Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of George and Sarah Hannah TAYLOR
Of 15 Church St. West Maitland

Sister Taylor's Return

Sister E.B. Taylor, who returned home on Saturday evening, has had a lengthy and varied experience as an army nurse. Volunteering immediately after war broke out, she was called up a few months later, and sailed from Australia on May 15, 1915. She went to England returning thence to Lemnos, where she served with a hospital treating the wounded from Gallipoli. Sister Taylor served on a hospital ship bringing the wounded from Anzac and Cape Helles, and assisted in the evacuation of the wounded from the mainland after the battle of Lone Pine. On a number of occasions while engaged on this work she was between the fires of the British fleet bombarding the Turkish lines and the Turkish batteries firing at the fleet. The wounded were taken to Imbros or Mudros, one within one hour and the other four hours' steam of Gallipoli. Sister Taylor remained on Lemnos for several weeks after the troops had evacuated the peninsula. While in Egypt she assisted in the treatment of the Light Horse wounded from the Romani battle, the beginning of the successes in Palestine. Proceeding to England she served for four months in the Kitchener War Hospital at Brighton, after which she crossed to France, and remained there until March 1919. During the last big advance on the Somme in 1918, she was with a casualty clearing station, and kept pace with the advance until the signing of armistice in November 1918. During that advance she went through Peronne, crossed the Hindenbug line, and went into country that had been occupied by the Germans since the beginning of the war. During the battles for Mont St. Quentin, Villers-Bretonneux, and all the fighting around Amiens she was with the casualty clearing station up near the front lines. Frequently they were in range of the guns and almost nightly German aeroplanes made raids, during which the hospital had many narrow escapes. On several occasions the outer structures were splintered, but fortunately the patients and their attendants escaped. Although it was mostly English troops who passed through her hands, sister Taylor also attended to many Australians and United States soldiers. The patients were most chivalrous and gallant and very grateful to the nurses. She also expresses her appreciation to the local patriotic committees, especially the Nurses' Comforts Fund, for the splendid comforts forwarded her, whilst on service. In the period between the signing of the armistice she experienced a busy time nursing influenza patients amongst the soldiers. Her brother, Sapper Harry Taylor who served for four years on Gallipoli and in France, returned home in February last. They are the son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Taylor, of Charles Street, West Maitland.

The Maitland Daily Mercury Tuesday 13 January 1920 page 4

MATRON AUBURN HOSPITAL

Sister E.B. Taylor, who has been appointed matron of the Auburn District Hospital, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Taylor, of Charles street, West Maitland. She went on active service in 1915 with the No. 3 Australian General Hospital to Lemnos, and then to Egypt, England and France. She was in the No. 55 casualty clearing station on the Somme when the armistice was signed. Sister Taylor was trained at Sydney Hospital.

Maitland Daily Mercury Friday 24 December 1920 page 4