Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4470    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 31ST MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

PAIR TO NURSING SISTER: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. Sister. M.T.Birt. A.I.F. Both medals impressed. Toned good very fine.

Together with silver Rising Sun cape or cap badge (27mm), with pin-back (pin replaced); another in brass (27mm), with lug back; riband bar with pin-back.^^Mary Trevenen Birt, certified nurse, age 38, born at Adelaide, Sth Aust; Enl.05Feb1916 in AANS; posted to 13AGH in Qld 05Feb-27Dec1916;^Emb.29Dec1916 as Staff Nurse; to France 12Mar1917; posted to 12 Gen Hosp 14Mar1917; posted to 10 Gen Hosp 14Jun1917; posted to 25 Gen Hosp 16Jul1917; promoted to Sister 29Dec1918; RTA 18Apr1919; Disch.19Jul1919 and name placed on AANS, AMF Reserve; Died 28Jan1945 and was cremated at the Mount Thompson Crematorium, Brisbane with a request that her ashes be placed in the AIF Memorial Wall at the same crematorium.^^The following report was published in The Telegraph, Brisbane, on Tuesday 30 January 1945, page 6.^^'Death of Army Sister^Sister Mary Birt, who was head sister at the Lady Wilson Red Cross Convalescent Home at Chelmer, collapsed suddenly when visiting friends on Sunday afternoon and died almost immediately. The late Sister Birt who was on a week's leave, was apparently in the best of health. Her people came originally from Western Queensland, but with the exception of a sister, Mrs Tweedie, whose home is outside Dalby, her relatives now live in South Australia. Sister Birt served with the first AIF in Egypt and France. The matron of the Chelmer Home, where she had been stationed for three years, said that her services were invaluable. She was a member of the committee of the Union Jack Club, where in her leisure time she was a regular helper.'^^With copy of Service File and other research.