Lieutenant LOWREY Edna Minnie (Service No: NX70497)

Born in Dungog on the 10^th of August 1913 Edna was the 3^rd of 4 children to William and Minnie (nee Cox).

The Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) was an Australian Army Reserve unit which provided a pool of trained civilian Nurses who had volunteered for military service during wartime. Formed in 1902 by amalgamating the nursing services of the colonial-era militaries, the unit formed part of the Australian Army Medical Corps.

The AANS was mobilised again during World War II, and many of its members served overseas. Of nearly 36,000 women who enlisted during World War II in the various medical services, of those, 3,500 served in the AANS.

As a single woman Edna was working as a nursing sister and still living with her parents at ‘Glenelg’ in Gloucester, when she enlisted at Victoria Barracks, Sydney on the 2^nd of December.

From the 4^th of January 41, Edna worked at the Emergency Department at the Royal South Sydney Hospital before being taken on strength with the AANS Home Service on the 14^th of February. The next day she marched out and entrained for a detachment with 7^th Military District, Darwin where she arrived on the 18^th of February. While there, Edna was appointed Sister on the 17^th of April.

Edna was transferred to Eastern Command (NSW) leaving Darwin on the 8^th of November 1941 to disembark the train in Sydney on the 18^th of November to join the 2^nd Military District. After taking leave from the 22^nd November to 6^th December granted after her arrival back in Sydney until the 3^rd of December, she was immediately detached to 113 Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Concord Hospital.

In August 1942 male members of the 2/9^th AGH were sent to establish the first General Hospital in Papua-New Guinea. When the unit arrived at Bootless Bay it was set up to receive all casualties from the forward areas before they were sent onto Australia. Female staff were not permitted in Papua until late October 1942 due to the uncertain military position. Medical patients outnumbered war casualties almost 10 to 1. During this time the hospital was bombed by the Japanese, but no casualties resulted. It was locally known as the ’17 Mile’, as that was its distance from Port Moresby. Although they had 1,200 beds, they at times were caring for 2,000 patients, the overflow being accommodated on stretchers placed under the beds.

On the 26^th of September 1942 Edna was accepted for service with the AIF and issued a new number of NFX 115453 and on the 22^nd of October, Edna embarked the AHS 2/2 ‘Wanganella’ to bring back casualties from New Guinea. On the 2^nd of December also tasked to bring back wounded from New Guinea, the AHS 2/1 ‘Manundra’ departed Brisbane with Edna on board. When the ‘Manundra’ arrived at Port Morsby on the 6^th however Edna disembarked. She was allotted duties with the 2/9^th AGH on the 23^rd of March 1943.

Embarking Port Moresby aboard the ‘SS Canberra’ on the 29^th of October and disembarking in Cairns on the 31^st, she again boarded ‘Canberra’ this time at Townsville on the 17^th of December to arrive back at Port Morsby on the 21^st of December 43.

On the 31^st of December Edna was evacuated to the 2/9^th AGH with insect bites and after treatment marched out to her unit on the 3^rd of Jan 1944.

The 102^nd AGH was raised in Tamworth during October 1941. In January 1942 the hospital had expanded to 600 beds. In March 1944 the 2/9^th returned to Australia for a brief rest in Tamworth where they replaced the 102nd AGH personnel. Having embarked Port Moresby on the 24^th of March 1944 aboard SS Canberra, Edna disembarked in Townsville on the 27^th and was attached AANS 102 AGH ex 2/9^th  on the 26^th of April.

Having been raised for the Middle East operations, the 2/2^nd AGH was based at El Kantara on the Suez Canal in Egypt from 1940 until its return to Australia in February 1942. Initially locating to Watten Siding at Hughenden the hospital moved to Rocky Creek in the Atherton Tablelands Queensland in January 1943.

Edna was temporarily detached to the 2/2 AGH from 103 AGH from the 12^th of June 44 and while there on the 24^th of July was posted to the 2/9^th AGH where she marched in on the 30^th August.

On the 29^th of December 44 Edna was placed on loan to King George V Memorial Hospital and on the 9^th of April1945 she was given temporary duty with the 113^th AGH at Concord Hospital.

All ex 2/9 attachments ceased on the 18^th of May when they embarked Newcastle 2/2 AHS ‘Wanganella’ on the 18^th of May to disembark Morotai on 1 June. Their mission was to support the Borneo campaign conducted by the 7^th and 9^th Divisions by providing surgical teams for landings. They also helped rehabilitate POWs from the southeast Asian camps, beginning with a group of Indian POWs on 27 Jun 1945. The 2/9^th AGH treated about 4,000 British and Australian ex POWs prior to the Japanese troops on the island surrendering, and then many more Australian, Dutch, and Indian POWs afterwards. In early 1946 the number of patients began to ease. While the final staff of the 2/9^th remained at Morotai until March, Edna emplaned Morotai on the 4 Jan 46 landing at Brisbane before continuing to Sydney to report to Principal Matron HQ NSW for reposting. She was allotted Regimental Duties at 101 AGH (AIF) from 2/9^th. On the 18 March she relinquished her duties and transferred to R of O (AANS) (2MD) for termination of her appointment.

Of her total active service of 1859 days, this remarkable lady spent 669 of them outside Australia working behind the front lines.

Passed away on the 31^st of December 1988 aged 75 and is buried at the Gloucester Cemetery, Baptist Row A.