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Veteran nurses who served in the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps are being sought for a special gathering in July to mark the corps' centenary.

The Corp was officially founded in 1915 just before the first contingent of 50 army nurses sailed for Europe  and nurses have served in nearly every military or peacekeeping field that New Zealand has taken part in since.

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Turner, director of nursing services for the New Zealand Defence Force, is the modern day equivalent of Hester Maclean – the first matron-in-chief who led the infant New Zealand Army Nursing Service, which since the 1950s has been known as the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps (RNZNC).

Turner is seeking veterans of the corps to join in the celebrations to mark the formation one hundred years ago of the original corp.  More than 600 nurses and masseuses served in the Corps in World War One, 680 nurses and physiotherapists in World War Two (and JayForce) and 313 registered nurses served in either the territorial or regular force between 1946 and 1970.

The peacetime corps has about 30 nurses in the regular forces and 12 in the reserve, but the Army, Navy and Air Force also employ another 40 or so non-uniform or civilian nurses to provide primary health care to staff on their bases.

Turner says RNZNC had hoped to be able to have the corps’ Colonel-in-Chief Princess Anne attend a centenary event but unfortunately she was not available.

It is now planning to mark the occasion by holding a special event on July 17 during its annual two-day gathering.  It is inviting nursing veterans to attend and present on their experiences of the corps. Sherayl McNabb, who is currently writing an updated history of the corps to mark the centenary, will also present to the gathering.

There will also be a commemorative service and wreath laying at the National War Memorial’s Hall of Memories, attended by His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae. This will be followed by a special afternoon tea with veterans at Government House. A formal dinner is also planned. 

The corps will also be closely involved with the Christchurch events being organised for late October to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Marquette.

Veterans are asked to contact Lee Turner for more details either by emailing [email protected] or calling him on: 04 498 6636