Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Myrtle Muriel Evelyn Galloway, frequently known as Muriel, was born on 24 May 1883 at Picton, the ninth child and fifth daughter of Thomas and Frances Jane (née McDonald) Galloway. Frances Jane Galloway died in September 1895 and was interred at Palmerston North. Myrtle and her siblings grew up in the Blenheim and Manawatu districts. She was educated at Blenheim Borough, Longburn, Woodville, College Street Palmerston North and Te Aro (Wellington) schools, followed by time at a convent school. At the Marlborough Horticultural Autumn Show in April 1896, Myrtle was placed first for her bouquet, all one sort and color, made up in room by girl under 14 years. Amy Louisa Galloway, the second daughter of Mr Thomas Galloway, married William Slattery in February 1901 at the Manaia Hotel. She was attended by two of her sisters – Miss Myrtle Galloway and Miss Edie Galloway. In that same year, Mary Galloway, the eldest daughter, married Francis Archdall Raymond of Timaru.

In 1905 Myrtle was residing at Manaia, and it was there in February 1906 that the residents presented her with “a slight memento of the esteem in which she is held, on the occasion of her leaving Manaia”. It took the form of a gold necklet and horseshoe pendant. A spokesman on her behalf returned thanks and “feelingly expressed the gratification she felt under the circumstances and sorrow to part with so many good friends”. This was probably when Myrtle ventured to Timaru for nursing training. At the August 1907 meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board, the Matron reported that Misses Bowie and Galloway had completed three months' trial as probationers and were recommended for places on the nursing staff. At the Timaru Hospital garden party, held on 17 November 1910, Nurse Galloway served the visitors with ice-creams and fruit salad.

Myrtle Galloway (Timaru) passed the State examination for the registration of trained nurses in December 1910, her name appearing well up in the order of merit. In March 1912, the Matron of the Timaru Hospital recommended Sister Galloway for the second grade of payment on Sisters’ salaries. In early July 1912, Miss Galloway stayed with her sister Mrs Frank Raymond, having recovered from a severe illness. She stayed again with her sister before taking up a position at Nurse Turner’s private hospital in Christchurch at the beginning of September 1912. Her fellow nurses of the Timaru Hospital presented her with a lovely and useful fountain pen. Nurse Galloway, late of the Timaru Hospital, was appointed a sister and commenced duty at Wanganui Hospital on 15 February 1913. Through the local newspaper of 2 March 1915, an ex-patient of Wanganui Hospital expressed his gratitude to, amongst others, Dr Hutson, medical superintendent, and Sister Galloway for the kindness and attention extended to him while an inmate. The engagement of Miss Myrtle Galloway and Dr Hutson of Wanganui was announced in January 1916. This was after Nurse Galloway had been accepted for service at the war. She and another nurse left Wanganui Hospital to join the hospital ship for the front. On enlistment at Wellington on 18 January 1916, she was 5 feet 3½ inches tall, weighed 126 pounds and had a chest measurement of 25-29 inches.

Myrtle Galloway was one of 53 nurses who were to proceed to the front in January 1916 to complete the contingent promised by New Zealand. The Hon. Minister of Public Health entertained the nursing staff of the hospital ship Maheno at afternoon tea in the Parliamentary dining room on 21 January. Her Excellency Lady Liverpool presented the badges of the Army Nursing Service to the nurses, and she and several dignitaries made kind speeches of farewell. And on 23 January the hospital ship Maheno, in her new livery – white walls with green band and large red crosses, sailed up Wellington Harbour ready for her second voyage. The travelling nurses were accommodated in A ward, a very nice airy ward on deck, the isolation ward and the sick officers’ ward. “They are to have all the necessary attendance and their wards kept in order. There is plenty of deck room and a good supply of deck chairs.” Among the Second Contingent nurses who left in the Maheno was M. Galloway. Single and of Church of England affiliation, Myrtle named her sister as next-of-kin – Mrs Frank Raymond, Beverley Street, Timaru. It was 25 January 1916 when Nurse Galloway embarked at Wellington for Egypt with the New Zealand Army Nursing Corps (not on Ship’s Staff) per the Hospital Ship No. 1, “Maheno” (Second Charter).

In the event, the New Zealand nurses went from Egypt to England by the hospital ship “Devanha”, ambarking at Alexandria on 8 March 1916. An extract from a letter to Miss Maclean, dated 24 March 1916, gives the stations of the 50 Sisters who went as passengers in the Maheno. “We arrived at Southampton early in the morning of the 20th instant. It was very wet and cold. We were all very disappointed when we were informed that no arrangements had been made for us, and had to stay on the boat. Next day we were told to get ready by 2 p.m., and found we were all going to be separated. It was marvellous the way we reached our destinations, as we had no one to advise us after leaving Southampton.” Sister Galloway was stationed at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Whalley, as of 27 March.

Sister M. Galloway wrote to her sister under date 6 March 1916, stating that she had been transferred to the nursing staff of Whalley Hospital, Lancashire. “This hospital, which is also known as Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, is a three-storied building, and has 4000 beds. The nursing staff consists of 300 nurses and Sisters. There are 400 orderlies, a very large number of domestics, and the medical staff numbers 35. The food supplied was plain but excellent in quality, and there was an ample sufficiency of clothing for the use of the patients. The institution had its own concert hall, and entertainments and picture shows were held twice weekly for the amusement of the patients. Sister Galloway says that on the day of her arrival at the hospital 600 wounded were received from France, and the arrangements for their reception and treatment were so perfect, that in a few hours every case was suitably disposed of. The hospital is used as a general hospital, and some of the New Zealand soldiers, including Timaru men, have been there as inmates.”

“Referring to the magnificent organisation of the work in connection with the handling of wounded, the following are extracts from a letter written by Sister Galloway, who writes from Queen Mary Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire — a hospital that accommodates 4000 patients: -

Since the great offensive started early in July all days off for the Nursing Staff have been cancelled, also half days and all holidays stopped. Six hospital ships are arriving daily at Southampton. Our convalescent cases are drafted to Homes as soon as possible to make room for ill cases.“Convoys of wounded arrive at any time. If at night, the staff is awakened by a factory hooter, which is sounded three quarters of an hour before the arrival of a hospital train. In case that does not wake them, the night Sisters go round the Home with a noisy bell. The Nursing Staff turn out and get to their wards as quickly as possible. They have not long to wait, till the Ambulance train arrives. It comes up to the station, which is situated in the centre of the hospital grounds, with the various blocks of wards surrounding it. The whole place is covered so the patients are conveyed to the various wards without getting wet. Each patient is labelled, giving name, number, rank, regiment, and complaint. The cot oases are removed first, then the sitters, and finally the walkers follow. The Medical Officers, Sisters in Charge, and several nurses wait the arrival of the train, and as each patient passes in, several nurses write post cards notifying the parents of the arrival in hospital, others take the name, number, rank, etc., so that before the patient reaches the ward his particulars are noted from his label. The orderlies get them into bed as quickly as possible. The nursing staff start the sponging and dressing of wounds; when this is done each patient gets a cup of Oxo, and is very soon asleep.” One letter speaks of the abundant supply of beautiful warm clothing, and every comfort that is wanted for the patients, which makes the work of the nursing staff so much easier. The food is excellent, and there is plenty of it.

In July 1916, Sister Galloway was one of the fourteen New Zealand nurses who were chosen for duty in France at a clearing station - to form the staff of No 1 Stationary Hospital at Amiens. She wrote, “I had a very happy time at Queen Mary's Hospital Whalley. The matron was exceedingly kind. For the last two months we have been kept frantically busy, convoys of wounded from France arriving day and night. I was in a surgical ward and there was dressing, dressing, dressing; plenty of work and plenty of good experience. Some of the wounds were very dreadful, chiefly shrapnel and gunshot wounds. The British Tommies are very bright and cheerful in spite of the terrible wounds.” Nurse Galloway proceeded to France on 31 July and joined the No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital at Amiens for duty on 2 August 1916. As of 10 August 1916, there were more than 300 New Zealand trained nurses on military service, distributed over a number of hospitals in England, France and Egypt, and on hospital ships. M. Galloway had joined No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital in France. From 20 May 1917 to 3 June 1917, she was temporarily detached to the 59th General Hospital. In a list of those specially “named in despatches” by Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig for conspicuously good work at the Front during the period February 26th to September 2lst, 1917, appeared the name of Miss M. M. E. Galloway, of the N.Z. Nursing Service. On 1 August 1917 she had been detached to the St Omer area, returning to duty at the Stationary Hospital on 5 October 1917. Then on 1 December 1917 she was taken on Strength at the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch.

The wedding took place at Hornchurch, Essex, on 9 February 1918, of Captain Herbert Hutson, N.Z.M.C., son of the Rev. B. Hutson, of Wellington, to Sister M. Galloway, N.Z.A.N.S., daughter of Mr. Thomas Galloway, of Dannevirke. The ceremony was performed by The Rev. Canon Burton and the Rev. Mr. Macdonald, N.Z.C.D. Mrs. Hutson, who had been on active service for the last two years, had now retired from the N.Z.A.N.S., and would take up V.A.D. work, probably in charge of one of the Homes. As of 9 February 1918, Staff Nurse Myrtle Muriel E. Hutson was struck off the strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and posted to the retired list. She had been discharged at her own request, having resigned on account of marriage. In May of the same year, Myrtle Galloway’s name was stated to be Staff Nurse Myrtle M. E. Hutson, as she had married. She was then appointed matron at an institution for infants in London. For over two years of service in Egypt, England and France, Myrtle was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The transport “Corinthic” (Draft No. 236) was due at Lyttelton on 23 April 1919, bringing home Capt H. Hutson and Mrs Hutson (née Myrtle Galloway, late N.Z.E.F., discharged in England). Dr and Mrs Hutson returned to Gonville, Wanganui, and in May they were at the races at Timaru. Mrs Hutson spent several weeks with her sister at Timaru before returning to Wanganui. Dr Hutson had resumed his position as medical superintendent of the hospital. “All work and no play never was any good, even as far back as the invention of proverbs for copy-books, so, on Thursday night (27 May 1920) an awfully nice little dance was held at the Public Hospital (Wanganui). There is a big new ward down there, which needed ‘warming,’ and in this the party was. . . . . . It was quite a little dance enjoyed by everyone.” Everyone included Dr and Mrs Hutson.

Dr Herbert Hutson, the medical superintendent of the Wanganui Hospital, had been accepted for active service abroad in February 1916 and embarked with the New Zealand Medical Corps on 29 February 1916. His father was his next-of-kin, his wife also being listed after his marriage to Myrtle Muriel Galloway. He served with the Third Field Ambulance. Their only child, Joy Muriel Hutson, was born in May 1921 at Wanganui. Dr Hutson was appointed medical officer in Samoa at the close of hostilities. Did Muriel accompany him? In the mid-1920s, Myrtle (Muriel) and Herbert were at Wanganui, and later spent some time at Waipu before he took a position as medical practitioner at Blackball in the Buller district in the 1930s. Dr Herbert Hutson died on 21 September 1941 at Grey Hospital, aged 58 years, and was buried at Karoro Cemetery. He had been in failing health for three years nd had retired from practice. His father, the Rev. Benjamin Hutson, had died in January 1941. From the late 1930s, Myrtle and her daughter Joy resided at Timaru where she would have been close to her oldest sister. Joy who had followed her mother into nursing, was in Dunedin in the 1960s when Myrtle moved to St Barnabas Home in Dunedin. In the 1970s both Myrtle and Joy (and her husband) were in the Auckland area. Muriel Myrtle Evelyn Hutson died on 24 July 1974 at Auckland, aged 91 years. She was cremated, her ashes being interred at North Shore Memorial Park (Schnapper Rock) where a services plaque marks the plot. A photo of M. M. E. (Galloway) Hutson is printed in Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 3.

Mr Thomas Galloway, “an old and widely respected colonist” who hailed from Scotland, died in January 1925 at his son’s residence in Wellington. He was survived by his daughters, Mrs Frank Raymond, Timaru, and Mrs Dr Hutson, Wanganui, as well as another daughter (perhaps two) in Sydney, one in the U.S.A., and one in Wellington; and four sons – William, Thomas, Douglas and Malcolm. One son and one daughter predeceased him. He was interred at Karori Cemetery where his wife (Frances Jane) was also remembered on his headstone. Myrtle’s youngest brother, Malcolm Scott Galloway (a twin) who was well-known in sporting circles, also served in World War One. In December 1916, Second-Lieutenant Malcolm S. Galloway was awarded the Military Cross for valour on the Western Front.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0058545) [17 October 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 7291 W5614 D.2/7011) [23 August 2015]; NZ BDM records (Department of Internal Affairs) [16 August 2015]; School Admission records (Palmerston North & Wellington branches & Dannevirke NZSG) [15 August 2015]; Marlborough Express, 27 April 1896, Hawera & Normanby Star, 6 September 1901, 19 February 1906, Timaru Herald, 21 August 1907, 20 March 1912, 6 July 1912, 31 August 1912, 29 December 1915, 2 January 1916, 11 April 1916, 30 December 1916, 18 February 1918, 17 May 1919, 21 June 1919, Press, 23 December 1910, 1 June 1916, 18 & 21 September 1916, 12 April 1918, Kai Taki: the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, 1 January 1911, 1 October 1912, 1 April 1913, 1 January 1916, 1 July 1916, 1 October 1916, 1 April 1918, 2 April 1919, Wanganui Herald, 19 March 1913, 2 March 1915, 26 April 1919, Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1913, 9 & 12 February 1916, 23 April 1918, NZ Times, 8 January 1916, Ashburton Guardian, 12 January 1916, New Zealand Times, 13 January 1916, 1 July 1916, 9 January 1925, Sun, 29 May 1916, Dominion, 13 October 1917, 10 May 1918, 10 April 1919, 9 January 1935, Temuka Leader, 19 February 1918, Star, 14 & 15 May 1918, Auckland Star, 18 May 1918, 2 January 1941, Free Lance, 2 June 1920, Evening Post, 8 January 1925, Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1941 [x 2], NZ Herald, 24 September 1941 (Papers Past) [15 & 16 August 2015; 15 & 16 April 2017; 27 December 2017; 19 October 2019; 25 October 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 August 2015; October 2023]; England marriage registration index (Free BDM) [15 August 2015]; North Shore Memorial Park burial record (Auckland Council cemetery records) [23 August 2015]; North Shore Memorial Park headstone image (Find A Grave) [29 November 2016]; Photo in Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 3 (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• GALLOWAY Myrtle M. E. - newspaper clippings (pdf, 90.9 KB updated 10-Nov-2023)

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