Awarded Royal Red Cross
For several years Sister Pidgeon was a
member of the nursing staff of Sydney Hospital, but when war came its call was insistent,
and the light to which she turned was the lamp of Florence Nightingale; to the succour of
sick and wounded soldiers of Australia it led her to within sound of the guns on
Gallipoli, to the parched sands of Egypt, and to the stricken fields of France, where
German brutality spares not even the Red Cross, and where only a few months ago nine
heroic women working beside her were killed in the night by bombs, and nine others were
wounded. the consistent bravery of this Sydney girl has now been recognised by the
award of the Royal red Cross - an honour rare and highly prized amongst the thousands of
noble women of the British race who, under the Red Cross, have added new and wonderful
glories to the traditions of womanhood during the present war.
Leaving Sydney about three years ago
with the 3rd Australian General Hospital, under Dr. Fiaschi, Sister Pidgeon, who is the
eldest daughter of Mr. T. Pidgeon, of 98 High Street, North Sydney, went to Lemnos island,
where she remained for eight months. After this she spent six months in Egypt,
followed by a similar period at the new Kitchener Hospital at Brighton (England), and then
she went to France, where she has been ever since. The ribbon of her decoration was
presented by General Birdwood, and the cross itself is to be pinned on by the King.
- The Sydney Daily Telegraph (?), 1917 |
Sister
E. C. Pidgeon, R.R.C.
Leaving
Sydney about three years ago with the 3rd Australian General
Hospital, under Dr. Fiaschi, Sister Pidgeon, who is the eldest
daughter of Mr. T. Pidgeon, of 98 High Street, North Sydney, went to
Lemnos Island, where she remained for eight months. After this
she spent six months in Egypt, followed by a similar period at the
new Kitchener Hospital at Brighton (England), and then she went to
France, where she has been ever since. Only a few months ago
nine heroic women working beside her were killed in the night by
bombs, and nine others were wounded.
The consistent bravery of this Sydney girl has now been recognised
by the award of the Royal Red Cross.
-
The Sydney Mail, Wednesday, August 28, 1918
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SISTER
ELSIE CLARE PIDGEON |
ROYAL RED
CROSS
SYDNEY HOSPITAL SISTER DECORATED.
Advice has been received by Mr. Tom Pidgeon of North
Sydney, that his daughter. Sister E. C. Pidgeon, has been awarded the Royal Red Cross.
Sister Pidgeon was for several years in the Sydney
Hospital, and resigned at the outbreak of the war for service abroad. She has been three
years away, being eight months at Lemnos, six months in Egypt, six months at Brighton,
(England), and is now in the danger zone In France. Sister Pidgeon already wears the
ribbon of the Royal Red Cross. It was presented to her by General Birdwood. The Royal Red
Cross will be duly presented by his Majesty the King.
Writing from somewhere in France to her father,
Sister Pidgeon refers to a sad event in connection -with the war. One night recently
during a raid the Huns dropped a bomb near the hospital, killing- nine members of the
women's auxiliary clearing station. They -were accorded a military funeral, all the
sisters from the hospitals and many soldiers attending. It was a most impressive service.
Sister Pidgeon goes on to sty that owing to these raids every precaution is now taken. The
nurses all wear metal hats, and frequently have to go to the dug-outs and trenches to get
the patients out of the danger zone.
- (Unidentified newspaper clipping) |
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
MEDAL
Australia is particularly fortunate in having secured this
medal, recently awarded to Miss Elsie Pidgeon, four times, previously the other recipients
having been Miss Edith Cornwall, Miss Evelyn Conyers and Miss Grace Wilson, all of whom
are trainees of Australian hospitals and were on active service during the Great War.
- (Unidentified newspaper clipping) |
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Above is a picture of the Florence Nightingale medal, which
has been awarded to Sister Elsie Clare Pidgeon, A.R.R.C., assistant matron of the Sydney
Hospital. This award is made by the International Red Cross Committee in Geneva, and is
given every second year to coincide with Florence Nightingale Day in England (May 12), in
memory of the great pioneer of the war nurses. With the large medal is the tiny replica
for wearing on dress occasions. The medal is thick, and is bordered with a gold band
carrying the description, "Memoriam Florence Nightingale, 1820- 191O, A.D." In
this is a beautiful engraving in silver of Florence Nightingale. It is attached to a
brooch – a laurel wreath of green leaves and red berries, in the centre of which is a
red cross in enamel. The ribbon is white water wave with red and gold edging. The medal
and diploma will be presented to Sister Pidgeon by Her Excellency Lady Isaacs, president
of the Australian Red Cross Society, at the annual birthday dinner of the Red Cross
Headquarters Younger Set on July 16. This is only the second occasion on which this medal
has come to Australia.
- (Unidentified newspaper clipping)
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MODERN
NIGHTINGALES
23 NURSES DECORATED
ANGELS OF WAR
As is fitting, the sisters of Anzacs have proved
themselves in the nursing field just as their brothers have in battle, and the fine record
of the Australian nurses has been recognised by the military authorities.
TO date 23 nurses from New South Wales alone have
been awarded distinctions varying from the Military Medal to the Royal Red Cross. In
addition, a number of nurses have been mentioned in despatches for valuable work rendered
while on service abroad.
The usual method of recognising an army nurse's
service is to decorate her with the Royal Red Cross, first or second class, according to
the distinction of her work. The military medal is only given when she has displayed
bravery under fire.
When the Germans raided the British hospitals in
France at full moon, a short time ago, the courage of the nurses was one the outstanding
features of the event. Many lost their lives in defending their wounded patients under the
rain of bombs showered upon them by the low-flying Hun airmen. And five were awarded
military medals for gallantry under fire.
Since then the contention has been raised that as an
army nurse’s military rating is equal to that of an officer, she should be rewarded
accordingly.
The latest N.S.W. nurse to receive the Royal Red
Cross is Sister E. C. Pidgeon who was for several years in the Sydney Hospital. At the
outbreak of war she resigned, and immediately departed for active service. She has been
three years away, spending eight months at Lemnos, six months in Egypt, six months at
Brighton (England), and is now in the danger zone in France. Sister Pidgeon already wears
the ribbon of the Royal Red Cross. It was presented to her by General Birdwood. The Royal
Red Cross will be duly presented by the King.The following nurses of the Australian Army
Nursing Services belonging to N.S.W. are those who have already been honoured with
decorations since the outbreak of War:-Royal Red Cross, first-class. - Matrons Nellie
Gould, Adelaide Kellett, Louisa Stobo, Miles-Walker, Clarice Dickson, Bessie Peacock.Royal
Red Cross, second-class. - Matrons Julia B. Johnston, Clementina H. Marshall, Alice
Cooper, Margaret Veerman, Maud Russell, Head Sister Phillis Boissier, Sisters Daisy
Richmond, Florence Spalding, Maud M’Nulty, Margaret Eldridge, Annie O'Neill, Edith
Rush, Nellie Leake, Vera Steel, Gertrude Brown. Military Medal. - Sister Dorothy Cawood.
- (Unidentified newspaper clipping)
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Elsie Claire Pidgeon - Remained single all her life
devoting much of her energy to her nursing
profession. She would dine every Saturday with her
three sisters; Ruby, Linda and Maysel. She was
well informed on ballet, theatre and art and took special interest in the activities of
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals