CARTER, Ursula Mary
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Staff Nurse |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 17 September 1887 |
| Home Town: | Wahroonga, Ku-ring-gai, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Nurse |
| Died: | Christchurch, New Zealand, 1 March 1963, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Nov 1914: | Enlisted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Staff Nurse, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Nov 1914: | Involvement 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Nov 1914: | Embarked 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, HMAT Kyarra, Sydney |
Distinguished Matron from Queanbeyan
DISTINGUISHED MATRON FROM QUEANBEYAN
Appointed to Orange
The committee of the Orange District Hospital have selected Miss Ursula M. Carter, of the Queanbeyan District Hospital, as matron of the Orange Hospital, from nineteen applicants. Matron Carter has held the position at Queanbeyan for the past three and a half years with conspicuous success. Matron Carter is a sister of Colonel Carter, and served three years with the Australian Imperial Forces in Egypt and France, where she was very popular with the diggers. Two of her brothers are doctors.
The Canberra Times Tuesday 02 August 1927 page 4
Submitted 16 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Ursula Carter was born in Sydney in 1887 to Herbert James and Antoinette Charlotte Carter. She was working at Prince Alfred Hospital when World War I started, and was one of the first Australian nurses to offer her services to the AIF, enlisting during October 1914.
Her three brothers also enlisted around the same time, 344 Sapper Edward Moore Carter, 1st Field Company Australian Engineers, died of Gallipoli wounds on 23 July 1915. Captain Robert Burnside Carter, a medical student, made his own way to England and served during the First World War with the British Army, being awarded a Military Cross. Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Gordon Carter DSO, commanded the 5th Pioneer Battalion for much of the war.
Ursula left for Egypt shortly after enlisting, and nursed there where she was promoted to sister in December 1915. After spending 15 months in Egypt, she was sent to France, but the constant exposure to cold and wet conditions resulted in her catching a severe case of laryngitis. Sick and rundown, she recovered in a London hospital.
In January 1917 she returned to Australia for extended leave and left Australia for the second time in May 1917. As the ship neared its destination, Sister Carter fell and injured her left knee. The injury proved so debilitating that she was unable to resume nursing service and was discharged and returned to Australia in October that year. When she was appointed to Orange District Hospital during August 1927, she had been matron of Queanbeyan Hospital for the past three years. She was matron of Orange District Hospital until 1930.
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