Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of George JACKSON
Resided Gre Gre Village, via St. Arnaud, Vic.
Joined 18 December 1915
Appointed 10 February 1916
Signed enlistment papers 23 February 1916
Posted for duty 10 February 1916
To 11 General Hospital 02 April 1916
2/1 S Mid Casualty Clearing Station
43 Casualty Clearing Station 05 April 1917
61 Casualty Clearing Station
11 Stationary Hospital 09 September 1917
Admitted to 8 HG 06 February 1918
Rejoined 11 Stationary Hospital 19 March 1918
To 74 General Hospital 01 April 1918
Resigning
To England 15 June 1918
'Very capable surgical Nurse with Theatre experiences. Miss Jackson is very suitable for promotion to Sister. She is tactful and a good manager and very neat in her work.'
Anxious to return to Australia due to the death of her mother - June 1918
Appointment terminated 05 September 1918
Returned to Australia
Resided 'Le Touquet' Corroe, via St. Arnaud, Vic. in 1922
Married 17 November 1920 B O C DUGGAN
Died 28 February 1978
Resided St. Arnaud, Vic.

LETTER FROM SISTER JACKSON

Sister Jackson formerly acting matron of the St Arnaud Hospital, writing from France to friends in St Arnaud says:- I intended writing long ago, but we have been so busy that there was no off duty time at all, and when we did get off the first thing I thought of was to go to bed, in case the next day would be worse, than the last. We were so tired we could hardly move, and it was not only admitting patients, getting them bathed, fed, and dressings done, but their kit would have to be got ready, and, when we were at our busiest, a notice would come round for an evacuation. We would get about ten minutes to have 15 stretcher cases ready, and every one must have tickets tied on to their coats, and numerous other notices to be sent, with name, rank, and regimental particulars to the various offices. Perhaps before they were out of the ward another would arrive. I often wondered there were not some bungles in the lists. There are some to be put on the dangerously ill lists, and twice a day the condition of each patient is sent to the office. Then after a convoy a Red Cross officer goes round to each patient, finding out any new to enable him to trace previously reported missing men. We are not quite so busy now, but have to work terribly hard to get things prepared . With the last convoy we took in quite a number of our boys-most of them N,S,W,- none that I knew, Of course you have heard that Hal.Young has been wounded again. He has had his share. He is expecting to be back again in about a fortnight. If he is sent to the base I shall see him again, as it is only about three miles away, but if he goes back to his company they will be down east of where Sister Pilkington is, I cannot mention names of places. I saw Major Duggan when at hospital, He is also down the line , where Hal will be going. Will Campbell(Sister Campbell's brother) is also there. We are having very nice weather in France at present. Of course it cannot come up to the Australian sunshine. We only get a few fine days, then more rain. We are only about 20 minutes walk from the each, but it is very dangerous, so we cannot indulge in the luxury of sea bathing, I am hoping to get leave at the end of September, and I hope Sister Pilkington and I can manage to go at the same time. I am hoping to visit Scotland, I would like to see Paris and Marseilles, Hope I have time ""appres la guerre." I would be very disappointed if I did not after spending so long in France.
Sister Jackson concludes with kindly reference to St Arnaud, and remembrances to friends.
​
At Arnaud Mercury 13 September 1916

NURSE IN THE DANGER ZONE

Miss Annie Jackson, who was trained as a nurse at the St Arnaud Hospital, at the close of 1915, while acting as matron, volunteered for service. Since then, save for one short furlough, she has been on duty in France. In a letter dated May 10 to a relative in Melbourne she says:-
“I am awfully pleased at having an opportunity to get so close up to the line, and to be in the danger zone. Our coming here had to be voluntary, and there are only four of us. Although we have plenty of hard work, I think we are all happy. I have seen guns, aeroplanes, tanks, and dugouts, and have visited several of the places the Huns thought their strong points, and from which they thought nothing would move them. Last night we had a Royal Flying Corps officer brought in. He had been fighting Boche planes, when one put a bullet through his engine. He fell 7,000 ft, and landed just near us. He was scratched and severely shaken, but no bones were broken. I told you before of a Boche plane coming over our camp, and firing down on us. We were all rather nervous then, but there was some excuse for our nervousness.”

The Argus Friday 06 July 1917

SISTER A.C. JACKSON

Sister Jackson, formerly acting matron of the St Arnaud Hospital, who is attached to a Casualty Clearing Station in France, in a letter to a friend says:- The war still goes on and seems as if it is likely to. I am not going to try and tell you any news. You probably know just as much and more than we do. We get morning and evening communiques, but only for our army, so we never know what the others are doing, but we hope we are winning. The Hun airmen are have a very busy time, so, of course are ours. The air just hums day and night with planes. On two occasions they came over and bombed our Casualty Clearing Station, doing a good deal of damage. They wounded three sisters, one medical officer, and killed two me. On the second visit they killed three and wounded 16 patients. Our kitchen, pantry, and mess and their bell tents were blown about the first time, and as one might expect the staff were greatly frightened. Now we have six layers of sand bags round our bell tents, also a place built of sandbags, and known to everyone as the Sister's Funk Hole. Of course if we go there if we are off duty, and it is rather laughable. You see a searchlight go up, and then hear a hum, and immediately there is a run for cover. You feel exactly like a rabbit- just feel and wonder if you will be caught halfway. I am on night duty in the theatre, so we have no time for funk holes, and just carry on. They do not bomb us now, but all round about the camps, and our archies' anti aircraft nose caps and shrapnel fly in all directions, and you have to get out of their way. By the time this reaches you you will be having nice hot weather. Ours will be cold--oh, so cold. I just dread it

St Arnaud Mercury dated 14th November 1917

Lieut.Colonel B. O. C. Duggan to Sister Annie C. Jackson.

An interesting wedding was celebrated at St. Mary's R.C. Church, East St. Kilda, at 4 p.m. on November 17, the Rev. Father J. M. Coyne being the officiating clergyman, when Sister Annie E. Jackson (late Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing Service), second daughter of Mr. Geo. Jackson, of Gre Gre Village, near St. Arnaud. was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Lieut.-Colonel B. O. C. Duggan. D.S.O. (late 21st Batt., A.I.F.), second son of Cr. J. Duggan, of Sutherland, near St. Arnaud. All the principals had been on active service and wore uniform for the occasion.

The bride, who was escorted to the altar by her cousin, Private T. S. Power (late A.A.M.C.), was attended bY Sister M. Pilkington and Sister M. Duggan (both late A.A.N.S.). while the bridegroom was supported by Lieut. J. L. Watt, M.C., and Captain L. R. Brookes (late adjutant and quartermaster respectively of the 21st Batt., A.I.F.).

After the ceremony the usual toasts were honoured at a wedding tea at Carlyon's Hotel, where the tables were tastefully decorated with the colours of the bride and bridegroom. The cake was cut with a German dagger, captured at the battle of Mt. St. Quentin by the bridegroom. The honeymoon was spent at Lorne.

Table Talk Thursday 23 December 1920 page 9