Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frances Ann Taylor was born on 27 April 1886 at Mohill, County Leitrim, Ireland, the daughter of Margaret Taylor. One source suggests that her father was Samuel Taylor and her mother Margaret Doherty, who had married in 1884 at Redcastle, County Donegal, Ireland. Frances herself gave her father’s birthplace as Scotland and Margaret was born in County Donegal. In 1901, Frances, her older sister, Dora, and her younger sister, Maria, were at home at Culmore, Londonderry, Ireland, with their widowed mother. In 1911, Frances and Dora were still at Culmore with their mother. Margaret, Dora and Frances were all seamstresses/dressmakers. By 1912, it appears, Margaret and her three daughters were in New Zealand. Early in 1912, the Southland Hospital Board received correspondence from Frances A. Taylor, asking to be put on the roll of probationers.

Frances Ann Taylor trained at Dunedin Hospital and was successful there in the June 1915 State examination for registration of nurses. That was her address in 1914. Nurses called up for Military Service in September 1917 were to take the places of nurses leaving on transports and hospital ships. Frances Taylor, Dunedin, but stationed at Cambridge, was one who was enrolled. Staff Nurse Frances Ann Taylor applied for appointment and was posted to the New Zealand Army Nursing Service on 4 October 1917 at Wellington. She held a Certificate for the State Nurses’ Examination from Dunedin Hospital.

She was single and of Church of England adherence and she named her mother as next-of-kin – Mrs M. Taylor, Riverside, Dipton. Although she gave a Dunedin address, she was actually a private nurse for Mrs Tripp, Timaru. Frances was 5 feet 9½ inches tall, weighed 128 pounds and had a chest measurement of 37-40 inches. Her complexion was medium, her eyes brown and her hair black. Her sight, hearing, colour vision and teeth were all good. Although systolic breast was detected, her heart was certified normal, as were her lungs. She had had no serious illness or fits and was free from inveterate or contagious skin-disease. She was, thus, in good bodily and mental health.

On 18 January 1918, Frances A. Taylor, 22/455, of the NZ Army Nursing Service was posted for duty with the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt, this being her first time leaving New Zealand. And so it was, Staff Nurse F. M. Taylor embarked for Egypt, North Africa, with the New Zealand Army Nursing Corps, leaving from Wellington on 24 January 1918 per the “Riverina”. Arriving at Suez, Egypt on 11 March 1918 for duty in British Hospitals, she was seconded for duty and posted to Nasrieh 28th General Hospital at Cairo. Frances, herself, was admitted sick to Nasrieh Hospital at Cairo from Duty (ex Staff) on 25 September 1918. She was discharged and resumed duty on 30 September 1918.

On 1 April 1919, Nurse Taylor was posted to the Citadel Military Hospital for duty. Just ten days later she embarked per the Hospital Ship “Czar” at Alexandria for England. Arriving in the UK on leave on 20 April, she intended to take her discharge there. But, as of 15 May 1919, she had changed her intentions – she would not take her discharge in the UK but would await transport for New Zealand, at 4 Lewes Crescent, Brighton. On 20 May 1919 she was transferred to Walton-on-Thames from Brighton for duty.

Staff Nurse F. A. Taylor, of Timaru, returned on duty by the “Marama” which was due at Wellington on 15 or 17 July 1919. In effect, Nurse Taylor disembarked on 17 July, having embarked at Southampton in early June. She was granted ordinary leave from 21 July 1919 till 17 August 1919 and privilege leave from 18 August 1919 till 20 August 1919. F. A. Taylor (Army Nursing service) was discharged on 20 August 1919 and, struck off the strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, she was posted to the Temporary Reserve List.

The Officer in charge of War Expenses wrote to 22/455, Staff Nurse F. A. Taylor, Riverside, Dipton, on 10 September 1919 – “With regard to your passage from the United Kingdom to New Zealand – The Matron in Chief, N.Z. Expeditionary Force, London, reports that you proceeded from Egypt to London for demobilisation, and obtained the consent of the General Officer Commanding N.Z.E.F. in the United Kingdom to return to New Zealand, such consent being given on condition that you paid the cost of transport from Egypt to England. The cost of this passage was £24.0.0., and I shall be glad to receive a remittance of this amount at your early convenience.” In October 1919, there was an about-turn with regard to this cost. “The matter of debiting these Nurses (Frances Taylor and another NZ nurse who had embarked for overseas with Frances and followed the same procedure re discharge) personal accounts with cost of passage, Egypt to United Kingdom, has been represented to . . . . , who considers that the charge should not be made. The authority for the debit emanated from the Matron-in-Chief, N.Z.E.F., London, but the necessity for this action is not apparent. . . . . . It is not considered that any charge will be made against the N.Z. Government for passages, Egypt to U.K., consequently it is not reasonable to debit the Nurses with the cost at ordinary saloon rates. . . . . . please take action necessary to have amounts removed from accounts and inform Nurses concerned accordingly.” The reasons given for the credits were (1) that they were on duty on the voyage [Egypt to UK], and (2) that it was not considered the Imperial Government would charge any fares for the journey, given that the nurses were on duty from Egypt to the UK.

While her intended address was Riverside, Dipton, it became care of Mrs Margaret Taylor, Riverside, Dipton. Mrs Margaret Taylor was later at 60 Park Road, Auckland, probably when she confirmed that the particulars for her daughter were correct. This may have been about September 1922, when a communication was issued – “As this nurse has been in America for some time & address not changed. Pls ask Mother Mrs Margaret Taylor Riverside Dipton Southland if she is holding Victory Medal (last one issued ……) for daughter as latter is not entitled to the medal. Would she return immediately to this office if same is in her possession.” She received the British War Medal but the Victory medal was returned and sent to Headquarters. Frances’ address was then Bergon Appt, 1424 Geogh Street, San Francisco. The New Zealand Gazette of 24 November 1921 notified that Staff Nurse F. A. Taylor, of the N.Z. Army Nursing Service, had been transferred to the Reserve on 1 October.

Miss F. A. Taylor had renewed her subscription to “Kai Tiaki” after April 1926. The name of Frances Ann Taylor, nurse, was still recorded in the NZ Gazette in 1933. In 1916 and 1917, her address was Dunedin Hospital; in 1918, it was Active service, N.Z.A.N.S. Each year from 1921 to 1925 inclusive, her address was listed as Nurses’ Club, Auckland. The following article which was printed in Kai Tiaki (the journal of the nurses of NZ) on 1 April 1922, would seem to relate to Nurse Frances Taylor – ‘New Zealand Nurses in America. Sister Guinness, late of Trentham Hospital, who, with Sister Binsted, recently left to do some work m the United Stales, writes from San Francisco, as follows:

“We had a very enjoyable trip over, but I was not sorry when we arrived, not being the best of sailors. San Francisco is a wonderful city: 1 like it. It is hilly, and so far the weather has been very good. We have both been very fortunate as regards work, and we arrived just when the American nurses were having Christmas vacation, and we were called straight away. I am at a very nice hospital, in San Mateo, and have had two wry charming women as patients. I believe this is where the nicest people live, but it is rather far from the city. Do you remember Miss Jennings? She is here, too; and Claire Everett is at a private house not far away. Sister Cameron is with the Everetts, and I am with Sisters Taylor and Binsted. The apartments here are wonderful little places — very compact and convenient. We met some very nice Americans on the boat, and were given two letters of introduction to doctors here, but so far have not had to use them. The American nurses we have so far met have been very nice to us. I believe there are quite a number of Australians and New Zealanders here.”’

Yes, as recorded in her military file, Frances Ann Taylor did travel to the USA. Having departed from Wellington by RMS Marama, Frances Ann Taylor, a 29 year-old nurse who was born at Leitrim, Ireland, arrived at San Francisco, California, on 9 September 1920. Her last permanent residence was Auckland, New Zealand, her contact address Nurses Club, Mountain Road, Auckland. Her description varied little from that on enlistment – 5 feet 9 inches tall, medium complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. About 1925 at San Francisco, Frances married Marc James Logie. They were to have two children – Patricia Marcia Logie who was born in 1926 and died in 1939, a few days after her 13th birthday, and Donald Quentin Logie (on occasion named Donald Taylor Logie) who was born in 1927 and died in 2007, twelve weeks before his 80th birthday. In 1930 Frances, Marc and family were resident at Monterey, California, Marc an engineer. In 1940 when they were at Los Gatos, Santa Clara, California, Frances was employed as a private nurse. She was back to keeping house at Redwood, Santa Clara in 1950, while Marc was an engineer.

For unknown reason, Marc James Logie who was born in New York in 1893 of Scottish parents, petitioned for naturalization in 1947. He stated that he had married Frances Ann Taylor in June 1928 at San Francisco. Frances had been born at Mohill, County Leitrim, Ireland, had entered San Francisco in 1924 and was naturalized on 14 March 1939. Marc Logie served with the US forces in World War One, World War Two and in Korea. Marc James Logie who died on 16 February 1983 at Monterey, California, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, his grave marked with a services stone. Frances Ann Logie died on 8 May 1961 at San Mateo, aged 75 years. She was buried with her daughter at Los Gatos Memorial Park Cemetery, San Jose, Santa Clara, California, United States of America. Their son Donald Quentin was so named in memory of James’ brother Quentin who was killed in action in France in 1918.

Frances’ older sister, Dora Margaret Taylor, was a nurse and/or masseuse and served with the New Zealand Territorial Force late in World War One. Her younger sister, Maria (Marie) Elizabeth pursued a career as a teacher, initially at Riverside School, Dipton, and afterwards in the North Island. Margaret Taylor, the mother of these three girls, lived at first in Invercargill (1914) and by 1919 was at Riverside School, Dipton, with her youngest daughter. When Maria took up positions in the North Island Margaret returned to Invercargill, living there for at least ten years. She spent her last few years at New Plymouth with Maria. Margaret Taylor died at New Plymouth on 9 March 1948 at the age of 87 She was buried in Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, her headstone recording her daughters. By her Will, Margaret Taylor bequeathed all her estate in equal shares to her three daughters – Marie Elizabeth Taylor, Dora Margaret Falconer and Frances Anne Logie. Marie Elizabeth Taylor, a teacher of dressmaking, testified to her death.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 March 2023]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Collections Record Number 0112311) [26 March 2023]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Collections Reference Number 0136576) [26 March 2026]; 1901 & 1911 Ireland census returns (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; Southland Times, 12 January 1912, Dominion, 30 June 1915, 1 February 1918, Kai Tiaki – the journal of the nurses of NZ, 1 July 1915, 1 October 1917, 1 January 1918, 1 April 1922, 1 July 1926, Press, 9 July 1919, NZ Times, 2 September 1919 (Papers Past) [March 2023; 26 March 2023]; NZ Gazette extracts – Register of Nurses [26 March 2023]; Passenger list 1920 (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; 1930, 1940, 1950 USA Census returns (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; California, US death index (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; Los Gatos Memorial Park Cemetery headstone image & record (Find A Grave) [26 March 2023]; Naturalization record (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [26 March 2023]; Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [27 March 2023]; Te Henui Cemetery burial record (New Plymouth District Council) [27 March 2023]; Probate record for Margaret Taylor (Archives NZ Collections) [27 March 2023]

External Links

Related Documents

• TAYLOR Frances Ann - newspaper clippings (pdf, 90.9 KB updated 25-May-2023)

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