Sister Charlotte Joan McAllister
Address : 11 Charles Street, Brunswick
Next of Kin : father, Mr William McAllister, 11 Charles Street, Brunswick. mother Lillias Amy McAllister, nee Shaw.
Sadly, rather less is known of the First World War Service of Charlotte Joan McAllister than most of the other local nurses as she served again in World War 2 and an administrative decision was at some point made to combine Great War archives in such cases into World War 2 records which are not available on-line. She was, however, a remarkable woman.
Like most of the 49 that sailed on RMS Mooltan on 26 December, 1916 for service in India, her enlistment date is shown as the embarkation date. She was 26 years old at the time, her and her father William’s address 11 Charles Street, Brunswick and she also served in England. Other nurses mentioned in the same embarkation included Ada Hodson (Ivanhoe), and Rosalind Ballard (Whittlesea). Sister McAllister embarked for return to Australia on 27 February, 1919, arriving on 17 April 1919 per HMAT Anchises and was discharged 14 June 1919.
On 8 December, 1942 and while Matron at 115 (Heidelberg) Military Hospital General Hospital, she enlisted for the Second World War as VX117200 in World War 2. She was still shown in Brunswick, her father again next of kin.
She was discharged on 23 April, 1945 holding the very senior rank of Lieutenant Colonel and in charge of the Nursing Section of the Australian Army Medical Corps in William Street. She was the first matron of the Heidelberg Military Hospital after serving in the same role at the Albury Hospital for nearly ten years. Ms. McAllister was awarded on O.B.E. for services to nursing in 1951.
The image depicts Matron Charlotte McAllister, 115 (Heidelberg) Military Hospital, 16 November, 1943 AWM 100173
