1914:
WWI begins. CGHS would see 3 alumni work as Doctors during the war: Dr Ada McLean, (nee. Wilkinson, Alumni 1884), Dr Jessie Maddison (Alumni 1890s dates TBC) and Dr Jessie Scott (Alumni 1898-1900). Dr Scott was awarded the Order of St Sava by the King of Serbia in 1917 for her work on the Eastern Front.
1915
The first fifty nurses head overseas to work in hospitals in Egypt. Included in this number is Sister, later Matron, Edna Pengelly RRC, ARRC (Alumni 1892). Eight further alumni would serve as nurses and on hospital ships. They are, Sister Fanny Abbott ARRC (Alumni Years TBC); Sister Winifred Anstey (Alumni 1896-1899); Sister Annie Campbell ARRC, MiD, Mentioned by Secretary of War for Valuable Services x2 (Alumni: 1891-1893); Sister Rose Fanning (Alumni: 1898); Sister Mary Gould, Mentioned by Secretary of War for Valuable Services (Alumni 1903), Sister Davidina Gunn (Alumni 1902-1908), Sister Margaret Herbert (Alumni 1901-1904), Sister Elsie Owen (Alumni 1904-1905).
1915:
The SS Marquette is torpedoed by a German Submarine and is sunk, killing 167 people, 32 of whom were New Zealanders, including 10 members of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. These women are commemorated in the Nurse Chapel in Christchurch. Three Alumni of our school Sisters Mary Gould, Fanny Abbott and Winifrey Anstey survived the sinking.
1919:
Matron Edna Pengelly is awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal, the highest award given to a serving nurse. She is one of 15 recipients for services in WWI. She had previously been awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross Medal (2nd Highest Award) for services during war in 1917.
