Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Elaine Howell Taine was born on 6 August 1892 at Dunedin the fourth daughter of Walter Hedley and Janet (née Gilmer) Taine. Walter and Janet married in 1883 and went on to have eleven children. Mr Taine who was a chemical manufacturer, saw his premises destroyed by fire in February 1895. Elaine started her schooling at High Street School in Dunedin, transferring to St Clair School in Dunedin in 1899. In mid-1902, the family moved to Wellington where Elaine attended Thorndon School, before returning to St Clair in February 1903, followed by a few more months at High Street, then going to St Hilda’s Private School in 1908. Elaine was placed second in Standard V gymnastics at St Clair School in 1904, her brothers James and Eric also receiving prizes. She was placed second in Standard VI gymnastics at St Clair in 1905, and second in recitation, her brother Eric also being placed in gymnastics. In 1906 she gained first prize for Standard VI writing, first for drawing and second again for gymnastics, her brother Roy placed first in gymnastics.

Nurse Elaine Howell Taine did her nursing training at Timaru Hospital. At The January 1914 meeting of the Timaru Hospital Board, it was recommended that Miss E. Taine, who had fulfilled her three months’ trial for the position of probationer satisfactorily, be placed on the nursing staff. The Hospital Ball, which took place in July 1914 “was quite one of the most successful functions ever held in Timaru. The hall was most beautifully decorated with festoons and coloured lights hung from the ceiling . . . . . , and these made a charming glow on the pretty frocks worn by the ladies.” Miss Taine wore a canary coloured ninon over white charmeuse. In October, the Matron reported that Nurse Taine had completed her first year satisfactorily and was entitled to the second grade of salary. The 1915 Timaru Technical School roll book has an entry for Elaine H Taine. Her address was given as Timaru Hospital, and her occupation was “nurse”. She was enrolled in a course in invalid cookery. In December 1916, Nurse Taine passed her hospital and State examinations for Registration of Nurses well, gaining over 75 per cent. of marks. Three older sisters of Elaine Taine were also nurses – Leocardia, Eileen and Hazel. In late 1917 Eileen went back to Samoa where she married a New Zealand serviceman.

Nurse Elaine Howell Taine applied for appointment to the Territorial Force on 2 August 1918 and was recommended. As of 10 August 1918, Elaine Howell Taine was to be a Staff Nurse with the N.Z. Army Nursing Service. Matron-in-Chief, H. McLean, had selected her and thirteen others to leave on the Transport “Ruahine”. Elaine had been the sister-in-charge of the Consumptive Annexe at Nelson Hospital. When she enlisted on 12 August 1918 at Wellington, she gave her parents’ Dunedin address. Single and Anglican, she named her mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Janet Taine, 67 Easther Crescent, Kew Dunedin. She had been medically examined on 27 June. 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 11 stone 7 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 36-40½ inches, she was of dark complexion, with black eyes and black hair. Her sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, her teeth good. She was free from inveterate or contagious skin disease, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. She had had appendicitis-peritonitis in 1912, and an operation for this in Timaru Hospital in 1915.

Appointed by His Excellency the Governor General, Staff Nurse E. H. Taine embarked with the New Zealand Army Nursing Corps of the 43rd Reinforcements per the “Ruahine”, leaving from Wellington on 17 August 1918 and disembarking at London, England on 29 October. She was taken on the strength of the N.Z.A.N.S. on 29 October, reported to Headquarters the next day, and was posted to duty at the New Zealand General Hospital at Hornchurch on 6 November. She was transferred from Hornchurch to the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital (Codford) on 26 March 1919 for ten days’ leave. She was transferred from Codford to Oatlands awaiting transport on 16 July 1919, then a week later to No. 2 N.Z. General Hospital (Walton-on-Thames).

On 8 August 1919, almost a year after leaving New Zealand, she embarked at Plymouth per the “Tainui” – on duty, disembarking at Wellington on 21 September. On her arrival back home, she went to the Nurses Club, Dunedin. She was discharged on 20 October 1919 and placed on the Reserve of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, having served for just over a year, and was awarded the British War Medal. Having been transferred to the Reserve from 31 July 1921, 22/549 Staff Nurse Elaine Taine was called up from the Reserve and posted for duty at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, effective from 17 August 1921. As from 20 January 1922, 22/549 Staff Nurse Elaine Taine was struck off the strength of the Active list and placed on the Reserve. After Hanmer, she went to Hawke’s Bay and from 1925 was stationed at Pukeora Sanatorium, Waipukurau. Elaine Howell Taine trained in midwifery at St Helen’s Hospital, Wanganui, and was successful in the State Midwifery Examination held in September 1926, gaining 75% or more. It was in late 1926, that Miss E. H. Taine subscribed to the Nurses Memorial Fund. She was back at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer by late 1929, when she visited a friend at St Andrews near Timaru and travelled with her to spend a weekend in Dunedin. She made another visit to St Andrews for a week in February 1930. And in December 1930 she was a guest at the Grand, Timaru. Miss E. Taine got into golf, winning the ringer competition which the ladies of the Hanmer Springs Golf Club had been playing on weekdays in the second half of 1931. She had the best score in a bogey match played during the weekend in mid-November. Her golfing success continued throughout 1932 and 1933. Miss Elaine Taine, who had been a sister at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs, for the last few years, left for Wellington in February 1934 to take a post-graduate course at Victoria College.

She was back at Nelson in March 1935 when she pleaded guilty to driving a car in a dangerous manner and was fined. She had been involved in a collision at Harakeke. She was residing at the Y.M.C.A. in Christchurch later in 1935. By February 1936 she was into bridge, playing at a very successful monster bridge party held in February 1936 in aid of the funds of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association. “Once every year, just before Anzac Day, the members of the Overseas Women War Workers’ Association meet at an informal social gathering, where old friendships are renewed, reminiscences of the strenuous years of the war are exchanged, and incidents are recalled. Mostly pleasant and amusing incidents, for it is characteristic of this band of fine women that they never dwell on the sad and terrible side of their experiences, but remember only the happier events.” Miss E. H. Taine was part of the record attendance at Ballantyne’s tea rooms on 22 April 1936. At the annual garden party at the Girls’ Home, Burwood, at the end of October 1936, Elaine Taine was a stallholder (fancy work). In the last week of January 1939, Miss Elaine Taine and a colleague, of the Health Department, conducted the Sunlight League’s health camp at Sumner, then headed off to the West Coast, Miss Taine to Westport specifically.

Miss E. Taine travelled regularly between Christchurch and the West Coast from 1939 to 1941. She was present at a meeting of the Westport Children’s Health Committee in December 1939. It was reported at the Inangahua Red Cross Society committee meeting in May 1940 that Sister Taine, district nurse, had formed a junior Red Cross Society at the local schools. A doctor and Nurse Taine (Health Department) inspected Waiuta School in late November 1940. The acting-headmaster reported at the March 1941 meeting of the Westport School Committee that Nurse Taine had paid a number of visits to the school and had done good service in cleaning up minor skin ailments. While at Westport she was active with the Women’s War Service Auxiliary and was a committee member. In August 1941, Miss Taine gave a very interesting talk on immunisation to the Women’s Institute. On 12 August 1941, Dr Simpson and Nurse Taine visited Grey Main School and spent four days medically examining certain classes. Nurse Taine gave valuable assistance to the Westport Sub-Branch of the Crippled Children Society in their efforts to keep in touch with children on their register.

From 1942 Nurse Taine visited South Canterbury schools. During July she had visited Fairlie District High School and inspected the children, reporting that the children were a healthy lot, that the standard of nutrition was good, also the condition of the teeth. Some classes had a thorough examination later in the years at the hands of the doctor and Nurse Taine. “We were pleased to welcome Dr. Walmsley and Nurse Taine, school medical officers, during the month,” Mr Wilson [headmaster of Waimate Primary School] stated [in mid-December 1942]. “Standard VI. received a final medical examination. I am pleased to say the doctor was very impressed with the fine physique and health of the pupils, the girls especially being practically 100 per cent.” Not long after Dr Walmsley and Nurse Taine conducted Red Cross examinations at Waimate. At the community Week sessions held in Timaru on 25 March 1943 Miss E. H. Taine, school nurse, gave an instructive address on “The Health of the Child,” in which she was assisted by the school dental nurses. Miss Taine emphasised the fact that the child learns by imitating the actions of others, usually the adult members of the family, who should then develop good healthy habits themselves before attempting to teach him. When speaking on correct environment, nutrition. clothing and discipline, Miss Taine selected several children from the audience who supported her statements by their healthy bodies, happy dispositions and natural development. Nurse Taine was on the South Canterbury Health Camp Committee which would oversee the annual children’s camp from January 4 to 25, 1944 at Geraldine. When visiting the camp, she expressed her pleasure at the manner in which it was being conducted. Nurse E. H. Taine, District Health Nurse, under the Health Department, who was responsible for the health education in the schools, health service to the public, which included the charge of tuberculosis cases not in hospital, and visiting, outlined her training and work at an intensive recruiting campaign held at Timaru in the second fortnight of March 1944 for nurses to publicise the attractions of nursing as a career for girls and young women. She was also involved in Red Cross and Voluntary Aid Detachment instruction at Timaru. In May 1944 she gave an illustrated health talk to the Pareora Women’s Institute. At a nurses’ reunion at the Timaru Public Hospital in June 1944, moving pictures depicting the stages of training and the openings available to the trained nurse were shown by Miss E. Taine, District Health Nurse.

In July 1944, Miss E. Taine, currently the District Health Nurse at Timaru, moved to Ashburton to fill the same position. She was soon into her work, examining the children at the school there, giving lectures on health and hygiene at Tinwald School, and examining the pupils of Allenton School. At the September 1944 meeting of the Wakanui sub-branch of the Red Cross Society, she gave an interesting and instructive address on her work and showed a collection of posters used at the schools. And at the annual meeting of the Ashburton Registered Nurses’ Association in December 1944, Miss E. Taine was elected to the council. Her examination of the pupils at Ashburton district schools continued apace in 1945. The vital part played by the simple things of nature in the health and happiness of children was the subject of an address by Miss E. Taine (District Health Nurse) at the annual meeting of the Ashburton Branch of the Plunket Society on 13 July 1945. Miss Taine spoke of her work among the schools, which is part of her duties, explaining the various posters she used to impress upon the children the importance of a balanced diet, sufficient sleep and clean habits. She went into some detail in explain her observations and philosophy. She was also involved with the Ashburton Health Camp committee and the Ashburton sub-branch of the Crippled Children. At the meeting of the executive of the Ashburton Returned Services Association in early February 1947, a motion of condolence was passed to Miss E. H. Taine, a member, who had lost her brother recently. Roy Victor Taine, a war pensioner, died in January 1947 at his Dunedin home. Nurse Tane regularly spoke to local groups on her work in schools and the health and care of children. “On my retirement from the Health Department to-day I would like to express my appreciation of the co-operation and extreme kindness extended to me by the various organisations with which I have been associated,” said Miss E. Taine who has been district nurse at Ashburton for the last four years, and who today retired from that post. “To the schools which I have been unable to visit of late I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks for their many kindnesses.” [Ashburton Guardian. 30 September 1947.] While at Ashburton Miss Taine had resided at Melcombe House.

On retirement Elaine Taine took up residence at Lyttleton. In January 1948 she incurred a £2 fine for no licence label on her vehicle, and in October 1953 a £1 parking fine. She didn’t step back from health interests entirely. “The 42 little girls now in camp are doing well; they have good appetites, are gaining in weight and are very happy.” This was part of the report supplied on 20 February 1950 to a meeting of the Glenelg Health Camp Committee by the acting-matron, Miss E. H. Taine. Still the acting matron in March 1953, she reported “that the 42 boys m residence were doing well. One boy aged 10 years had gained 12 lb in weight in five weeks; another, aged 12, who had suffered from asthma, had not had an attack while he was at Glenelg and had gained 14 lb; and a boy of six who had, when admitted, been difficult about his food, had improved in that respect and had gained 5½ lb in one week.” At the meeting of the Overseas League Garden Club in late October 1953, Miss E. Taine was placed third with her “wire shoulder spray worn on coat” (A class). It was in the 1980s that she moved into central Christchurch.

Elaine Howell Taine – First World War nurse, member Nurses Association - died on 14 February 1984 at Churchill Hospice, Christchurch, aged 91 years. Following a service of Requiem in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, she was privately cremated. She was predeceased by all her siblings. Her mother, Janet Gilmer Taine, had died suddenly at Dunedin on 21 July 1922. Her father, Walter Taine, who married Emily Gascoyne in September 1923 at St Augustine’s Church, Waimate, died on 23 July 1940 at Christchurch, of Karitane where he had lived since Janet’s death. Janet and Walter are buried at Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, their son James Tayne Taine also remember on the stone. Emily died in 1975 and was buried with family at Waimate.

Elaine drew up her last Will in 1976. She desired to be cremated. “I give and bequeath free of all duties all my articles of household person or domestic use or ornament owned by me at my death to my Trustee [The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company] absolutely and I express the wish without however creating any legally binding trust or obligation that my Trustee shall distribute such of the said articles as are mentioned in any list left by me with this my Will or amongst my private papers in accordance with the instructions contained in such list but such list shall not be deemed to form part of my Will nor to have any testamentary effect.” She left specific monetary legacies to her friend Noah Helen Phillips, to her nieces Cara Fleming, Joyce Williams and Patricia Cosgrove. She also made allowance for the maintenance or benefit of her friend Norah if needed. She made bequests to the Community of the Sacred Name, Barbadoes Street, Christchurch, and the Church Property Trustees, Christchurch, for the genera; purposes of the Bishop Julius Hall of Residence for women students at the University of Canterbury. Her residuary estate not otherwise disposed of was to go to her sister-in-law Mary Taine [probably widow of Edward Frank Taine], her nieces Joyce Williams, Cara Fleming [daughter of Hazel Darling née Taine], Janet Svenson [daughter of Hazel Darling née Taine], Jean Butcher [daughter of Leocadia d’Oliveira née Taine] and Mary Redwood [daughter of Leocadia D’Oliveira née Taine]. Norah Helen Phillips testified as to the date and place of death of Elaine Howell Taine. Nora had emigrated from England to New Zealand in the 1900s and for about thirty years from 1949 she lived with Elaine at Lyttelton. The name of Elaine Taine (Nurse) is recorded on the St Clair, Dunedin, Roll of Honour, as are the names of her brothers, James, Eric and Victor R. James is also remembered on the Honour Board of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Dunedin.

Three brothers of Elaine served in World War One - James Tayne Taine who was lost at sea near Lemnos, drowning on 2 September 1915 when his transport was torpedoed, Eric William Taine and Roy Victor Taine. Three nephews of Elaine served in World War Two – James Tayne Taine Fleming, a pilot officer with the Royal Air Force, was killed during air operations on 23 July 1940 (the same day as his grandfather died) and was buried at Wick, Scotland; Geoffrey James Taine with the Medical Corps; and Peter Montan Gillard Gribble with the Infantry.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [09 January 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0111587) [31 March 2017], NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5964 0365022) [31 March 2017]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [31 March 2017]; School Admission records (Dunedin & Wellington Branches NZSG) [2017]; Timaru Technical School Rolls (SCRoll web submission from J James, Mountainview High School, 15 April 2015); Evening Star, 16 December 1904, 21 December 1905, 20 December 1906, 29 August 1919, 22 July 1922, 23 July 1940, 18 January 1947, Otago Daily Times, 17 December 1904, 21 December 1906, 6 September 1918, 30 August 1919, 20 January 1947, Timaru Herald, 21 January 1914, 18 February 1914, 25 July 1914, 21 October 1914, 24 January 1917, 1 August 1923, 25 & 26 October 1929, 7 November 1929, 20 & 28 February 1930, 6 & 13 December 1930, 7 August 1942, 4 & 16 December 1942, 26 March 1943, 16 April 1943, 13 August 1943, 12 November 1943, 2 December 1943, 22 January 1944, 17 & 29 March 1944, 13 April 1944, 13 May 1944, 17 June 1944, 12 July 1944, Dominion, 29 December 1916, 30 August 1918, 13 September 1918, 27 January 1919, 30 August 1919, 23 October 1926, NZ Times, 30 December 1916, Kai Tiaki: the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, 1 July 1918, 1 January 1927, NZ Herald, 24 July 1922, Press, 6 October 1931, 17 November 1931, 3 March 1933, 1 March 1935, 26 February 1936, 23 April 1936, 2 November 1936, 30 January 1939, 16 & 17 February 1984, Star, 24 February 1934, Nelson Evening Mail, 29 March 1935, Grey River Argus, 23 September 1939, 19 December 1939, 30 November 1940, 14 March 1941, 10 May 1941, 13 & 28 August 1941, Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1940, 22 August 1941, 12 & 20 August 1941, 9 September 1941, Ashburton Guardian, 21 June 1944, 6 & 12 July 1944, 2 & 14 August 1944, 19 September 1944, 6 December 1944, 7 & 8 March 1945, 16 April 1945, 14 July 1945, 25 September 1945, 16 August 1946, 6 February 1947, 30 September 1947 (Papers Past) [20 April 2017; 01, 03 & 05 May 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections – Record number CH599/1984) [01 May 2024]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [03 May 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS