Edith Blake: The only Australian nurse killed by enemy action in the First World War

The Australian War Memorial will commemorate the service and sacrifice of Staff Nurse Edith Blake at the Last Post Ceremony on Saturday 21 December.

Australian War Memorial Director, Matt Anderson, said: “Edith Blake is the only Australian nurse to have been killed as a result of enemy action in the First World War.”

“Edith Blake was born on the 22nd of September 1885 in the Sydney suburb of Darlington. Known affectionately as Edie, she was the eldest of three daughters born to Charles Blake and his wife Kate.”

Edie was accepted as a trainee in 1908 at the Coast Hospital at Little Bay. The Coast Hospital specialised in treating infectious diseases, and her training gave Edie expertise in hygienic practices, surgery nursing, and patient care.

Edie then graduated as a Junior Sister in 1912, and decided to remain at the tight-knit Coast Hospital along with many of her fellow trainees.

“Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, many Australian nurses rushed to volunteer for the Australian Army Nursing Service. Edie attempted to enlist twice, but both times was unsuccessful,” Mr Anderson said.

In early 1915, Edie was one a group of Australian nurses selected for service with the British Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. Edie was appointed a Staff Nurse on the 4th of April 1915, and two days later left Sydney in HMAT Malwa.

By the 25th of February 1918, and at 6pm that night the ship set sail from Newport harbour in the south of Wales. Their route took them down the Bristol Channel, with their final destination Brest in France.

Just before 4 a.m. on the 26th of February, German U-boat UC-56 fired a torpedo at the well-lit HS Glenart Castle. The torpedo tore through the ship behind the starboard engine room, ripping open the deck and smashing lifeboats as the ship began to list to one side.

Within seven minutes, HS Glenart Castle sank to the bottom of the Bristol Channel just off Lundy Island. During the Enquiry held on the 28th of February, the Bosun Thomas Matthews explained that “there was no time to do anything … there was no time to rescue anybody.”

Mr Anderson said: “Of the 182 people on board HS Glenart Castle on the 26th of February 1918, only 29 survived. All of the nurses on board were declared to have drowned with the vessel, including Staff Nurse Edith Blake.”

Edith Blake is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial at Southampton in England.

Her name is also listed on the Commemorative Roll, alongside the names of Australians who died during or as a result of war service but who did not serve in the Australian armed forces.

Edith Blake was one of 25 Australian nurses to have died during their service in the First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is held at 4.30 pm every day except Christmas Day in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Imagery: https://filetransfer.awm.gov.au/message/aHM6qE4DP2SiQYKZu7Oii9