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Australia

Daughter of Johanna DRAPER
Of Farrand Street, Forbes, NSW
Served in France, England, Salonika
Awarded Military Medal King of Hellenes 09 June 1917
Awarded Royal Red Cross 2nd Class 23 May 1919
Returned to Australia 16 May 1919 per 'Orari'
Discharged as medically unfit 05 January 1920
​Did not marry
 

SALONICA
FORBES NURSE'S IMPRESSIONS

Nurse Betty Draper, of Forbes who is with the Australian hospital staff at Salonica, writes to her people,
under date September 9: - "I like the 50th General Hospital very much. The medical and orderly staff
are British. We disembarked at Suez, and went by train to Alexandria, where we awaited transport to
Salonica for about three weeks. It was very nice being in Egypt for a while. Of course we had to work
in British hospitals there. Salonica is rather a wonderful place, where one meets the people of all nations, Servians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, French, Russians, etc. Of course, it is not quite a holiday, and most of us have had some sort of illness since we have been here, but we are wonderfully well now. The weather is very much cooler, which makes life worth living.
We are not far from the Marcadonia hills. I went along the Monastir road yesterday. The big fire we had here did a lot of good, and some harm of course. I suppose you all got quite a shock when you heard about the Mooltan doing down. I sent many letters to England by the Mooltan, and I suppose they are now at the bottom of the sea. I had quite a long letter from the captain of the Mooltan, telling me how it happened. They had just sat down to dinner, and were having the first course when the torpedo struck. The ship shivered like a frightened animal, and then started to go down. All passengers were saved.
I should like to tell you about many things, but the censor is pretty busy here at Salonica. I am assistant matron at the big hospital here, and there is quite a lot to do.
This is a very ancient place. St. Paul is supposed to have preached here in his time. We came from Alexandria to here on a naval despatch boat, with the dearest little destroyer to take care of us, and watch for submarines.
Give my love to all my friends."

Forbes Advocate Tuesday 27 November 1917 page 2

ROYAL RED CROSS
AWARD TO FORBES NURSE

Four Years' War Service.

Her relatives at Forbes have been advised that Sister Elizabeth (Betty) Draper has been awarded
the Royal Red Cross for distinguished services in the various military hospitals abroad, and more particularly for her work at the casualty stations behind the firing line in France.

Sister Draper, who is a daughter of Mrs Draper, of Farrand Street, Forbes, has a sister who
practises the nursing profession at Forbes also. Other sisters are Mrs Hooper of Daroobalgie,
and Mrs Clucas, of Bogan Gate.

The recipient of the Royal Red Cross offered her services to the Defence Department four
years' ago, and was immediately accepted. She arrived in Egypt at the time the heavy
casualties from Gallipoli were taxing the hospital accommodation to the utmost capacity.
She was appointed night superintendent at Cairo Hospital, which had 2000 patients at the time.

200,000 OVER THE TOP.

After a long experience in Egypt Sister Draper was sent to the West front, and the Australian nurses were only six miles behind the firing line when the first big Allied push started at Delaval Wood. It is estimated that 200,000 Allied soldiers went over the parapets at the instant.

Describing her impressions afterwards, Sister Draper said the noise of the big guns covering the advance was like a thousand thunderstorms rolled into one. "During that tremendous time all railway traffic was held up to permit of wounded troops being conveyed to the base hospitals and clearing stations. Troop trains going up to the line were blocked by train loads of wounded returning.

At High Wood, put of one batch of 1000 South Africans, only three of them returned, and the three of them were wounded. The gallant South Africans were splendid, but they passed though a red lane of death and destruction at High Wood. The Australian soldiers are absolutely adored in France, their behaviour and their discipline being magnificent.

BIRDIE'S OFFER.

"Our gallant Australians made history in the Fight at Pozieres, where'the English & Scottish troops could not make any read way. Haig was downhearted. Birdwood solved the problem though. "Give me one division of Australians and another to reinforce them and I will take the strongest position on the west front, declared the general. Haig agreed and sent the Australians to Pozieres. How they took and held the place is now a matter of history but the cost was a terribly heavy one."

PETER THE PEKINESE.

Two years ago Sister Draper returned to Australia in a hospital ship on which were a number of serious cot cases. She returned to active service almost immediately, and after about 12 months at Salonica, she returned to France once more. She states that in the early days in France there were, 224 Australian nurses. They camped under canvas, and sometimes when supplies were cut off, they lived for days on army bread, as hard as a brick, and bully beef. "Sometimes the tents leaked," says Sister Draper,"and then we had to put up our umbrellas to keep the rain off our beds."

When Sister Draper came to Australia with the hospital. ship two years ago she brought with her Peter, a Pekinese dog, which was presented to an Australian soldier by Lady Peel, in London. The dog which is valued at £10 eventually found an owner in Sister Draper, who nursed the soldier back to health . When the soldier boy got well he presented Peter to Sister Draper.

Forbes Advocate Tuesday 04 February 1919 page 2

Aussie' Nurses
GALLANT BEHAVIOR WINS DISTINCTION FOR N.S.W. THE OLD RED CROSS.

Australia has reason to be proud of her war-nurses, so many of whom have won distinctions in hospital and under fire. One of the latest of these is Sister Elizabeth Draper, who has had four years service, and has been awarded the Royal Red Cross for distinguished services at various military hospitals abroad, more especially for her work at casualty stations behind the line in France. Sister Draper is a daughter of Mrs. Draper of Forbes, who has another daughter nursing locally.

Offering her services soon after the outbreak of war, Sister Draper arrived in Egypt at the time the heavy casual ties were occurring at Gallipoli. After a long and strenuous experience in Egypt she was sent to France, where the Australian nurses were only six miles behind the firing line when the first big Allied push started at Delaval Wood. Describing her impressions after the battle. Sister Draper said that the noise of the big guns covering the advance was like a thousand thunderstorms rolled into one. 'During that tremendous time all railway traffic was held up to permit of wounded troops being conveyed to the base hospitals and clearing stations. Troop trains going up to the line were blocked by train loads of wounded returning. At High Wood, of the batch of 1000 South Africans, only three returned, and all three were wounded. The site of the South Africans was majestic but they passed through a red lane of death and destruction at High Wood.

Our gallant Australians made history in the fight at Poziete wher English and Scotish troops could not make any headway. Haig was downhearted. Birdwood solved the problem, though. "Give me one division of Australians and another division to reinforce them, and i will take the strongest position on the west front declared the
general. Haig consented, and sent the Australians to Poziete. How they took and held the place is now history, but the cost was a frightfully heavy one". About two years ago, Sister Draper came to Australia on a hospital ship, returning to active service immediately going first to Salonica where she spent twelve months, and thence again to France. She states that in the early day of war in France there were 224 Australian nurses, and that they camped under tents, and sometimes, when supplies were cut off, they lived for days on army bread and bully beef. "Sometimes the tents leaked," said the nurse, "and then we had to put our umbrellas up to keep the rain off our beds." When Sister Draper came to Australia she brought with her a Pekinese dog named Peter, which was presented to an Australian soldier in London by Lady Peel, and given to him by Sister Draper.

The Farmer and Settler Friday 7 March 1919 page 8

​MISS ELIZABETH DRAPER, whose nursing services with the A.I.F. earned for her the Royal Red Cross and the Greek Military Medal, has made an equal success of her career since war ended. She is the owner and matron of Helenic Private Hospital, Randwick (Sydney), a modern hospital with accommodation for fifty patients.

Miss Draper left for active nursing service in Egypt in 1915, and was later assistant matron at the 1st Australian General Hospital in France, and also spent two years in Greece.

The Australian Women's Weekly Saturday 10 April 1937 page 2