Suitcase : Staff Nurse V A M Paisley, Australian Army Nursing Service

Compressed fibre suitcase with hinged lid. The outside of the suitcase is covered with brown leather and reinforced at the corners with leather and metal caps. The lid fastens at the front with two nickel-plated brass latches and a central nickel-plated brass latch with a lock. A a thick leather carry handle is attached to the front via two leather straps. The top of the lid is painted with the Geneva Red Cross and 'V.A.M. PAISLEY. A.A.N.S.' in black. The remains of two outward baggage labels directing the suitcase to Bombay from Fremantle are attached to the lid of the suitcase. The remains of baggage labels are also attached to the proper left, proper right and front of the suitcase. The inside of the case is lined with discoloured cream and purple, striped cotton fabric. Attached to the inside base are two leather fastening straps held in place with small metal studs, designed to secure the case's contents in place. The centre of the lid bears a fabric covered cardboard pocket with a single press stud closing.

Associated with the service of Vera Agnes Margaret Paisley. Paisley was born in Bunbury, Western Australia in December 1892 and was a certified nurse on enlistment in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) on 8 May 1917. She had previously worked for three years at the Perth Public Hospital.

Embarking for service in India from Fremantle on 5 June, with the rank of staff nurse, Paisley reached Bombay on 18 June. On arrival she was posted to 34th Welsh General Hospital at Deolali, almost 260 kilometres from Bombay. The hospital complex was made up of old barracks, stone bungalows and galvanised iron huts spread over a large area nearly two and a half kilometres long by one kilometre wide.

Housing over 2000 beds, the nurses cared for patients with diseases such as malaria, smallpox, Spanish influenza and cholera, in trying climatic conditions.

At the end of the war Paisley embarked from Bombay for England, via Port Said and Salonica. Arriving in Southampton on 7 January 1919 she was attached to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent, which specialised in the treatment of war related nerves and neurosis cases.

Paisley embarking for return to Australia aboard HMT Plassy on 17 March. Arriving in Australia on 27 April, she was promoted to sister on 26 June. Paisley's appointment with the AANS was terminated on 12 November 1919.