Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

DURING the Great War of 1914 - 1918 - Mary Archbold from Pillbox at Newbury near Marian, enlisted as a staff nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service at the age 28.

She was assigned to the Sea Transport Section and made three voyages to England caring for the Australian troops on board. While Mary did go near the battlefields, she was still in real danger from torpedoes from German submarines in the seas around England.

Mary Archbold had been enrolled as a pupil at the Marion Mill Provisional School in 1894. In 1899 it became a state school with a spelling change to Marian.

Mary Archbold had enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on June 4, 1917 after the death of her mother on May 23 that year. Mary was assigned to No 6 Sea Transprt Section on August 1, and embarked in Sydney on HMAT A68 'Anchises' on August 8. The matron of the nursing staff on board was Gertrude Good. The 29th Reinforcements for the 4th Light Horse Regiment, and Medical Officers were on board. 

Mary disembarked at Liverpool on October 2. She was attached on temporary duty to the No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (2AAH) Southall in Middlesex. 2AAH Southall specialised in caring for amputees, and the fitting of artificial limbs. It had 489 beds in 1917.

Mary's younger brother, William James Archbold, who was born on January 3, 1899, had enlisted on February 21, 1916.

William had been the first pupil on the Admission Register of the Mackay State High School, when it opened on February 5, 1912. William put his age up a year when he enlisted.

William was training in England while Mary was at 2AAH Southall. The photograph of the two siblings, must have been taken in this period.

William was sent to France and joined the 41st Battalion on December 15, 1917. He was killed in action near Villers-Bretonneux on May 26, 1918 at 19 years of age, although the official army records describe him as 20.

On October 31, 1917, Mary Archbold was detached from duty at 2AAH Southall for return to Australia on transport duty. Records do not show on which ship she travelled back to Australia.

On January 19, 1918 she re-embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A72 'Beltana', which carried Medical Officers, and disembarked in London on March 21, 1918.

Mary returned to Australia, and re-embarked in Sydney on July 17, 1918 on HMAT A30 'Borda', also crrying medical officers.

Mary spent four days in the ship's hospital with influenza during the voyage, and she disembarked on London on September 27.

Mary was granted leave and was then attached to No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (1AAH) at Harefield for duty from October 12, 1918.

On January 14, 1919 Mary Archbold was detached from all duty with 1AAH for return to Australia on duty on 'City of York'.

She arrived in Australia on February 27 and her appointment was terminated on March 23, 1919.

Mary continued in the nursing profession, and never married.

Mary, with two sisters, Mattie Archbold and Rita Walker, welcomed guests at 'Pillbox' for their father, James Archbold's 80th birthday party in 1932.

Mary died in Mackay in 1945, and the Daily Mercury reported on Tuesday, July 24 that her funeral took place in the Presbyterian Church.

The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and a bugler played the Last Post and Reveille. Members of the RSL attended the service.

Article: Courtesy of the Mackay Daily Mercury, Thursday, July 13, 2017.

Daughter of James ARCHBOLD and Mary nee McKEE

Sister of Rita ARCHBOLD
Resided Newbury Junction, Mackay, Qld.