Member of the Order of St John medal

This Member of the Order of St John medal belonged to Janet Speed (1864-1947).

Janet Speed worked as a nurse during the South African War (1899-1902). The war 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.

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.

Order of St John

The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem dates back to at least 1070 when a hospice was established by monks in Jerusalem.

St John was established in New Zealand in 1885 to prevent and relieve sickness and injury, and to enhance the health and well-being of New Zealanders.

The St John logo incorporates the Maltese / Amalfi Cross. Every part of the cross has a meaning linked to the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude) and the eight qualities of an effective first aider (Humility, Sympathy, Gentleness, Truth, Compassion, Unselfishness, Peace, Endurance). The lions and unicorns are the supporters of the Royal Coat of Arms granted by the British Crown, and indicate that St John is a Royal Order.