.Bay made ones are hard to find and a bit more expensive.

The first "50" NZANS badges (Made by C.M.Bay and are numbered) are rare as rocking horse poo.

It is very unlikely that NZ Nurses would have worn any RS badges.

Brent

Thanks for the info as i have a trio to a NZ nurse who served with the Australians ,the trio is Aussie issued and I have a NZ badge with it but thought the NZANS would be good to go with it ?


Cheers Rob

More excellent information!!! Thank you all!

Terry

Just to make sure there is no misunderstandings.

A New Zealander who enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service would be entitled to wear the Australian issue badges, but would not be eligible to wear the NZANS badge.

The only way to be eligible to wear the NZANS badge is to have enlisted with the NZANS.

Brent

She was a Nurse before joining up and was born in Featherstone NZ before coming to Australia and there was a badge picture with her items .

Rob

Copied from this excellent site-

https://www.nzans.org/

"1914 - 1922 saw 626 nurses and masseuses serve in the NZANS, as well as many women who worked with, but were not members of the NZANS. All the women who were members of the NZANS were attested (sworn to serve for the duration of the war) and issued with Regimental Numbers, whereas the other women were never attested and not issued with a Regimental Number. Their attachement to Military Hospitals was controlled by the Matron-in-Chief who was also the Inspector of Hospitals for the Public Health Department.

When the nurses joined the NZANS they were issued with their NZANS Badge which had engraved on the back their Registered New Zealand Nurse (RNZN) number."

So the badge that is pictured is what? It has a number which I assume is her Registered number so is for being a nurse or ex NZ army nurse number ??

Ans thanks for your help and info very interesting
Is there a way I can see if she did join the NZAN service in 1914 prior to the war ??

Rob

Very interesting, it seem she was registered as a NZ nurse in 1914.
Many New Zealanders could not get places in the NZ Forces, so traveled to Australia to enlist. I wonder if Myra Smith was one of them, or just happened to be in Australia when war broke out?

ENLISTMENT
WW1 26 April 1915, Staff Nurse