Queen's South Africa Medal

The South African War (1899-1902) was the first overseas conflict to involve New Zealand troops. New Zealand sent more than 6500 men, and up to 29 nurses served. Seventy-one New Zealanders were killed in action or died of wounds, with another 159 dying in accidents or from disease. Nursing in South Africa was extremely hard work.

However, at the time of the South African War there was no New Zealand army nursing service. Some nurses went to South Africa with official approval but none were paid by the New Zealand government. Local patriotic committees raised funds to send small groups of nurses; others joined the recently formed Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve (PCANSR) in Britain, or travelled to South Africa at their own expense. All New Zealand nurses in South Africa were attached to the PCANSR.

Janet Speed

Janet Speed was among those nurses who paid their own fare. When she arrived in South Africa in late 1900, she enlisted in the PCANSR and her salary was paid by the British government. She received both the Queen’s and King’s South Africa medals for her service.

Shocked at the inefficiency of the hospitals she had served in during the conflict, Speed resolved to further her knowledge of military nursing. She travelled from South Africa to England in 1902 and undertook a military nursing course at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley (at her own expense). She returned to Wellington in 1903 and became associated with the Order of St John Ambulance District Nursing Guild, and was elected an Honorary Serving Sister in 1903.

After her marriage in 1904, Janet Gillies (nee Speed) no longer practised as a nurse, but remained committed to nursing issues. She became the first Matron-in-Chief to the New Zealand Medical Corps Nursing Service Reserve formed in 1908. The position brought official status but no salary, and was essentially administrative with no nurses. She met resistance in her efforts to recruit and organise, and was eventually forced to resign in 1910. Her efforts to set up an army nursing service in New Zealand went largely unrecognised during her lifetime. However, her plans were put into practice during the First World War under the direction of her successor, Hester Maclean.