Elsie Clare Pidgeon, ARRC (28 September 1879 – 4 July 1956) was an Australian army nurse and hospital matron. She was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross in the First World War and the Florence Nightingale Medal in 1935.
Elsie Pidgeon | |
|---|---|
 Pidgeon in 1918 | |
| Born | 28 September 1879 St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 4 July 1956 (aged 76) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1920 |
| Rank | Sister |
| Unit | Australian Army Nursing Service |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Associate Royal Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal |
| Other work | Hospital matron, Sydney Hospital |
Early life and education edit
Pidgeon was born on 28 September 1879 in St Leonards, New South Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Emily Louisa (née Cobcroft) and shipping clerk Thomas Pidgeon.[1] She joined Sydney Hospital in 1904 as a trainee and qualified as a nurse in 1908.[2]
Nursing career edit
Pidgeon's initial appointment after she qualified was as a head nurse at Sydney Hospital. She was subsequently promoted to charge sister in 1910.[1]
Pidgeon enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 5 May 1915 and sailed for Egypt ten days later with No. 3 Australian General Hospital,[3] led by Dr. T. H. Fiaschi. She saw service on Lemnos, in Egypt, France and England.[4] She was the Associate Royal Red Cross in 1918 and presented with its ribbon by General Sir William Birdwood.[5]
After returning to Australia in July 1919,[3] Pidgeon resumed work at Sydney Hospital and in 1922 she was promoted to assistant matron.[4] In 1935 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was presented to her by Lady Isaacs, wife of the governor-general, Sir Isaac Isaacs, in her role of president of the Australian Red Cross.[6]
Pidgeon was appointed matron of Sydney Hospital in October 1944,[7] but made retrospective to October 1943 when she had effectively taken over from Adelaide Kellett, who subsequently retired.[1] Pidgeon was appointed to the Nurses' Registration board in 1949.[8] In 1952 she presided over the annual reunion of nurses trained at Sydney Hospital, a tradition stretching back to shortly after the First World War.[9]
Death and legacy edit
Pidgeon died in Sydney Hospital on 4 July 1956. A funeral service was held in the Congregational Church, Pitt Street.[1] Pidgeon Place in the Canberra suburb of Chisholm, was named in her honour.[10]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Mitchell, Ann M., "Elsie Clare Pidgeon (1879–1956)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 29 February 2024
- ^ "Trained Nurses". Evening News. No. 12, 963. New South Wales, Australia. 26 December 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Sister Elsie Clare Pidgeon". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Women's Column". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 220. New South Wales, Australia. 18 January 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Royal Red Cross". The Daily Telegraph. No. 12242. New South Wales, Australia. 6 August 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Sydney Nurse". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 420. New South Wales, Australia. 3 July 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Sydney Hospital's New Matron". Daily Mirror. No. 1068. New South Wales, Australia. 25 October 1944. p. 5 (Late Final Extra 3). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Appointments". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 163. New South Wales, Australia. 26 August 1949. p. 2522. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Ex-Traineers of Sydney Hospital Hold Reunion". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 819. New South Wales, Australia. 9 October 1952. p. 5 (Women's section). Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928 Determination". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. P11. Australia. 15 May 1987. p. 4. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.