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Ellen CHIDGEY was born c1882 in Mackay, Qld the youngest daughter of Grose Henry CHIDGEY and Ellen McGRANE, who married in Qld on the 17/2/1871. [no reg. of Ellen’s birth found]
Henry b.1844 Balmain, NSW (Butcher, Publican) – d.10/5/1902 Morven, Qld; Ellen 1846 – 1897

Siblings: James Henry b.1872; George Lawrence b.1873 – d.1954 Qld; Henry b.1875 – d.1935 Qld; Margaret b.1878 Qld – marr BAKER – d.1938 Qld; Francis Grose b.1880 – d.23/2/1881 Qld (9mths); *Osborne Grose b.13/3/1885 – WW1: Pte 6217, 25th Bn 1916-1919 – WW2: Q221567, 17th Bn VDC – d.7/8/1948 Qld; John Arthur b.1887

Religion: Roman Catholic
Trained in nursing at the Mackay District Hospital (4 yrs) – Head Nurse 1905
Member of the Australian Trained Nurses Association (A.T.N.A.)
Head Nurse, Lady Lamington Hospital, Brisbane (Nov 1906) – Rockhampton General Hospital (Dec 1906)
Matron, Lister Private Hospital 1909 – 1912

Ellen’s address on enlistment – Nurses’ Home, New Farm, Qld
She listed her NOK as her sister Margaret – Mrs M Baker, Charleville, Qld

WW1 Service:
Ellen enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on the 20/7/1915 and embarked 31/7/1915 at Sydney on the RMS Orontes with the 8th Reinforcements for the 2nd Australian General Hospital (AGH) for Egypt. The majority of their voyage was very rough and Ellen suffered with seasickness for much of the time.
She reported for duty on the 4/9/1915 at the 1st AGH at Heliopolis, and was put on duty in the Surgical Ward. Transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital from the 29/3/1916 to 21/6/1916.
Transferred to the 3rd AGH Reserve Staff on the 22/6/1916 and attached temporarily on the 28/6/1916.

Embarked at Alexandria 7/7/1916 on HS Galeka, which was carrying patients to England.
[Detached for duty with No.2 AAH, Southall from AANS 10/12/16]
Resigned appointment 9/12/1916 on account of marriage

Ellen married Captain Henry Edmund BUTLER, (AIF HQ) on the 9th of December 1916 at Brompton Oratory, South Kensington, London, England.

Following their marriage Henry requested to return home for duty in Australia. Travelling at their own expense, he and Ellen then embarked on the Medina on the 5/1/917 and arrived in Australia on the 21/2/1917.

1919: Henry (clerk) and Ellen living 326 St Kilda Rd, Sth Melb
1924: Henry (public servant) and Ellen at 198 Albert St, Melb East (with them was his sister Elsie Emily, no occup)
1931: Henry and Ellen at 34 Alma Rd, St Kilda West (with them Elsie Emily, proprietress and Catherine Ester, his mother)
1936, 1943, 1949: As above (no Catherine, d.1935)
Henry served in WW2 as a Lt Col 1940 – 1947

Ellen died on the 11th of June 1952 at a private hospital, East St Kilda, Vic, aged 68.
She was buried in the St Kilda Cemetery 13/6/1952, with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. (RC, Comp A, Grave 232)

Henry died on the 16/5/1957 in Millmerran, Qld, and was buried in the Millmerran Cemetery

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Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) Thur 29 Nov 1906 (p.4):
THE ROCKHAMPTON HOSPITAL
In response to an advertisement for two trained nurses for the staff of the Rockhampton Hospital eight applications were received. These were carefully gone through by the sub-committee appointed by the Committee, and Miss Ellen Chidgey and Miss Ethel Wild were appointed. Miss Chidgey is at present on the staff of the Lady Lamington Hospital, Brisbane, and is expected she will be able to enter upon her duties here on the 24th December. She received four years training at the Mackay District Hospital, and in addition to certificates, has many excellent testimonials from medical men. She is also registered with the Australian Trained Nurses’ Association. ……..

Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), Sat 21 Dec 1912 (p.6):
SOCIAL
A very pleasant function took place at Lister Hospital last night, when several presentations were made to Miss Chidgey, who recently resigned her position as matron of the hospital in order to take a lengthy holiday. Drs Hoare and Kay, the nursing staff and a few of Miss Chidgey’s friends were present. During the evening Dr Hoare and Dr Kay presented Miss Chidgey with a handsome Nellie Stewart bangle, and in doing so mentioned the splendid services she had rendered as matron of Lister since the hospital was opened, the popularity which the institution now enjoyed being due to her management, and the able assistance of Nurse Kemp.
They both regretted Miss Chidgey’s departure and wished her prosperity in the future. Following this the present and past staffs of Lister presented their late matron with a handsome suit case and this was followed by a presentation of a silver mounted writing case from the domestic staff of the hospital. Regrets were expressed by all present that Miss Chidgey was leaving the district, and in saying farewell they wished her health and happiness.

Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld), Thur 11 Nov 1915 (p.6):
A NURSE’S LETTER
The following was received recently by Mr Geo Chidgey from his sister, Nurse Chidgey (formerly matron of Lister Hospital):-
Red Sea August 30
We are getting near our destination at last, thank goodness. Just fancy I have been the very worst sailor on board. We have had a dreadfully rough trip right through; even the captain said it was a very rough trip, and I’m disgusted to think that I’ve been sea sick nearly every day since I left Melbourne; could not leave my cabin for two or three days at a time. The stewardess and some of the nurses were awfully good to me, but there is so little one can do for sea sickness. We are at present in the Red Sea and well we know it; and all hands will thank God to get out of it – the heat is awful.
We were all very excited last night when we sighted Aden, well lighted with two powerful search-lights; one was thrown on to our boat until we got out of sight. Every one on board is very excited; we are seeing quite a lot of land, and lots of boats. A hospital ship passed us this a.m., quite a large one. One of the officers said she was taking wounded soldiers to [censored]. I’m more than delighted to think we will reach Suez Wednesday or Thursday, most likely Thursday, as the boat is running late. The captain of the boat is a good officer and comes to see all the passengers enjoying themselves. We had sports on board each day last week, and the stewards gave a big concert last night in aid of the crippled father of one of the boat hands who died on the last voyage out. The amount came to about £10. The night before we had a grand concert in the dining hall. We had two artistes; one an actress, Miss Nella Webb, the other, one of the doctors who is a born artist at sketching. Monday evening we had a fancy dress ball. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Colombo, where we arrived about 4 a.m.; nearly all hands went off after breakfast.
September 17, 1915
Our vessel anchored out. We all had to go off in boats. Sister Pullar and I went out for the day. We motored to Mt Lavinia which is a seaside place, and very pretty; had morning tea there, then motored back to the Bristol Hotel for lunch. After lunch we motored to the Cinnamon Gardens, and all over the place. The heat is dreadful. The shops here close from 12 to 3 p.m., then again at 8 p.m. The Coolies are absolutely the best salesmen you could meet. They are most persistent – too much so. It is almost impossible to get rid of them. If you happen to give one of the little boys a cent, he runs back to his friends and tells them and brings back about twenty. They all salute and want “one cent, madam.” In some of the Indian shops the goods are beautiful. We returned to the ship about 6 p.m. and for about an hour watched the native men diving for coins. The cocoanuts and palm tree are just glorious. I thoroughly enjoyed my day at Colombo, except for the heat.
The steamer friends gave us a very fine send off. The night before we left the firemen gave us a farewell concert, which was appreciated; they auctioned a doll dressed as a red cross nurse, which brought £19 in aid of the Red Cross Fund. The morning we left we marched off in twos. The firemen have a band, and as we marched off the boat they played “Good-bye, Dolly Grey,” and cheered until we were quite out of sight. Suez is a filthy, dirty place and we were glad to get into the train at 1.30 p.m. and start off for Cairo. I enjoyed my train trip, and was quite surprised to see so much green about. We passed many fields of corn and cotton, all looking very green and well irrigated from the Nile, which is in flood just now. We arrived in Cairo about 5.30 p.m. Had to line up on the station and were each handed a drink of lime juice and a piece of cake. We were then drafted off to our different hospitals.
Heliopolis, where I am stationed, is about 8 miles from Cairo. We were brought to the hospital in motor ambulances. Got here on Thursday and went on duty Friday afternoon. I am in a surgical ward. The boys are splendid, they are all so brave, and bear their wounds wonderfully well. You very seldom hear an Australian moan. They are all so bright and all seem so happy. They have a concert in one of our wards every evening. If you only saw some of their wounds you would wonder how they could ever smile. They tell some weird tales about life in the trenches, and some very funny ones. I am very happy and love being here, but am longing for a mail from Australia. Dr Stuart Kay is here.

The Queenslander Sat 17 Mar 1917:
MARRIAGES
BUTLER – CHIDGEY – On 9th December 1916 at Brompton Oratory, South Kensington, London, by the Rev Father Woodruffe, Captain Henry Edmund, eldest son of the late E.H. Butler, Western Creek Station, Darling Downs, and Mrs Butler, “Moray Bank”, New Farm, Brisbane, to Ellen, youngest daughter of the late H.L. [sic] Chidgey, Mackay, Queensland.

The Brisbane Courier (Qld), Thur 18 Apr 1918 (p.11):
SOCIAL
Captain and Mrs H.E. Butler, Melbourne, who have been on a visit to his mother, Mrs E.H. Butler, Moraybank, New Farm, left by mail train yesterday morning.

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Thur 12 Jun 1952 (p.11):
DEATHS
BUTLER – On June 11, at private hospital, East St Kilda, Ellen, dearly beloved wife of Henry Edmund Butler, of Flat 9, 36 Alma road, St Kilda, aged 68 years. R.I.P. (Floral tributes direct to church)
FUNERAL NOTICES
BUTLER – Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Mrs ELLEN BUTLER will be celebrated at St Mary’s Church, Dandenong road, East St Kilda, TOMMORROW (Friday), at 9 a.m.
The Funeral will leave the church at the conclusion of Mass for the St Kilda Cemetery. Floral tributes to be sent direct to church.