Connection to the Hunter Valley – Sister Violet Hazel Lowrey was always known within the family as Hazel. Hazel was born at Clarencetown like her older sisters Bessie and Olivia. Her father was a dairy farmer in the Stroud area. A fourth sister, Joyce, signed up for the AANS late in the War but was not called on for overseas service. Like her sisters, Hazel is listed on the Stroud Memorial Grandstand and the honour roll of St John’s Anglican Church Stroudv (“H V Lowrey”).
Sister Violet Hazel Lowrey, c1916-1919
Photo: Courtesy Newcastle Museum
Training and experience – Hazel trained at Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children.
Service – Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)
Service location – India. Hazel also served at hospitals in Egypt and UK after the Armistice had been signed. Hence she was not eligible for the Victory Medal.
Medals – British War Medal
Great War honour roll inside St John’s Anglican Church, Stroud.
Photo: Christine Bramble 2013
References:
National Archives of Australia B2455 LOWREY VIOLET HAZEL
Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) 133, 32-028
Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Nurses (July 1915 – November 1918)
AWM41/1072 (Interview with Matron Kellett)
Sydney Morning Herald, 31 December 1913, p17, retrieved from Trove 27 July 2012
Australasian Nurses’ Journal, Vol XIV No 9 September 1916, p.318
Do you know more?
© Christine Bramble 2013
Great War Nurses from the Hunter 
I find it inspiring to learn about Hazel’s dedication and service as an army nurse.