LENTON, May Mandeville
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sister |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF |
| Born: | Prospect, South Australia, 18 April 1883 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Nurse |
| Died: | Hawthorn, South Australia, 1 August 1964, aged 81 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia General E, Path 10, Plot 735 |
| Memorials: | Keswick South Australian Army Nurses Roll of Honor, Nailsworth Primary School Great War Roll of Honour, Rose Park Congregational Church Great War Roll of Honour, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Oct 1915: | Enlisted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Staff Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 1915: | Involvement 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Nov 1915: | Embarked 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 10 Nov 1918: | Promoted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Sister | |
| 24 Oct 1919: | Discharged Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Sister |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Luke Scott
May Mandeville Lenton was born 18 April 1883 at Prospect, South Australia. She applied to join the Australian Infantry Forces on 04 October 1915 (at the beginning of WW1).
In her enlistment documents, she is described as 32 years and 5 months, 3 vaccination marks on left arm, 5 foot 7 and a half inches in height, 124 pounds, chest 33 inches, fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. She was a Professional Nurse who had trained at the Adelaide Children's Hospital and held the qualification of Children's & Queens Home A.T.N.A.
She had also had experience as A/Charge Nurse Children's' Hospital (9 weeks) A/Charge Nurse Queens Home (14 months), District Nursing and Bush Nursing (8 months). On 05 November 1915, May was appointed to the 4th Auxiliary Hospital in the AIF. On 12 March 1916 she reported for duty at Abbassia.
On 15 July 1916 she was "struck off strength". On 19 August 1916 she was transferred from Bombay to the Hospital Ship Dongola (at sea). On 10 November 1916 she joined H.M.A.S. Mevasa per the Hospital Ship Erinpura. On 15 December 1916 she was transferred to Lay Superintendent, 3rd Circle.
From at least 12 July 1917, May was appointed to 2 AAH and was attending for duty at Southall and Weymouth in England. On 10 November 1918 she was detached from 2 AAH for duty with 2 AGH in France and promoted to Sister. On 13 April 1919 she was attached in France.
There are no details of May's war service in France but we can presume she served there. May's appointment was terminated due to cessation of hostilities and she was returned to Australia aboard the Konigen Luise. On 11 August 1919, she disembarked in Australia and on 24 October 1919 she returned to civilian life. She received a 1914-1915 star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal for her war service.
By 7 September 1920, May was Matron of the Booleroo Center Hospital. She wrote that she had worked among the natives outback for 14 years. She obviously enjoyed bush nursing.
During this period and on 06 August 1928, May Lenton and Arthur Gwynne Rowlands married one another in the Registry Office, Adelaide. This was 7 months after the birth of their son Thomas Gwynne Rowlands on 09 January 1928 at Rose Park. May was 45 and Arthur was 25, her father, Reverent Samuel Lenton, had already died and they would not have been able to ask him to perform this marriage or perhaps they felt a church wedding inappropriate due to the birth of their son. May may have previously married J. O'Donaghue (in Melbourne) but there are no records of this marriage or the birth of any children to this marriage in South Australia.
On 15 March 1951 (age 67) May was living at 35 Florence Ave, Blair Athol. She may have been experiencing financial difficulties as she was applying for her WW1 gratuity and approaching the Department of Works and Housing, War Service Homes Division about housing.
(Written by Pamela Illert in 2007)
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