Alice Cecilia Scahill - Australian Nurse - WW1

The following is an extract taken from the New South Wales, Penrith City Council web site:

View original image of her Attestation Paper.

Biographical details:

Alice Cecilia Scahill was born in 1892 at Canterbury, the daughter of Thomas and Theresa Scahill.

After leaving school, Alice undertook her nursing training at the Nepean Cottage Hospital Penrith. In 1913, the Nepean Times reported the results a second year examination in surgery. Students were asked a range of questions on subjects as diverse as disinfectants, bed sore prevention and treatment, after care of tracheotomy, preparing patients for general operations such as the removal of an appendix, identification of pressure points and arteries, and resuscitating a patient. Nurse Scahill was placed second in the second year nurses examination receiving 93 in the practical examination and 95 in the vapour examination.

Military Service:

Group portrait of Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) sisters from Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, and SA, bound for Salonica, Greece on the RMS Mooltan.

Alice served with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). Alice Cecilia Scahill enlisted on 16 May 1917 and was appointed as staff nurse. Alice Cecilia Scahill left Australia aboard the RMS Mooltan on 18 June 1917 and disembarked at Suez on 19 July 1917.

On 12 August 1917, Alice Cecilia Scahill embarked on the Osmanieh bound for Salonika Greece and disembarked two days later. On arrival Alice Cecilia Scahill, served briefly with the 52nd General Hospital before transferring to the 50th General Hospital.

On 19 April 1918, Alice Cecilia Scahill was admitted to the 50th General Hospital with enteric and was struck off the strength of the hospital on 4 May 1918.

On 24 June 1918, a medical board declared Alice Cecilia Scahill to be unfit for general service and noted that she required convalescent treatment for the enteric caused by military service at Salonika. The board recommended that Scahill be evacuated to Australia.

On 26 June 1918, Alice Cecilia Scahill was transferred to the Sisters' Convalescent Camp and on 13 July 1918, Alice Cecilia Scahill embarked for Egypt aboard the Kashgar and disembarked at Port Said three days later.

On 17 July 1918, Alice Cecilia Scahill was admitted to No 14 Australian General Hospital with enteric. Alice Cecilia Scahill embarked for Australia aboard the HT Kanowna on 22 July 1918.

Hospital Service:

On her return, Sister Scahill worked as a district nurse, then opened a private maternity hospital at Henry Street, Punchbowl. She later became Matron of Bankstown Hospital Outpatients Department, Appian Way, Bankstown. Alice Cecilia Scahill married Ernest John Paxton and lived at Killara. She died on 29 December 1973 and is buried at the Woronora Lawn Cemetery, Sutherland.

Allan Scahill