Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

The Geraldine Croquet Club records of 1914/1915 noted: “During the season one of our members (Miss Downer) left New Zealand to take up nursing at the front. A croquet afternoon was given in her honour, on the local green, and a small presentation to mark the occasion was given to the departing member from the club.” Downer had perhaps been working at Nurse Haig's Geraldine Private Hospital in Wilson Street?

A database of New Zealanders who served in other forces recorded a Louise Downer as having worked with the Serbian Relief Fund and later with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR) “hospitals in France and England. The first role involved service in Serbia in 1915 and 1916, while the second indicates she served in hospitals in France and/or England. Records, all uncovered by a private researcher, indicate she was a single woman, born in 1872, when she trained as a nurse. Her nursing records notes she was Anglican and had been educated at Ascot Priory and had been employed as a cook before entering training. She was trained as a nurse at the Seamen’s Hospital, Greenwich from 22 June 1904 to 1 October 1907, and the Hospital for Women, Soho Square from October 1907 to April 1908. She also had experience at St Alban’s Hospital and nursed in New Zealand from 1912 to 1915. She joined the Serbian Relief Funs as a Sister, working with them during 1915 and 1916, before undertaking “Military Nursing”, presumably with the QAIMNSR, from 1916 to 1919, again as a Sister. In the same role she worked at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital (presumably in the United Kingdom) from 1922 to 1924. She had also been trained as a midwife in 1910. Her district training records further note she was “A well trained, methodical nurse, much liked in the district, is very thoughtful for her patients.” It also noted she was a cyclist – potentially a useful skill offering mobility in a pre-motoring world.

Louise was listed in United Kingdome Census records in 1891 and 1911. She was listed as being born in Poplar, London, in 1872. In 1891, aged 18, she was working as a servant and living at New Road, Winkfield, Berkshire, England. In 1911, aged now 35, she was nursing in ST Buryan, Cornwall.

In 1926 Downer was listed as a midwife in Seaford, Sussex. In December of the fhe following year she was listed as an outward passenger, leaving Liverpool for Penang, Malaysia, on the Blue Funnel Line ship ‘Hector’.

Louise Downer died in Surrey in 1959, aged 86.

Sources

Sherayl McNabb “100 years New Zealand Military Nursing” (Hawke's Bay: Sherayl McNabb, 2015); "New Zealanders Who Served in other Forces WW1", The New Zealand Military Historical Society, at https://nzmhs.org.nz/new-zealanders-who-served-in-other-forces-ww1/ [accessed 16 August 2023]; SCRoll web submission by Karyn Close and E Smyth, 18 August 2023; "Canterbury", New Zealand Private Maternity Homes, at https://sites.google.com/site/nzprivatematernityhomes/new-zealand-private-maternity-homes/canterbury [Accessed 26 September 2023]; Ancestry, assorted records: 1891 & 1911 Census Records; UK Midwives roll 1904-1959; UK Queen's Nursing Institute Roll of Nurses, 1891-1931; UK and Ireland, Outward passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [Supplied]; ; SCROll submission by K Close, 2 August 2025

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin (South Canterbury Museum)

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.