Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ELLEN Agnes Meline Riordan was born in 1889 to John and Elizabeth Riordan of 'Bella Vista', Steve Kings Plain, Wyrallah.

After training and nursing at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, nurse Riordan answered the call as so many others did, enlisting on June 16, 1915 as a staff nurse.

She embarked on July 29, as a member of 14th Australian General Hospital aboard the hospital ship, HMAT Kanowna, transporting wounded soldiers from Gallipoli during the ANZAC campaign.

Nurse Riordan was later appointed Matron-in-Chief at Choubra Infectious Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

In March 1916, she returned to Australia, nursed at Randwick Military Hospital and also served on hospital ships here from July to September that year.

She embarked for Salonika, Greece where she stayed until the armistice. She received the Greek Medal of Military Merit in 1919 from King Alexander for her nursing services to Greece.

Translated into English, the citation accompanying her medal reads, "By the order of the AMD of the King of the Hellenes, Alexander, this is awarded to the English nurse, Ellen Agnes Riordan, for her outstanding services to the Fatherland. In Athens on 24 February 1919, for the Department of Military Affairs".

Sister Riordan returned to Australia on July 13, 1919, the Northern Star of October 15, 1919 reporting that the "Wyrallah Red Cross entertained Sister Nellie Riordan at afternoon tea in the Protestant Hall. Sister Riordan had represented at the front for four years".

The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser reported on March 11, 1930 that Sr Riordan sailed in the company of her aunt to her new home in East Africa, three days earlier.

Following WW1, she nursed in military and civilian hospitals in Kenya and Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).

During this time she met civil engineer, Cyril Tucker, and they married at the Roman Catholic cathedral, Mombasa on April 30, 1930. Both stayed on standby to serve in the Second World War.

She finished her military service before continuing her nursing career in Australia, eventually retiring to Coraki.

In 1968, Sister Ellen Tucker (nee Riordan) was accepted into the Gallipoli Legion of ANZACS and, when she died on March 24, 1978 was the last surviving member of the elite group.

She was buried at Tucki cemetery, her citation and medals on display at Richmond River Historical Society, Lismore.

Sister Riordan's medals

First World War:

·         1914-1915 Star

·         1914-1918 War Medal

·         1914-1919 Victory Medal

Second World War:

·         1939-1945 Star

·         1942-1943 Africa Star (North Africa)

·         1939-1945 Defence Medal

·         1939-1945 Victory Medal

By Richard Forbes of the Northern Star