THE mostly young participants at Mortdale RSL's Anzac commemorative service on Sunday learnt about history by listening to John Hodgkinson.
Captain Hodgkinson RFD (RAE — Royal Australian Engineers) Retired, and Hurstville Grove resident, chose the occasion to pay tribute to women.
"On Anzac Day we hear commentaries on various army, navy and air force units as their banners appear when they march down George Street," he said.
"They are almost all men.
"So it has probably been overdue on occasions such as this to mention the women who served overseas."
Captain Hodgkinson said that 2300 nurses served during World War I in Australian and British war hospitals in Burma, India, the Persian Gulf, Egypt, Greece, Italy, France and England.
At least 25 died and 388 were decorated, with seven receiving Military Medals.
One group which sailed for France in 1916 was organised by the Red Cross and financed by the Jockey Club at Randwick Racecourse. Their distinctive blue uniforms were made by David Jones.
"In the most adverse conditions these ladies proved themselves to be of awesome dedication and courage," Captain Hodgkinson said.
"They saw the very worst of war. Every soldier who came to their tent hospitals was either severely wounded, dying, or suffering terrible diseases from shell-shock or exposure to conditions in trenches."
So when we say "lest we forget", we should certainly never forget the military's lady nurses.
