Florence Ethel Spalding

Florence Ethel Spalding, daughter of [the late William] and Mrs Mary Spalding, Hope House, West Esplanade, Manly [also 52 Darley Road, Manly]. She was born Goulburn, NSW in 1881.

She embarked, 28 November 1914 from Sydney on Kyarra. In April 1915 left on a hospital ship for Gallipoli and was there for the first landing: 

“I went backwards and forwards there till the evacuation.”

She was twice mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 20 June 1916. AANS, 2nd AGH, Nursing Sister. She returned to Australia from Cairo, Egypt, 22 March 1916 on Demosthenes. 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal.She had served four years with AANS prior to 1915. She rejoined in Cairo in 1915.

She married and left the nursing service in 1916, and became Mrs William Fidler. For distinguished services in the field was awarded the Royal Red Cross Decoration 2ndClass, 1 January 1916.In 1967 she applied for the Anzac commemorative medal and badge. She was living at Hunters Hill by that time. She died in 1976.