Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born Lily Hilda  SAW in 1884 in Albany, WA
Daughter of Thomas Henry LAW (Merchant) and Eliza nee COOPER
Of Albany, WA
Educated at Gilrs High School, Albany, WA
Trained at Perth Public Hospital 1907 - 1910
Private Nursing in Australian and South Africa for 2 years
Came from South Africa
NOK Mr. D T. KEYMEN (cousin) of 1 Whitefriars Street, London, EC
Arrived in UK 18 September 1914
Embarked for France 06 October 1914 with British Red Cross Service
Transferred to Australian Boluntary Hospital Boulogne April 1915
Transferred from Australian Voluntary Hospital 01 July 1916
'Joined as Theatre Team Sister, she proved a most excellent theatre sister, since 10 December 1918 she has had charge of acute medical wards on day and night duty, she is a most capable and concientious nurse, good at ward work and ward management, shows great kindness towards her patients, is of a quite disposition and is well liked by her fellow nurses.'
To 32 Stationary Hospital 01 July 1916
To 18 General Hospital 18 January 1917
To 24 General Hospital 11 August 1917
To 7 CCS 13 January 1918
To 7 General Hospital 24 February 1918
To 7 CCS 16 March 1918
To 6 Stationary Hospital 27 March 1918
To 5 CCS 25 April 1918
To 61 CCS 15 August 1918
To 5 CCS 01 September 1918
To 48 CCS 18 September 1918
To 5 CCS 27 September 1918
To 41 Stationary Hospital 16 November 1918
To 5 CCS 10 December 1918
Resigining (on account of ill-health of her sister in Australia) and to UK for Demobilization 23 March 1919 - contract was due to terminate in June 1919
Served 2 years and 266 days
​Returned to Australia per 'Morea' 21 November 1919 in Fremantle, WA
Residing Bow River via Denmark, WA in October 1920
Married William H LISTER in WA in 1923
Died 14 May 1960 
Aged 76 years

UNDER THE RED CROSS.
A letter received  this week from London from Nurse Saw, who is about to leave for France, may interest some' of her old Albany friends.
Nurse Saw writes, under date October 1 :-"We have been accepted and were to have left for France last Tuesday, but when we got to the Red Cross Office on Monday, in answer to a postcard from Lady Gifford, Miring us to call on Monday, as our unit would probably leave on Tuesday, we found that each unit had been postponed, so that Saturday's was to leave Sunday, and Tuesday's was to leave Thursday (to-day). We called
again yesterday and after getting papers, etc., fixed up, heard that we were to be put off till Saturday, or perhaps till next week. We were fear 
fully disappointed, and so was Lady Gifford, still it could not be helped and it is far better to wait in London, instead bf doing so in France,
as we have heard that others have done so. At the same time they are needing nurses badly in parts of France. We are quite fixed up now,
have filled in our pass-ports and contracts and received our uniforms (hat and badge; great coat and aprons) ; also £4 as equipment. We are to
get £2 2s . a week when there. We have been a fortnight in England tomorrow, but have not been, sight seeing very much as we were anxious
to get our equipment fixed up. The ereat- coats are navy blue and very Like any military coat. The hats are black felt and have a small red cross
badge of enamel. We also have strong leggings.  The weather is not so cold as when we landed. It was dreadfully cold then. We have had
some nice bright days since. The flowers are glorious in the shops and streets, beautiful roses especially. The grapes too are beautiful, but. fright -
fully expensive,- up to -4s 6d per-lb. (hot-house grown). We are now to leave London on Tuesday, October 6 for France.  Lady Gifford is sending
50 nurses this time. It is the fifth unit and a sixth is to leave later. We are in splendid spirits to-night, at the prospect of going on Tuesday. I
do hope that it will not be postponed again. There are doctors and orderlies going by the same boat as the nurses on Tuesday. Only fully-trained nurses are being sent to the front." 

Albany Advertiser Wednesday 18 November 1914 page 3

LETTER FROM NURSE SAW.
Sister Saw, who is still on duty at the Australian voluntary hospital in Wimereux, France, writes as follows in a letter dated September 10 : -"We have been much busier lately, but just to-day we have not so many patients, as a lot have gone on to England during the last few days. Such a fine lot ; one feels that one can never do enough for them, after all they have gone through. Oh, their dreadful wounds and the wonderful way they stand pain and keep so cheerful. When an order comes from headquarters to evacuate, everyone who is fit to travel has to go. We frequently hear from ex-patients after they go to hospitals in England. Lady Dudley gave us a dinner a few weeks ago in honor of the unit's anniversary in France. We had it in one of the tents at hospital. lt was very nice indeed. While we were having dinner Lady Dudley's son. Lord Edmund, arrived
down from the front. He joined in and stayed till the following day. We had a great splint demonstration held at our hospital a few weeks ago. It was so interesting. Nearly 200 doctors were present. There were some wonderful new splints and appliances shown in working. Several great men demonstrated. Some have come down from the clearing stations. We had a great afternoon, serving afternoon tea to all the visitors. Sir George Reid honored us with a visit last week. He stayed a couple of days. We all were asked to dinner at the officers' mess, while he was here. It was a very pleasant evening ; such interesting speeches. I have never enjoyed a speech more than I did Sir George's. He is a wonderful speaker. It is the first time I have heard him. The following day he spoke to the officers, sisters and men in front of the hospital. Some of the convalescent patients were present, too. Sir George was very pleased wi th our hospital. I am writing this on the beach near our home. It is a glorious day, which makes it hard to realise that not many miles away war is raging. The tide is a long way out and the beach looks so pretty. Such a lot of
French people have been past here for a walk. It seems to be a favorite spot with them, I had a very nice outing two days ago. I motored to Calais. It was such a lovely trip. I had not seen the town part of Calais before, as I had such a short time there in October last year. It is quite a nice place-nicer than Boulogne, I thought. Word came just before I came off duty that patients were coming in, so I expect we will have something more to do tomorrow."

Albany Advertiser Saturday 06 November 1915 page 3

Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Saw have been advised that their daughter, Nurse Lily Hilda Saw, is returning to Australia in the s.s. Morea. The steamer left England on October 8, and is just about due in Australian waters, but whether she will call at Fremantle is not known, Nurse Saw was in South Africa when the war broke out, and at once proceeded to England. She reached London in October, 1914, and joined the Imperial Nursing Staff. Proceeding forthwith to France, she remained on duty there till the armistice. She then saw the entire conflict through on the Western battle front. Most of her time she was attached to a forward dressing post, and so it was that she was called upon to first dress the hurts of her brother, Private Bert. Saw, when he was wounded. Private Bert. Saw is also on the way home.

Albany Advertiser Saturday 08 November 1919 page 3