Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Walter BLAKE and Marion nee SMITH

Of Balaklava, SA

Duty on transport ships between Lemnos and Cairo
Plus served in France and England
Promoted to Sister 1 October 1918
Returned to Australia per “Ulysses” 18 January 1919
Discharged of duties due to cessation of hostilities 06 June 1919
Repatriation department contact 17 April 1959 as Mrs Freeman
Passenger on a ship to USA in 1929

Biography contributed by Charlotte Lockwood, Horizon Christian School

Irene Blake, whose birth name was Clarissa Marion Irene Blake, was the fourth daughter born to Walter and Marion Blake on the 11th of August 1891. Irene, sometimes called Rene, was born, and raised in the small country town of Balaklava 92 kms north of Adelaide in South Australia. Her father, Walter is referred to as "the Father of Engineering" in Balaklava. This is because in 1817 he established "Etna" a foundry on Edith Tee in Balaklava (N.Schopp,'interview' [interview by Charlotte Lockwood], 29 December 2021) Thanks to Irene's father Walter, and Grandfather Joseph, the Blake family were welI-known in South Australia with suburbs in Adelaide such as Blakes Crossing and Blakeview being named after their family.

Irene began her schooling at the Balaklava Public school on the 22nd of February 1897. The Blake family residence, believed to the house still located at 28 Humphry St Balaklava was built for their family by members of the community. Growing up, Irene and her family, including her 8 siblings, attended the local Presbyterian Church. Once she left school, Blake studied nursing and worked for 3 years at the Adelaide General Hospital (in 1939 it changed its name to the well-known Royal Adelaide hospital).

On the 25th of July 1915, at the age of 23 and after Irene had been nursing in Adelaide for 3 years, she enlisted as a nurse in the Australian army.

Blake began her service in the NO. 2 General Hospital in Boulogne France (Wooroora producer, June 18th 1936), after serving France she also served in England for some time.

On the 1st of March 1915 Irene went to serve in Egypt to work in the Choubrah Infantry Hospital.

On the 13th of September 1915, Irene then went over to serve in the NO.1 Australian General Hospital on the Lemnos Islands.

She then went back to England and began service in the Bagthrope Military Hospital on the 19th of July 1961.

Blake was then sent to the No.2 Australian General Hospital in France on the 18th of February 1917.

On the 23rd of February 1917, she was attached to the No.1 Australian General Hospital in England.

Blake's final place of service during the war was in the No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing station in France. She served there from the 3rd of September 1918.

On the 1st of October 1918 Irene got promoted to Nursing Sister.

Finally, on the 18th of January 1919 she returned to Australia on the US Navy ship "Ulysses11 (Virtual War Memorial). On the 6th of June 1919, Irene was discharged of her duties, due to the ending of the War.

Due to her war efforts, Irene was awarded with various war medals including, the 1914/1915 Star Medal, a British War Medal, and a Victory Medal.

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Once the War was over, Blake travelled to India and worked in an Indian hospital for some time. When Irene returned to South Australia she worked as a private nurse for a short period of time. She then travelled to New Zealand to study "the Plunket system of baby warfare at 'Karitane' Hospital” (Wooroora producer June 18th, 1936). Once she had finished her course and was a qualified Karitane nurse, Irene then travelled to America where she took a course of psychology. In 1933, Blake opened her own establishment for children in San Anselmo, California, she named it "Karitane”. The aim of "Karitane” was to provide care for children from wealthy families, whilst their parents went traveling. The atmosphere of the home was described as peaceful, and the colour scheme which was bright and cheery. Irene made sure the children were treated with respect. During their time at the home, no words of criticism were said, and no punishments were imposed. Each child would have to take part in daily duties such as wait the table, serve meals, and generally help around the home. It also worked much as a general school, with the children's lessons and holidays being at the same time as ordinary schools (Wooroora producer June 18th, 1936). At the end of June 1936, Blake got married to New Zealand surveyor, Mr Albert Freeman. They were married at San Anselmo, California and honeymooned in New York City, before sailing off to their future home in New Zealand. Irene died on the 29th of November 1987, aged of 96. She was cremated and now has a memorial plaque at Centennial Park, Adelaide. Irene's war efforts have been honoured, with her name recorded on various WW1 honour rolls including those at the Balaklava Anglican and Uniting Churches. She is remembered on the Keswick Army Nurses Roll of Honour, and the Balaklava district WWl Roll of Honour.

"That these women worked their long hours among such surroundings without collapsing spoke volumes for their will power and sense of duty. The place reeked with the odours of blood, antiseptic dressings, and unwashed bodies. The nurses saw soldiers in their most pitiful state- wounded, blood-stained, dirty."

-Lieutenant Harold Williams, wounded in September 1918 (Australian War Memorial)

This quote from Lieutenant Williams, talks about how the war nurses displayed the ANZAC Spirit through their perseverance. It mentions, how in the toughest conditions, they persevered. Irene Blake was one such nurse, and she reflected the Anzac Spirit characteristics of perseverance and mateship.

Irene persevered by continuing to serve as a nurse not just in the face of the horror and devastation of World War 1, but also despite extra challenges faced by women of her era. When doing my research, I was interested in how little recognition women who served in the war effort overseas were given compared to men. Women who nursed were also paid much less than soldiers, but they still faced many dangers and worked in challenging situations with big responsibilities, dealing with trauma, disease and gore as they served their country and countrymen. Irene was posted to four different countries, demonstrating her perseverance by continuing to start afresh and stoically face new challenges and expectations in a range of locations. Irene's spirit of perseverance continued after the war when she wasn't content to just sit back and relax, but dedicated time and effort to develop her nursing skills and care for others. After the War, Irene nursed overseas, she furthered her studies and opened a home for children.

Mateship embodies an attitude that values equality loyalty and friendship. Irene Blake showed mateship by caring for the people she nursed - people who she didn't know, and who were in pitiful states, often in horrific conditions. She was loyal to her country by being prepared to risk her life and comforts for the perils of war, in a bid to help the soldiers fighting for Australia's freedom. She was loyal to her patients by caring for them to such a high level that she was promoted to Nursing Sister. Being promoted to this roll also suggests qualities of mateship, for such a position of responsibility would involve good relational skills, cooperating and working with others to a high level and being a good team leader.

Irene Blake's life and service reflect her strength of character and determination as she persevered and displayed mateship, embodying the Anzac Spirit.

Bibliography available in attached document: ANZAC Spirit School Prize Biography 2022 

Biography written by Charlotte Lockwood, Horizon Christian School, SA attached as a document. Winning entry for 2022 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize.