Nurses cape : Sister M McDougall, Australian Army Nursing Service

Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) nurses scarlet cotton drill cape. The body of the cape is made out of one panel of fabric with a wide (approximately 75 mm) mitred hem stitched to the outside. The cape is fastened at the collar with a small brass hook and black thread eye.

Lieutenant's (Sister's) rank stars and curved 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder titles are fitted to the shoulder straps. The button and outermost rank star on the right shoulder strap are blackened silver. The innermost star on the left shoulder strap appears to have been painted black. All the remaining badges, titles and button are oxidised brass. Most of the badges have been stitched in place, with only the 'Australia' title and right brass star having a brass split pin for fastening.

An AANS embroidered cloth badge has been sewn onto the middle of the hem on the left side of the opening at the front. It is grey with white and red embroidery. The badge is a wreath with a crown at the top. In the centre is a red cross that has white rays in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, around which is a garter with 'AUSTRALIAN / ARMY NURSING SERVICE'. The stitching forming the last two words is mostly missing. This badge was normally worn on the right sleeve of the pre 1916 nurse's ward dress.

Associated with the First World War service of Sister Mary McDougall. McDougall was born at Fort William, Scotland on 2 October 1885 and was a practicing nurse on enlistment in the Australian Army Nursing Service on 25 July 1917. Prior to enlistment she had nursed for three years at Kyneton Hospital, Victoria.

Embarking for India aboard HMAT Kyarra on 7 September arriving in Bombay on 6 October. Posted to Victoria War Hospital,McDougall nursed there until 10 February 1918 when she transferred to the 44th British General Hospital at Deolali. On 14 August McDougall transferred to Freeman Thomas Hospital, Bombay where she nursed until the end of the war.

On 12 December she was posted for temporary duty to the Hospital Ship Ellora but was admitted to the Colaba War Hospital for acute bronchitis on 9 January 1919 and was in hospital for nine days. McDougall embarked for Australia aboard SS Eastern on 13 April, arriving in Victoria on 8 May. She was formally discharged from the AIF on 19 February 1920.

For many of the nurses, the posting to India was disliked and a poor substitute for the perceived excitement of France. The nurses wanted to be in France where they felt they were needed the most. Some were worried about being called 'cold-footers' after the war, as working in India was often not considered as active service.