Louisa Annie Bicknell (1879 – 25 June 1915) was an Australian civilian and military nurse who died while serving in World War I. [1]
Bicknell was born in Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia in 1879, the seventh of twelve children of Eliza and John Bicknell. [2] She initially learnt dressmaking, but later decided to train as a nurse. She trained at Mooroopna Hospital and worked at the Women’s Hospital. [2]
Bicknell opened her own private hospital at Bairnsdale and nursed there for eight years. [2] In April 1915 she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service and embarked for Egypt on the Kyarra. She was stationed at Heliopolis, Cairo at the No.1 Australian General Hospital. [3]
Bicknell sustained a scratch on her hand while nursing wounded soldiers, and developed pyaemia, a type of infection. [2] [4] She was ill for about six days, and died on 25 June 1915. [1] [2] Before she died, it was reported that she said: "How hard it is to die with so little accomplished, but I would go through it all again to help." [4]
Bicknell is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. [5] She is remembered on the Bairnsdale Shire honour roll and on a memorial to overseas nurses who died in World War I at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London. [2]
Louisa Annie Bicknell (1879 – 25 June 1915) was an Australian civilian and military nurse who died while serving in World War I. [1]
Bicknell was born in Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia in 1879, the seventh of twelve children of Eliza and John Bicknell. [2] She initially learnt dressmaking, but later decided to train as a nurse. She trained at Mooroopna Hospital and worked at the Women’s Hospital. [2]
Bicknell opened her own private hospital at Bairnsdale and nursed there for eight years. [2] In April 1915 she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service and embarked for Egypt on the Kyarra. She was stationed at Heliopolis, Cairo at the No.1 Australian General Hospital. [3]
Bicknell sustained a scratch on her hand while nursing wounded soldiers, and developed pyaemia, a type of infection. [2] [4] She was ill for about six days, and died on 25 June 1915. [1] [2] Before she died, it was reported that she said: "How hard it is to die with so little accomplished, but I would go through it all again to help." [4]
Bicknell is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. [5] She is remembered on the Bairnsdale Shire honour roll and on a memorial to overseas nurses who died in World War I at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London. [2]