Catherine Ann McGillivray

Catherine Ann McGillivray

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown 1890
Place of Birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Age at Enlistment	25 years
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr James MGillivray
Military Information
Date of Enlistment	12 Jun 1915
Rank	Sister
Unit/Formation	2nd Australian General Hospital, Special Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	22 Jul 1915 ‒ ?? Aug 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A67 Orsova
Date of Return	12 Jul 1918 ‒ 17 Aug 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Port Darwin
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Trained as a nurse for three years at the Perth Public Hospital.

War Service

Catherine's early records are not in the National Archives, but it would appear that early on she served on Hospital Ship No 1 Karoola HMAT A63 Karoola during 1915 while it operated as a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. On 22 Sep 1916 Catherine was re-assigned to Duty in Egypt, and three days later was assigned to the Infectious hospital at Shubra, a suburb of Cairo. On 22 Oct 1916 she had need of medical attention herself suffering with an infection. She was confined in the Sisters Quarters of the 14th Australian General Hospital until 16 Nov 1916 when she returned to duty. On 20 Jan 1917 she was transferred from the Infectious Hospital at Shubra to the 14th Australian General Hospital.

Admitted as a patient to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Cairo on 8 Oct 1917 with debility and transferred next day to the Bulkeley Convalescent Home in nearby Abbassia. Catherine had recovered by 16 Oct 1917 and rejoined the staff of the hospital.

On 4 Dec 1917 at 14th Australian General Hospital annex in Port Said, Catherine was promoted Temporary Sister, but is transferred to the Government Hospital in Suez on 9 Dec 1917. Transferred again, this time to the 27th General Hospital at Abbassia on 21 Mar 1918 where it appears she remained until on 12 Jul 1918 when she left Suez aboard the Port Darwin on nursing duty for Australia, having reverted to Staff Nurse on embarkation.

Returned to Australia on medical grounds. Return was initially to Sydney. Her appointment was terminated on 10 Sep 1918 by 5th Military District.

Catherine's rate of pay as a Staff Nurse was 7/10d per day (compared to 6/- for a private soldier) - higher when acting as a Sister.

Notes

Catherine does not appear on any Electoral roll, and no marriage is registered in WA.