Elsie Pidgeon Explained

Elsie Pidgeon
Birth Date:1879 9, df=y
Birth Place:St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Allegiance:Australia
Branch:Australian Imperial Force
Serviceyears:1915–1920
Rank:Sister
Unit:Australian Army Nursing Service
Battles:First World War
Awards:Associate Royal Red Cross
Florence Nightingale Medal
Laterwork:Hospital matron, Sydney Hospital

Elsie Clare Pidgeon, (28 September 1879 – 4 July 1956) was an Australian army nurse and hospital matron. She was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross in the First World War and the Florence Nightingale Medal in 1935.

Early life and education

Pidgeon was born on 28 September 1879 in St Leonards, New South Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Emily Louisa (née Cobcroft) and shipping clerk Thomas Pidgeon. She joined Sydney Hospital in 1904 as a trainee and qualified as a nurse in 1908.[1]

Nursing career

Pidgeon's initial appointment after she qualified was as a head nurse at Sydney Hospital. She was subsequently promoted to charge sister in 1910.

Pidgeon enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 5 May 1915 and sailed for Egypt ten days later with No. 3 Australian General Hospital,[2] led by Thomas Fiaschi. She saw service on Lemnos, in Egypt, France and England.[3] She was the Associate Royal Red Cross in 1918 and presented with its ribbon by General Sir William Birdwood.[4]

After returning to Australia in July 1919, Pidgeon resumed work at Sydney Hospital and in 1922 she was promoted to assistant matron. In 1935 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal by the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was presented to her by Lady Isaacs, wife of the governor-general, Sir Isaac Isaacs, in her role of president of the Australian Red Cross.[5]

Pidgeon was appointed matron of Sydney Hospital in October 1944,[6] but made retrospective to October 1943 when she had effectively taken over from Adelaide Kellett, who subsequently retired. Pidgeon was appointed to the Nurses' Registration board in 1949.[7] In 1952 she presided over the annual reunion of nurses trained at Sydney Hospital, a tradition stretching back to shortly after the First World War.[8]

Death and legacy

Pidgeon died in Sydney Hospital on 4 July 1956. A funeral service was held in the Congregational Church, Pitt Street. Pidgeon Place in the Canberra suburb of Chisholm, was named in her honour.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: 26 December 1908 . Trained Nurses . 29 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 9 . National Library of Australia . 12,963.
  2. Web site: Sister Elsie Clare Pidgeon . 2024-02-29 . Australian War Memorial . en.
  3. News: 18 January 1922 . Women's Column . 29 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 9 . National Library of Australia . 26,220.
  4. News: 6 August 1918 . Royal Red Cross . 29 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . 12242.
  5. News: 3 July 1935 . Sydney Nurse . 29 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 7 . National Library of Australia . 30,420.
  6. News: 25 October 1944 . Sydney Hospital's New Matron . 29 February 2024 . Daily Mirror . New South Wales, Australia . 5 (Late Final Extra 3) . National Library of Australia . 1068.
  7. News: 26 August 1949 . Appointments . 29 February 2024 . Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . New South Wales, Australia . 2522 . National Library of Australia . 163.
  8. News: 9 October 1952 . Ex-Traineers of Sydney Hospital Hold Reunion . 29 February 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 (Women's section) . National Library of Australia . 35,819.
  9. News: 15 May 1987 . Australian Capital Territory National Memorials Ordinance 1928 Determination . 29 February 2024 . Commonwealth of Australia Gazette . Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . P11.