Dorothy Cawood

Dorothy Gwendolen Cawood MM (9 December 1884 – 16 February 1962) was an Australian civilian and military nurse. She was one of the first three members of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) to be awarded the Military Medal in World War I.[1]

Dorothy Cawood

MM
Sister Dorothy Cawood, MM
Birth nameDorothy Gwendolen Cawood
Born(1884-12-09)9 December 1884
Parramatta, New South Wales
Died16 February 1962(1962-02-16) (aged 77)
Parramatta, New South Wales
Buried
Rookwood Cemetery, New South Wales
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1914–1919
UnitAustralian Army Nursing Service
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsMilitary Medal
Mentioned in Despatches

Early life and training

Cawood was born at Parramatta to John and Sarah Travis (née Garnet) Cawood. Her father was a carpenter and long-time member of the Parramatta Volunteer Rifles.[2] After school, Cawood trained as a nurse at the Coast Hospital, Little Bay and worked there until her enlistment.[3]

First World War

Cawood volunteered as a staff nurse for the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) on 14 November 1914. Two weeks later she left Sydney on the hospital ship HMAT A.55 Kyarra as a member of the No. 2 Australian General Hospital, bound for Egypt.[1] She was promoted to nursing sister in 1915 while serving on a hospital ship and transports.[4]

On 28 September 1917, Cawood was awarded the Military Medal "for bravery in the Field".[5] She was one of only seven nurses in the AANS to receive that honour in the First World War.

Cawood was further honoured in Sir John Haig's despatch of 7 November 1917 "for distinguished and gallant service between the period Feby 26 M/N to September 26 M/N 1917". She remained on service in Italy after the declaration of peace until early 1919, when she was transferred to England. Cawood left Devonport, England for Australia in May 1919 on Sudan arriving on 3 July. She was officially discharged on 1 September 1919.[4][6][7]

Post-war career

On her return to Sydney Cawood took a position nursing at the Liverpool State Hospital and Asylum. In November 1922 she was appointed sub-matron (on six months’ probation) of the same hospital, with her appointment confirmed in June 1923.[8][9] She was promoted matron of the David Berry Hospital, Berry in September 1925, where she worked until her retirement in 1943.[3][10]

Death

Cawood died in Parramatta on 16 February 1962 and was buried at Rookwood cemetery. She never married.[1]

References
  1. Abbott, Jacqueline. Cawood, Dorothy Gwendolen (1884-1962). Retrieved 24 April 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. "Mr. John Cawood". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 235. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. Heywood, Anne. "Cawood, Dorothy Gwendolen (1884 - 1962) MM". The Australian Women's Register. The National Foundation of Australian Women (NFAW). Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  4. "Attestation Paper of Cawood, Dorothy Gwendoline (sic)". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette. No. 9. Australia. 24 January 1918. p. 83. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette. No. 57. Australia. 18 April 1918. p. 845. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette. No. 57. Australia. 18 April 1918. p. 841. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Special Gazette Under the "Public Service Act, 1902." Appointments". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 25. New South Wales, Australia. 23 February 1923. p. 1231. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Special Gazette Under the "Public Service Act, 1902." Appointments". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 64. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1923. p. 2559. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Special Gazette Under the "Public Service Act, 1902."". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 159. New South Wales, Australia. 27 November 1925. p. 5373. Retrieved 24 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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