Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MISS RUTH DARBYSHIRE

Eminent Nursing Authority's Visit
A distinguished member of t he nursing world of Great Britain,

Miss Ruth Darbyshire arrived in Melbourne yesterday on a short visit before commencing her return journey lo England.

Wherever leaders in the nursing profession gather together throughout the British Empire the name of Miss Ruth Darbyshire is familiar. Very often there is personal knowledge of her work and her personality, for there are women upholding the dignity and standard of their profession in the far corners of the Empire who trained under her direction during her long and interesting career. It is 36 years since Miss Darbyshire, who is a sister of Mr Taylor Darbyshire, left for England to pursue her nursing career, which the began in Adelaide and which has brought her, among other distinctions, the Royal Red Cross (first-class)and the Kaiser-i-hind medal for her war services and the Silver Jubilee Medal.

She is a Dame of Grace of St John of Jerusalem, a committee member of the Hospital Matrons' Association and of the Territorial Army Nursing Service, and a member of the Army Nursing Board. She is a foundation member of the College of Nursing in Great Britain and vice-chair-man of the General Nursing Council of Great Britain. During the war years Miss Darbyshire was matron of the second London general hospital of the Territorial Army Nursing Services, and in 1917 was sent to India as chief of Lady Minto's Nursing Association, which staffs all the smaller hospitals for general and private nursing. She is still London representative, of that association being responsible for sending the nurses out to India. Since 1923 she has been matron of the University College Hospital in London, one of the most important posts in the nursing service and occupied that post until November of last year when she resigned owing to ill-health. Her visit to Australia is in the nature of a health trip. She had planned to travel in a leisurely manner through the States up to Queensland but an accident to her travelling companion Miss Evans in Western Australia upset her plans, and she has been able to extend her journey only as far as Melbourne. She will leave by the Strathaird on Tuesday on her return to England

Miss Darbyshire has always been interested in the conditions and methods of nursing training. She was one of two matrons who served on the "Lancet" Commission and was among the speakers at the Paris-Brussels conference of the International Council of Nurses. She said yesterday that conditions for nurses in Great Britain were distinctly better than they had ever been, as were the prospects. In the last few years matrons of the leading hospitals had been very much encouraged and cheered by the excellent type of trainees coming into the profession, well educated earnest women with a real purpose in life. The hours are shorter than they were but she added they could be shorter still. One very important advance, which she thought might well be copied in Australia was the development of a superannuation plan adopted by the majority of the voluntary hospitals by which the nurse pays 5 percent of her salary and emoluments and the Institution employing her pays 10 per cent. It was hoped that in time this would mean that there would be no poverty among nurses. There has been little improvement she said in the salaries for trainees but the College of Nursing in Great Britain had done much to stabilise the pay of the trained nurses.

Speaking of tile voluntary assistance that is given to the general hospitals in England Miss Darbyshire mentioned the practice by which St John Ambulance workers and Red Cross detachments give evening service to hospitals. Girls working in city offices and stores give up their evenings and their Saturdays and Sundays to helping in the wards and the out-patients' departments. The University College Hospital benefits considerably by this devoted service, which Miss Darbyshire said reflects also on those who give it. In providing them with experience that would prime them for any emergency that may happen.

Miss Darbyshire spoke very earnestly of the need for the adequate representation of Australia in English nursing politics for which she regarded a national body as most desirable. It was most difficult, she said, to make authorities in England understand why Western Australia, for instance should have one point of view and Queensland another. While it was quite understandable that each State should manage its own affairs it was highly desirable that they should be able to speak with one voice in representation overseas.

With much that is interesting and valuable to tell of hospital conditions and finance In Great Britain Miss Darbyshire commended the Hospitals Savings Association, which has been of the greatest advantage to people of small incomes who pay a small subscription which entitles them to the best services the hospitals can offer and which has proved also of great financial assistance to the hospitals. In spite of the depression many of the large hospitals in England have been rebuilt and in other cases important additions have been made.

A very pleasant party took place yesterday afternoon at Menzies Hotel when Mrs J P Major and Miss Margaret Fox invited a number of friends to meet Miss Darbyshlre. The guests included wives of medical men some of whom knew Miss Darbyshire In London during the war or during her term as matron of the University College Hospital London and some of the leaders of the nursing profession in Melbourne. The matron of the Melbourne Hospital (Miss Grey) the matron of the Alfred Hospital (Miss Grace Wilson) the matron of the Queen Victoria Hospital (Miss Simons) and Miss Grace Douglas who is president of the Returned Army Nurses Club were among the guests. Tea was served in the banquet hall at a long table set with low bowls of carnations and dahlias in exquisite shades of pink down the centre. The guest of honour wore a bunch of lily of the valley pinned to her jacket of navy blue and white striped silk worn over a frock of navy blue matt crepe with a wide brimmed hat of navy straw trimmed with tiny white daisies set around the crown.

The Argus Friday 17 April 1936 page 3

Daughter of John Taylor DARBYSHIRE and Helen nee WACTON
Left Australia at the time of the Boer War
She did not marry
Matron in Chief of the British Red Cross Society Mary 1940 to September 1943 in London
Died 07 March 1946 at 53 Park Farm Road, Bromley, Kent, England
Probate effects £4325 0s 6d

An Australian Nurse, who has been appointed Matron of the Lady Minto Nursing Homes in India. Miss Darbyshire, who is a sister of Mr. Taylor Darbyshire, general manager of J C Williamson Ltd. was some
time ago awarded in London the Royal Red Cross, First Class, the King investing her with the insignia. Another honour has been conferred upon MIss Darbyshire by her appointment of Lady of Grace of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. It was recently announced in the court Times, London.

The Globe and Sunday Times War Pictorial
Monday 18 June 1917 page 3

Among the Australian nurses who have secured the Royal Red Cross (first class) is Miss Ruth E. Darbyshire. She is now principal matron of 2nd London General Military Hospital, Chelsea. Miss Darbyshire has been away from Australia for some years. She is a sister of Mr. Taylor Darbyshire, general manager of J.C. Williamson Ltd.

I send you the photograph of an Australian nurse who has been the recipient of the highest honor which can possibly be conferred upon any member of the nursing profession. This is Miss Ruth A. Darbyshire— a sister to Mr. Taylor Darbyshirc, J. C. Williamson, Ltd.'s general manager. Miss Darbyshire was recently decorated at Buckingham Palace by the King with the Royal Red Cross, 1st Class. The investiture was the subject of a great deal of attention on the part of the London papers, not only on account of Miss Darbyshire being an Australian, but by reason of the splendid work she has achieved. Miss Darbyshire left Australia for London at the time of the Boer War, and for six years was matron of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. She is now matron of St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, W., in addition to being principal matron of the 2nd London General Military Hospital, Chelsea. Miss Darbyshire is well-known and loved by many of our soldiers, I have had letters from time to time from men who have been under her care in the Chelsea Hospital, and each one sang her praises to the skies. To quote from one of these epistles : 'There never was such a matron. Believe me, she's just top-hole.' It may interest you to hear that the Royal Red Cross is of red enamel, hung on a ribbon of blue with aved edging.

Sunday Times Sunday 13 August 1916 page 26

Matron-in-Chief Of Red Cross Retires

LONDON. Oct. 6.—AAP.
Miss Ruth Eveline Darbyshire has retired from the position of matron-in-chief of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem war organisation. Her action was taken on medical advice. Miss Darbyshire was trained at the Wakefield Street Hospital, Adelaide, and St. Thomas's Hospital, London.

The Advertiser Friday 08 October 1943 page 5

MISS RUTH E DARBYSHIRE C.B.E., R.R.C.

We regret to report the death on March 7th, of Miss Ruth E. Darbyshire, C.B.E., R.R.C., who has had a long nursing career. Trained at Wakefield Street Hospital, Adelaide, South Australian, and St. Thomas' Hospital, London, she had held the following important positions: Matron of the Royal Infirmary, Darby, Matron of St. Mary's Hospital, London ; Matron of the University College Hospital, London ; Matron Territorial Army Nursing Service; Chief Lady Superintendent, Lady Minto's Indian Nursing Association. Her association with the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem of which she was Matron in Chief from March 1940 to September 1943, was deeply appreciated. In 1942 she was created a C.B.E. She received the decorations of Royal Red Cross (first class) and the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal (first class). She was a Lady of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

The funeral took place on March 11 at Golders Green Crematorium, when the Service was conducted by the Rev. H.C.T. Elose in the presence of members of her family and colleagues with whom she had been associated throughout her nursing career.

The British Journal of Nursing March 1946 page 31