Early Life and Family: Katie Mary Bethune Campbell was born on 29th April 1884 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Donald Roderick Campbell and Margaret, née Cowan. Katie had a sister named Euphemia Campbell.

Military Service: Katie enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) on 16th June 1915 at the age of 31. She embarked on her military journey the same day aboard the RMS Karoola heading to Egypt for her service. During her time in Egypt, she contracted chickenpox in February 1916 and briefly returned to Australia on 14th March 1916 aboard the RMS Mooltan while still on duty.

In April 1917 an urgent request from the British Director General of Medical Services called for four contingents of AANS nurses to be dispatched to Salonika to increase the hospital services there. German submarines presented a constant threat in the Mediterranean and it was deemed safer to send Australian nurses via Egypt than from England, as the route was more dangerous. RMS Mooltan left Sydney in June 1917 with 215 nurses.

Determined to continue her service, Katie re-embarked on 19th June 1917 from Sydney on the RMS Mooltan once again. She provided extensive service under difficult conditions in Salonika, Greece.

Katie's Matron McHardie White painted a graphic picture of the climatic winter conditions “the winter was exceedingly severe; the wind known as the Vardar wind, being almost a blizzard. There were heavy falls of snow, and very low temperatures at night”. The extreme temperatures caused drugs, ink and hot water bottles to regularly freeze in the morning. Wintery conditions were a danger to the nurses as some fainted, while others were affected with carbon monoxide poisoning as fuel was almost impossible to obtain and the only means of heating came from charcoal burnt in braziers. 

The summer heat also contributed to the malaria which dominated the difficult summer months. The many ravines and streams around the hospital made ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos and it was reported that most of the nurses were affected by malaria one time or another. By August 1918 45 nurses had been sent back to Australia from Salonika and another 14 were waiting to go, mostly on grounds of ill health.

After more than two years of service in Greece in these harsh conditions, she returned to Australia on 6th September 1919 aboard the RMS Euripides, still officially on duty until her appointment was terminated on 23rd December 1919.

Honors and Awards: For her meritorious service, Sister Campbell was awarded the Greek Medal for Military Merit. Her award was recorded in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19th February 1920 (Page 190, Position 10) and noted in the London Gazette on 26th November 1919 (Page 12640, Position 2).

Later Life: Katie did not marry. She passed away on 19th March 1954 in the Military Hospital Concord, Sydney, NSW.

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.