Raincoat : Sister E J Imlay, Australian Army Nursing Service

Places
Accession Number REL/10474
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton gabardine, Leather, Plastic, Wool twill
Maker Burberrys
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London
Date made c 1916-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Loose fitting khaki waterproofed (linseed oil impregnated), single breasted cotton gabardine raincoat, with a deep inverted pleat extending from centre back collar to waist, and a centre back vent extending from waist to hem. The fall collar has a buttonhole on the left point, and two small plastic buttons sewn under the right point. The coat is fastened with five large celluloid buttons. The raglan sleeves have cuffs with an adjusting tab, and two small buttons: both sleeves have one plastic button, and one small pressed leather button with a plaited pattern. There is a vertical slash pocket opening on each side of the waist, secured with a pressed leather button. The internal pocket bags are attached as patch pockets in the lining.

The coat is fully lined with a tartan similar to Burberry Check (a pattern not introduced until the1920s) in a wool twill weave. An embroidered maker's label is stitched to the inside collar below a self-fabric hanging loop. The label features the Equestrian Knight trademark, with 'BURBERRYS underneath'.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of Ellen Jean Imlay. Imlay was born in Toowoomba, QLD on 15 April 1881 and was a nurse on enlistment in the Reinforcements for 1 and 2 Australian General Hospitals (AGH) on 20 March 1915. She had previously served with the Australian Army Nursing Service Reserve for three years. With the rank of staff nurse she embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT Kyarra on 13 April.

On arrival in Egypt Imlay worked initially at 2 AGH, later transferring to 3 AGH at Abbassia in February 1916. In May 1916 she was promoted to sister. Allocated to No 2 Sea Transport Section Imlay left Egypt as head sister aboard the Clan McGillivray on 10 July, supervising the return of sick and wounded men to Australia. After leave in Sydney she was appointed temporary matron (sister in charge) on the troopship Ceramic when it left for England on 7 October.

On arrival in England Imlay reverted to the rank of sister. She was posted to 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, where she remained until the beginning of 1918, when she transferred to 2 AGH in France. In August 1918, as the final offensives before the end of the war began, Imlay was detached to serve in British medical units, who needed additional staff to deal with the influx of sick and wounded men, and to relieve exhausted nursing staff. In quick succession she worked at 19, 47 and 59 Casualty Clearing Stations, 6 and 12 Stationary Hospitals and 25 General Hospital. Her own health broke down and after treatment at 14 General Hospital at the beginning of December she was evacuated to England on 19 December and given 21 days sick leave. Imlay was invalided back to Australia on 2 April 1919 and discharged on 2 June.

This coat is not part of the standard uniform that was worn by members of the AANS. Nurses often supplied further items at their own expense to combat the wet and cold conditions on the Western Front.