Connection with the Hunter Valley – Staff Nurse Callow was born in Sydney but the family moved to Stroud in the early years of the 20th century. The family home was ‘Quambi’ in Cowper Street Stroud, a substantial residence that is now the home of Stroud Historical Museum. Staff Nurse Callow is named on the honour roll of St John’s Anglican Church Stroud and Stroud Memorial Grandstand.
Quambi House today.
Photo: East Coast Photography, courtesy Great Lakes Council
After her return to Australia in 1919 she travelled to Queensland “to spend a lengthy holiday with her sister, Mrs F W Gerard of Lyndhurst Station, Esk.” (The Brisbane Courier, 20 November 1919). After four years on active service a long holiday was in order – military nurses often became run down from the long hours and the nature of their work.
Training and experience – Gertrude qualified for membership of the Australian Trained Nurses association in 1913.
Service – Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)
Service location – Egypt and possibly also home service
Medals – 1914-1915 Star,British War Medal, Victory Medal
Nursing sisters on board Caronia at Durban 1917, en route for Egypt. Back L-R Sr Briggs, Sr Esther Moore. Front L-R Unidentified male, Sr McGrath, unidentified male, Sr Gertrude Callow in front right. Image courtesy Fiona Cester.
More detail and references:
Enlisted – 31 July 1915, age 27
Residence before embarkation – Sydney
Port of embarkation, vessel and date – Sydney / Orontes / 31 July 1915; returned to Melbourne 19 April 1916, reembarked Runic 13 September 1917 (the gap of over 12 months may have been due to home service or illness.)
Return to Australia – embarked for return to Australia at Port Said on the Hungaria, disembarked in Australia 27 July 1919.
Next-of-kin as indicated in service record – father, Mr Richard Edward Callow, ‘Quambi’, Cowper Street, Stroud
Leave – sick leave November 1916 (twisted ankle) and November 1918 (ailment not stated.)
Discharged – September 1919
Relative in AIF – Brother, Reginald Edward Callow, 12th Btn – interestingly, Reginald enlisted in the USA in 1918 but later returned to Stroud, presumably with his American wife Nellie whom he had married in Oklahoma in 1912. He was a mining engineer.
Honour roll – St John’s Anglican Church Stroud and Stroud Memorial Grandstand
Marital status / married surname Single
Where born / parents – Petersham / Richard Edward and Christian Callow
Notes
References:
National Archives of Australia B2455 CALLOW G M
Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) AWM133, 08-026
Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Nurses (July 1915 – November 1918)
Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 1913, 3 July 1919 & 9 July 1919
The Brisbane Courier, 20 November 1919
Do you know more?
© Christine Bramble 2013
Great War Nurses from the Hunter 
I have found this website while researching Sister Callow on Gravesecrets. I am researching Sister Callow as I have a copy of a photograph of a group of nursing sisters including my Grandmother that is taken aboard ship. The photo is annotated by my Uncle, no longer alive. I think the Sister Callow photographed with my Grandmother, Esther Moore, is the same as your Sister Callow as they both returned on “The Hungaria’ and disembarked on the same day, according to records on my grandmother as held by ANA. I can send a copy if you like?
I am a relative of Sister Callow and could get her photo verified by her niece if needed – we would be very interested to see your photo