Vida Mitylene Greentree, b. 1890. My 3rd cousin twice removed (through our Ann Forbes/Thomas Huxley ancestors). She was a nurse for the Australian Army Nursing Service) AANS. She was trained at at the Nepean Cottage Hospital Penrith. She enlisted in 1917 and sailed for the Middle East, arriving at the 60th General Hospital (British) situated at Hortiach up in the hills above Salonika. The hospital was a large tented hospital with 1600 beds. The hospital was not well equippped. They had great difficulty in sterilizing our instruments. The 60th General Hospital moved to Lembert, about three kilometres from Salonika. During her time at this location, Vida nursed German, Bulgarian and Turkish prisoners of war. Some of them were severely wounded, and as few prisoners spoke English, it was often difficult for the staff to manage their care. In April 1918, the hospital moved back to Hortiach. In November 1918 Vida was transferred to the 50th General Hospital. During this time many of the hospitals patients were victims of the influenza epidemic which was raging through Europe. In December that year, Vida left for two weeks leave in Athens. In February 1919, Vida embarked for England aboard the HMT Wyreema. Vida served with the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford until returning to Australia aboard the Fredrichsruhe on 4 September 1919. Vida was discharged on 4 October 1919. Vida Greentree returned to Freemans Reach and held the position of postmistress for many years. On 12 June 1965 Vidas service to the Freemans Reach community was acknowledged when she was awarded the Order of the British Empire - Medal (Civil)/Brisith Empire Medal (civil). Vida Greentree never married and died in Brisbane on 1 September 1983, aged 93 years.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 07:21:32 +0000
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