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Miss Annie Veech, daughter of a well known family in Coonamble, has been appointed to the nursing staff attached to the military in India. About five years ago Miss Veech went to London, and studied her profession in Guy's Hospital, where she gained the appreciation of the medical staff by her skill and ability. '

Freeman's Journal Thursday 30 November 1911 page 16

Mrs. Veech, senr., of 'Quilbone,' Quambone, has been notified by the military authorities that her son, Sapper Malachi Veech, left England on August 19, and expects to reach Melbourne on October 10. He has seen over five years' service, being one of the first to enlist, and took part in the landing at Gallipoli. He returned to Australia in 1916 on leave, and went back to the firing line for three years. He spent five Christmas Days in the military, and during the whole of the time he was never wounded, being slightly gassed on one occasion. Since the armistice he has been doing garrison duty in France and Belgium. While in France he met his sister, Nurse Annie Veech, whom he had not seen for nine years, she having obtained leave from India to visit France. His mother, who was a daughter of the late Mr. Slattery, who used to reside at Wellington, was born at Montefiores 73 years ago.

Freeman's Journal Thursday 02 October 1919 page 14

From Veech family history by Marie P Nightingale nee Veech.
Annie Gertrude also known as Nance was born 1880 at 'Quilbone' NSW. Like her siblings she received her early education from a governess, then went to boarding school. Annie attended St Mary's Convent in Bathurst.
From Trove - Trinity College London, Bathurst Local Centre - Veech, Annie Gertrude (Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal dd 14 Sep 1895)
Our Lady's Superior School, Convent of Mercy. A. Veech - Highest aggregate marks - drawing, also marks for violin (BFP & MJ dd 8 Feb 1896)
She commenced her nursing training at Sydney Hospital, and during her second year of training she became very ill with typhoid fever. her straight hair was shaved off, and when her hair grew again it was curly.
Annie fully recovered and later travelled to England, where she completed her training at Guys Hospital, which was a very prestigioius hospital at that time.
Her niece Molly West wrote: At the Sydney Hospital (where Molly did her general nursing training later) I met two elderly Nursing Sisters who started their training together with her at Sydney Hospital. One was her best friend and still fond of her. Possibly they had met in war service in France.

Feeling extremely upset about her father's estate, Annie decided to leave Australia. She felt that she and her sister Britie fared Badly. Annie sailed for the United Kingdom in 1907. In later years she communicated with her sister Britie in NZ.

Miss Nance Veech of Sydney (states the British Australasian, November 2) has received an appointment in Queen Alexandra's Indian Nursing Service, and sails for India on November 29. Since her arrival in London, 4 years ago, Miss Veech has passed examinations in nursing. Her friends in London have offered her hearty congratulations on this appointment, which is rather difficult to obtain (SMH dd 9 Dec 1911 from Trove).

Although an 'official' nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage to Florence Nightingale, who was instrumental in lobbying for the support of female military nurses. In 1902, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) was established by Royal Warrant, and was named after Queen Alexandra, who became its President. It replaced the Army Nursing Service, which had been established in 1881, and which from 1889 provided Sisters for all Army hospitals with at least 100 beds. In 1949, the QAIMNS became a corps in the British Army and was renamed as the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Since 1950 the organisation has trained nurses and in 1992 men were allowed to join. (Wikipedia). Motto: Sub cruce candida (Under the White Cross).

In the Queen Alexandra's Medical Nursing Service India, Annie worked as a Nursing Sister and as Assistant Matron; also her rank was Forewoman in Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps, regiment number 2162 during 1914-1920 - from Medal Cards. Some of her service was in France. At one stage Annie and her brother Malachi were in France on active service together.
Somewhere the services got their wires crossed. Annie's next of kin was her mother B A Veech (Bridget Agnes). Annie's cousin B A Veech (Bryan Aloysius) was also serving in WW1. By mistake the letter about Annie's mail was sent to B C (Bertram Claude), Bryan's brother. This correspondence was found in Bert's file at the National Archives in Australia, Canberra. Attached along with the over 30 other documents associated with this amazing woman.

She is on many shipping manifests - transversing the globe - between 1906 when she left Australia until 1934.
Sadly we do not know where she was from 1934 to her death in Western Australia in 1954.
There is a record of her death on the WA index but her death does not have a registration number or place of registration - no parent details either.
Marie Nightingale phoned the Perth Metropolitan Cemetery on 20 June 2013 - no burial registered.
I have checked on all known WA cemetery indexes with no success.
It appears that Annie returned to Australian soil before she died, but what happened to her is a mystery.
Perhaps the Quilbone curse followed her - from Marie Nightingale.

Courtesy of Vicki Smith