Loneragan, Bernardette Ethel (Nursing Sister, b.1885 - d.1976)

Collection relating to the First World War service of Nursing Sister Bernardette Ethel Loneragan, Canadian Army Medical Corps, Canada, Australia, England, France, Belgium, and Greece, 1908-1921.

Wallet 1:
Contains one Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association certificate for general nursing dated 14 May 1910; four references from various colleagues in Australia vouching for Nursing Sister Loneragan’s character and professional skills; one Christmas card addressed from Nursing Sister Loneragan (Loney) to ‘Paddy’; three inter-war postcards depicting churches in Kilkenny and Amiens, and another of the city centre in Mons; two letters dated 26 May 1919 from Mary Gilson discussing nursing services during the war; one telegram from the Lord Chamberlain to Nursing Sister Loneragan requesting her presence at Buckingham Palace dated 6 May 1919; one letter written by Nursing Sister Loneragan to ‘Kit’ discussing her experience at Buckingham Palace and being presented the Royal Red Cross by the King; one certificate of service dated 10 February 1920; and five written and typed sections of Nursing Sister Loneragan’s memoirs.

Wallet 2:
Contains one red faux leather 1915 ‘Collins’ Gentleman’s Diary No.174’ with entries from 18 January to 12 April and sporadic entries thereafter. Entries discuss Nursing Sister Loneragan’s trip from Vancouver to Halifax, via Ottawa and other places in Canada, the voyage to England, and tourism around London. Later entries discuss the spraining of her ankle.
One blue covered service book (army book 439) with Nursing Sister Loneragan’s name written in black on the cover with entries relating to Nursing Sister Loneragan’s movement throughout the war.
One off-white with green decoration notebook with short stories of service from various soldiers looked after by Nursing Sister Loneragan. They include stories about action in areas such as Khartoum (Sudan), Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Verdun, Salonica (also known as Salonika or Thessaloniki), and several illustrations including the Royal Field Artillery crest, two caricatures of soldiers and a cross commemorating lives lost at Salonica. In the middle of the book is a book review of Thomas D Curtin’s ‘The Land of Deepening Sorrow.’

Oversize wallet:
One certificate dated 22 December 1908, from the Melbourne Hospital certifying Nursing Sister Loneragan as a qualified nurse. Two generic certificates dated 1 September 1921, recognising the service of Canadian nurses during the First World War.