Australia Defence Medal 1939-1945 : Lieutenant E E Duncan, Australian Army Nursing Service

Australia Defence Medal 1939-1945, impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Associated with the service of Lieutenant Eileen Ethel Duncan, who was born in Maryborough, Queensland on 29 November 1908. After completing her primary and secondary education, Duncan studied to become a nurse. She served with the AMF during this period with the 116th Australian General Hospital (AGH).

Duncan continued to serve with this hospital unit when the Second World War began and was promoted to staff nurse on 3 February 1941. Duncan was called up for full time duties in the hospital on 18 December and was promoted to sister II on the same day.

In November 1942 she was called up for service with the Second AIF, but remained working in 116 AGH. She was promoted lieutenant in March 1943. In November that year she was posted to 2/9 AGH.

On 11 January 1945, Duncan embarked from Townsville aboard transport ship Taroona bound for Lae. She disembarked at Lae, New Guinea, on 16 January and took up her new posting with 2/7 AGH. In July, Duncan was briefly posted to 2/2 AGH, returning to 2/7 AGH in September.

Following the surrender of Japanese forces, Duncan remained at Lae until December, when she embarked for Australia aboard the Australian Hospital Ship Manunda, disembarking in Sydney on 19 December. She was discharged from the AIF in March 1946.