Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the war

Ida Olive Maylands Shepherd was born in 1882, the daughter of Emanuel Shepherd and Susan Bennetts. At this time, it was thought, they were living at 203-205 Magill Road, Maylands, now Pedler’s Antiques, which was designed by her father. When Ida was 15, her mother passed away and a year later her father married Maria St Claire Buttrose.

Prior to enlisting, Ida was already working as a nurse and had completed her training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and at the Port Augusta Hospital.

Life in the war

Ida enlisted in the army on the 1st of June 1915, at the age of 33, in Adelaide. She then embarked on HMAT Wandilla about a week later for Egypt.

After disembarking at Suez, on the 18th of July, Ida served at the 1st Australian General Hospital as a staff nurse (equivalent to enrolled nurse now). This role consists of measuring pulse and assisting with bathing. She remained in this rank for just over 6 months before being promoted to the role of sister (equivalent to registered nurse now) on the 2nd of February 1916. This role was a more senior position and includes administering medication and being a team leader. She continued to serve at the 1st Australian General Hospital for another 2 months. This hospital specialised in physical injuries, diseases and shell shock.

After serving for a total of 1 year and 3 days, Ida returned via HS Runic, a hospital ship, on the 11th of April and was discharged from the army 2 months later.

She re-enlisted in the AIF on the 19th of August 1916 and embarked on HMAT Karoola, for Egypt, that same day. During this period of military service, she served at many different hospitals all over Egypt, France and England. Ida served at the 14th Australian General Hospital in Abbassia, Egypt, for just under 4 months as a staff nurse. She was then transferred to a hospital in France at the beginning of 1917.

In France, Shepherd worked at the 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, which specialised in fractures, the 3rd Australian General Hospital, Abbeville, which mainly admitted gas patients, and the 47th Casualty Clearing Station, which dealt with battle injuries straight after coming off the battlefield. She spent the most part of three years in France and spent most of her service at the 3rd Australian General Hospital. Whilst serving there, she was, yet again, promoted to the rank of sister.

In March of 1919, Ida was admitted to hospital in France. She was then transferred to a nurse’s hospital in England and stayed in the country for the rest of her service. She was then discharged from hospital on the 1st of April 1919. A couple of weeks later, she was attached to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital before being admitted to hospital again, with a cyst in her cheek. She re-joined the unit, for the last time, on the 10th of May before being admitted to 12 Southwell Gardens (nurse’s hospital) a couple of days later.

Ida then returned to Australian per Orsova on the 18th of July 1919 and her service was terminated on the 23rd of November.

Life after the war

In 1921, she married a fellow ex-serviceman, Percy Bennets. After the war, Ida continued her work in the nursing industry. From the late 1920’s, she was matron (a very senior nursing position) for three separate private hospitals at Gilberton, Hackney and Leabrook. I believe, one of the biggest steps in her nursing career was starting her own hospital at 108 George street, Norwood, in 1933, called Monaco Private Hospital.

Sadly, Ida died in 1941 and is buried at Light Oval, AIF Cemetery, West Terrace and is 1 of only 47 women buried there.

ANZAC spirit

The ANZAC spirit is not tangible but seen when interacting with others and the way one handles a situation. The main aspects are endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mate ship but there are many more ideals that make up the ANZAC spirit.

An instance when Ida showed the ANZAC spirit was when she signed up to the war after her service had been terminated the first time. This shows that she was committed to her country and very courageous after everything she would have seen the first time. She also reflected mental and physical endurance as she served on and off for the majority of WW1.

Ida was awarded the 1914/15 Star medal, British War Medal and Victory medal for her service in the Australian Army Nursing Service and as recognition for displaying the ANZAC spirit.