Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Caleb HERITAGE and Sarah Eleanor nee HERBERT

Training Adelaide Hospital
Embarked 28 November 1914 per “Karoola”
Transport duty from Suez to Australia per “Karoola”
Service in Egypt, Marseille, France and England
Ill with Pharyngitis May 1915 then Dengue October 1915
Influenza in January 1917 followed by another bout of Tonsilitis
Transferred from France to England for treatment
Returned to Australia 04 May 1917 per “Runic” On Duty
Continued war effort at No7 AGH after discharge
Appointment terminated 20 July 1917
Married John Hazen GARDEN

VISIT OF WAR NURSING SISTER

Sister Heritage, who has had an extensive experience as a nurse in Egypt and France, is on a visit to Goulburn, and is the guest of Mrs. John Bond, of "Avondale," Clifford-street. Sister Heritage left Australia on November 28, 1914, on the Kyarra, the first hospital ship to Egypt, and was stationed at Mena House until the troops were transferred to Gallipoli. In June, 1915, Sister Heritage came back to Australia on transport duty. Three weeks later the Sister returned on a troopship proceeding to Egypt, where she worked till the following March, and was subsequently transferred to Marseilles. Sister Heritage was stationed in the south of France during the period the troops were passing northward to the scene of conflict. Major (Dr.) Bond was on duty at Marseilles as registrar in charge of the hospital there.

Later the greater portion of the hospital staff was re moved to the north of France, and Sister Heritage was left in charge of the hospital staff remaining at Marseilles. Subsequently she moved northwards to join the rest of the nursing staff at Boulogne, where she remained till March. last, Sister Heritage in an interesting way speaks of her experiences. The weather conditions in the south of France were pleasant, but the winters in the north were extremely trying, the temperature being often from 10 to 20 degrees below zero. The wounded soldiers were cared for in tents. The ground was damp, and this added to the bitterly cold weather made the conditions for nurses and wounded and sick men very trying. Later huts were erected and matters were greatly improved. Sister Heritage speaks in glowing terms of the cheerful, heroic spirit of the Australians, who deeply appreciated the ministry of the Australian nurses. Sister Chisholm and Sister Twynam (both of Goulburn) were in charge of rows of tents near Sister Heritage.

At Boulogne Sister Heritage was taken ill, and was transferred to an English hospital, where she remained for a month. Then she was sent back to Australia in charge of a troopship, which was one of ten boats being convoyed. On the boat on which she sailed there were 11,000 troops and six nurses. Some of the boats went into places of call. Sister HIeritage arrived at Melbourne in July of last year. She was engaged in nursing duty on troop trains between Melbourne and Adelaide, and was subsequently stationed at the base hospital in the latter city. Now she is on furlough, and arrived is Goulburn on Friday last on a visit to her friend, Mrs. Bond On May 12 the Sister is due to return to duty on home service, Sister Heritage, who has seen 3 1/2 years service in the present war, hopes to render further service on transports.

Goulburn Evening Penny Post Tuesday 30 April 1918 page 4

WAR SISTER TO MARRY
Matron Heritage's Long Record

Keen regret was expressed by the men and staff of the Lady Galway Clubhouse, Henley Beach when they learned that Matron Heritage had resigned her position there. Matron Heritage, who has been there four and a half years, has loved her work intensely.

Matron Heritage who has resigned her position at the Lady Galway Clubhouse owing to her approaching marriage with Mr. John Hazen Garden, of Adelaide.

"No other reason that I can think of would have made me resign other than my marriage," she said. "I am leaving here at the end of February to marry Mr. John Hazen Garden. And after all it is a good reason," she laughed. Matron Heritage began her nursing career 23 years ago at the Adelaide Hospital. She passed all examinations with honors, and won the gold medal for this attainment. From the Adelaide Hospital she transferred to the Women's Public Hospital, Melbourne, and gained her certificate for the nursing of women's diseases and midwifery cases after ten months' training. Later she gained the Royal Sanitary Institute of London certificate. For three years she was in the Education Department in Adelaide as school nurse and health inspector. While in office there war broke out, and as she was already on the Army Reserve she was chosen to go with the first lot of sisters. She left in 1914 on the Kyarra, and was stationed with the first Australian war nurses at the No. 2 General Hospital, Cairo. After nine months there she came back on the Kyarra with wounded men. Her next trip was also on the Kyarra. A fortnight after her return to Adelaide she received word that she was to be sister in charge of that ship. There were 1,000 troops on board, and 17 nurses so her task was no light one. She was again stationed at No. 3 General Hospital at Cairo. From there this hospital moved to France on April 1, 1916, and was stationed at Marseilles. Later, part of the hospital moved from Marseilles to Boulogne and Matron Heritage was left in charge of the hospital there for the months preceding the whole of the removal to Boulogne. It was at Boulogne that the dreadful winter of 1916 was experienced and after some months Matron became ill and was invalided home. She was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force, but was not demobilised and for three years she was sister in charge of a ward at Keswick. From Keswick she was appointed to her present position nearly five years ago. This makes her army record one of 10 years' service. "I have had only six weeks' real holiday for years." said Matron Heritage,"so before taking up the duties of housekeeping we are going for a 12 months' world tour. Vancouver and the Rockies will be our first place of interest. We expect to get there in May. We will stay for a while in England, and then make a tour of other countries. We have not quite decided which yet. For the last few weeks my tables have been literally strewn with guides and informative pamphlets of the beauty spots of the world. Each one I read seems just a little more bewitching than the last."Our wedding will be decidedly quiet . The staff here is anxious for me to have something most elaborate, with uniformed guards of honor, but my nerves simply would not stand anything so trying."On our return we will take up residence at Park terrace. I have decided that I will not have any domestic help-that is, to begin with. For so long I have done the managing of staffs that I am going to see how I can get along without them. I shall be quite a hard task mistress with myself, too, for I like things to be well governed and orderly."

The News Friday 09 January 1925 page 5