Memorial News
Sealed Wartime Diaries Opened
5/1/00 - Before Sister Muriel Knox Doherty died in 1988, she donated several wartime diaries in a sealed box to the Australian War Memorial with the special instructions that the contents of the "time capsule" only be opened in the year 2000.
In 1939, Sister Muriel Knox Doherty was Assistant to the Principal Matron, Australian Army Nursing Service. She then became Squadron Leader, Royal Australian Air Force, where she inaugurated the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS). In 1942 she was promoted to Principal Matron of the service and given the rank of Wing Commander. In 1945, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross (1st Class) by King George VI for her services to the RAAF Nursing Service.
Muriel Doherty was a meticulous diarist, carefully recording all aspects of her war and life after. In addition to the "time capsule", the Memorial holds two collections of her papers, including a series of scrapbooks containing newsclippings, photographs, badges, insignia, souvenirs, nominal rolls and cards as well as letters and a photo album.
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