Ethel Gray

Ethel Gray CBE, RRC (24 April 1876 - 22 July 1962) was an Australian civilian and military nurse. She served in France in World War I and is the only Australian woman to have received the Medaille de la Reconnaissance Française (Medal of French Gratitude).

Gray was born in Melbourne on 24 April 1876. She was the eldest of the eight children of Samuel Gray, a clothing manufacturer from Cavan, Ireland, and his English-born wife Amelia, née Bird. She attended Lee Street State School in East Melbourne, and the Presbyterian Ladies' College. In March 1900, she entered Melbourne Hospital as a nursing probationer. She gained her certificate on 12 March 1903 and was promoted to the position of staff nurse two days later, followed by another promotion to the position of sister on 29 May.

In 1908 Gray left Melbourne Hospital and was appointed Matron at the Queen's Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital. The following year she returned to Melbourne Hospital as house matron and two years later, in 1911, became assistant lady superintendent.

In January 1913, Gray became matron of Perth Hospital. In February 1915, Gray enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service, and ten days later left for England. When she arrived in England she found that the mansion which had been offered for use as a hospital, Harefield Park House in Middlesex, had not been prepared and was not ready to be used. She was required to advise on all necessary alterations, equipment and furniture to make the buildings capable of holding convalescent patients. Over the coming years, Gray managed the growth of the hospital from 150 to 1000 beds.

In December 1916 Gray was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, France, where she remained until the closure of the hospital in March 1919. She was then moved back to England and nursed at an Australian General Hospital in Sutton Veny.

...
Wikipedia