DOWSE, Elizabeth Ann
Matron Miss Elizabeth Ann DOWSE served in the Army Nursing Service. Enlistment: ANS 1 Jul 1898.
Nursing Service before the Boer War
Matron DOWSE is recorded in the following sources from this period:
Matron Miss Elizabeth Ann DOWSE served in the Army Nursing Service is recorded as Superintendent (Gosport) in the Army List 1898 (ANS).[1]
Nursing Service in the Boer War
Superintendent Elizabeth Ann DOWSE served in Army Nursing Service, enlisting January 14, 1896/ July 1, 1898.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
The Queen's South Africa Medal Roll notes: p81: Transferred to Modder Spruit April 6, 1900
p180: To HS Nubia June 13, 1900[11]
- ↑ Army List 1898 (ANS)
- ↑ WO 100/229 QSA Medal Roll p81 created at No15 General Hospital, Howick; dated September 15, 1901
- ↑ WO 100/229 QSA Medal Roll p180 created at Clarkestown; August 22, 1901
- ↑ WO 100/229 QSA Medal Roll p199 created at Hospital Ship Nubia, Durban; May 14, 1902
- ↑ The London Gazette, February 8, 1901; p931
- ↑ The London Gazette, September 10, 1901; p5958
- ↑ Army List for March 1900
- ↑ Army List for November 1901
- ↑ Army List for November 1902
- ↑ WO 100/353 KSA Medal Roll p20 created at the Military Hospital, Bloemfontein; January 5, 1903
- ↑ Queen's South Africa Medal Roll
Honours and Awards
MID (by Sir George White for Ladysmith)
MID (by Earl Roberts)
RRC
After Military Service
Elizabeth Ann Dowse trained as a Nursing Sister at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, entering as a Probationer in April 1878 until March 1885 when she embarked for the Egypt Campaign with the Army Nursing Service. She was one of the first Nursing Sisters to sail up the Nile with the relief force when General Gordon was besieged in Khartoum. On return to the UK she was appointed to the post of Nursing Sister at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley 9.1.1886. In June 1890 she was enrolled as a member of the Royal British Nurses Association (number 2837). During the Boer War she served in the Army Nursing Service Hospital at Intambi during the Siege of Ladysmith and was later presented with a gold brooch (not present in the frame) commemorating her service there by the grateful Officers of the Imperial Light Horse and various Cavalry Regiments present, the brooch sent to her 23 May 00. The brooch in the frame bears the crest of Sir George White. She subsequently transfered to QAIMNS and was awarded the Order of the RRC for South Africa 29 Nov 1900. After 21 years of service with the nursing staff of the Army she retired 8 Mar 1911 and was permitted to retain her QAIMNS badge. Retirement was short lived and with the outbreak of the Great War she offered her expertise to the Army and served from 2 Nov 1914 to 21 Nov 1919. On her way to Salonika as Matron in Charge of the Nursing Sisters on board HMHS Britannic she had a close brush with death when the ship struck a mine laid by the German submarine U-73 commanded by Lt. Cdr Siehs only an hour previously. The White Star liner Britannic was built for the company's Trans-Atlantic service and was launched in February 1914. Before she was completed she was taken over by the Admiralty for use as a hospital ship and was never employed for her original purpose. On 21 Nov 1916, she was sailing to Salonika to take onboard 1,125 persons of whom 625 were crew and 500 medical officers, nurses and Royal Army Medical Corps personnel. In addition to those drowned 28 were injured. Miss Dowse was one of the first to attend the wounded and her courage and coolness was noted during the sinking. Returning from Italy she appears on the nominal roll of Nursing Staff as Matron for the No. 39 Stationary Hospital to embark for France 11 May 1917 where she served until the cessation of hostilities. Awarded Bar to the R.R.C. 8 Jun 1918 and MID (General Plumer's) 18 Apr 1918 (LG 6 Sep 1918). Retiring in 1919 she lived at 29 Lansdown Terrace, Golden Hill, Horfield, Bristol. Elected Honorary Serving Sister 16 Jan 1920 and received the Diploma of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In later years she resided in Queen Mary's House, Fleet, a home for retired QA's endowed by Queen Mary herself, who was a personal friend of Miss Dowse. She is buried next to other QA's, a fitting place amongst colleagues who like her dedicated their lives to the wounded and sick.
