Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Gippsland History Facebook page

Susie was 30 when she enlisted and from the family property at "Woodlands", Glengarry. She was born in Melbourne (Upper Plenty). At 5' 2" she was on the smaller side. She left the Australian Army Nursing Service on 26 February 1919 with the rank of Staff Nurse....

In 1921 Susie married William Steven....

[Facebook response from Heather Lang]

In 'The Evening Echo' Ballarat newspaper - 7 June 1917 under the heading of 'Nurses' Examinations Successful Candidates' Susie Watson Cone is listed under the Melbourne Hospital.

Susie W Steven died on 11 Dec 1965 late of Chatswood NSW. Death notice published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 14 Dec 1967.

[Search result BDM Victoria]

Susie was born to Annie Charlotte (unknown family name), nee Tardy and Charles (unknown family name) at Hotham W in 1888 [Reg # 3898/1888].

Annie Charlotte Tardy married Charles Cone in 1886 [Reg # 3091/1886]

Siblings: Adelaide Russell [5503/1892]; Charles Gordon [5033/1890]; Alma Beryl Genevra [355595/1893] and Suzie Watson [3898/1888].

Lance Corporal Charles Gordon Cone joined the AIF on 1 Sep 1914, serving in the Light Horse before enlistment. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

DIARY OF SUZIE CONE
Suzie was one of the 20 AANS volunteers from the WYREEMA who nursed servicemen from the HMAT Boonah at Woodman Point, Quarantine Station, Western Australia.

10th December 1918
Got into the port of Fremantle at daylight. Got up early and when the pilot came off he told us that we could not have shore leave. At about 9.30am the shore authorities signaled for 20 sisters to nurse Spanish Flu. Matron called for volunteers.26 of us spoke up and then we drew lots for the spaces. Brady and I were amongst the 20. We left the old Wyreema at 4pm and all are feeling very lonely. Sat on the jetty here at Woodman Point while the people at the station finished a row they were having. Arrived up here hungry and tired. Unpacked and had a good look around. Brady and I went down onto the jetty and gazed longingly at the old boat wishing to heaven we were back there again.

11th December 1918
Got up and started to get things ready for the boys coming from the Boonah. Wilkinson, Hamilton, Bradshaw and I were in W3, a hut holding 8 beds and 10 tents. No conveniences of any kind. About 10am the boys began to come up from the jetty. Our tents and hut were soon full. Poor lads were in a terrible plight. Filth and dirt all over them, terribly sick, we had no drugs, no clean shirts or pyjamas to put on them. All we could do was wash them and get them as comfortable as possible. Three died the first day.

12th December 1918
Boys very ill. Very little to feed them. Drugs scarce. This place is HELL.

13th December 1918
The boys still dying, 10 up to date.

14th December 1918
O'Kane off duty ill, also Sister Leeds. Others feeling off colour.

[Article published on Facebook by Friends of Woodman Point Recreation Camp Inc on 2 Mar 2019]

Nurse Susie Cone
One young nurse, Susie Cone, finished her training in 1918 and was en route to Salonica when peace was declared. Instead of caring for war wounded, she found herself as one of 20 volunteers who cared for returning servicemen suffering the dreaded Spanish Flu at Woodman Point Quarantine Station. Four nurses died on that assignment and the chaplain who buried them said later:

‘This striking case of courage and devotion to duty equals the action of a body of soldiers going over the top in trench warfare, the casualties sustained being equivalent to those sustained in such an action – four killed and 12 wounded out of a detachment of 20. I count it an exceptional honour to have been associated with such a gallant band of Sisters.’

Susie was one of those who contracted the Spanish Flu and survived.