(1881-1917)
Occupation: Nurse
Rank: Sister
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Family
Born 19 June 1881 Wellington
Parents: Dr William George (b. 1846) and Charlotte Kemp (nee Greenwood) (1849-1916)
Siblings: Alfred Geoffrey (1871-1955), Leonora (b.1872), John Harlod (b.1874), Dorothy Charlotte (b.1876), Violet Annie (1877-1909), Frederik William (b.1879), Kathleen Mary (b.1883), Charles Gordon (1885-1946).
Pre-War
Elise’s father was a doctor from Northumberland and immigrated to NZ in 1868 where he married Charlotte Greenwood of Motueka. They met and married while he was a surgeon at Nelson Hospital but moved back to Wellington before Elise was born. The family migrated back to the UK when Elise was very young. Elise was educated at Church High School at The Shrubbery in London. She then attended finishing school in Brussels. In 1904 she entered Nursing School at King’s College Hospital and graduated on 12 February. Her first position was that of Ward Sister at the Albert and Victoria Hospital. She resigned from this position in November 1909 after her sister died but in May of 1910 returned to the Hospital.
1914
In April Elise was appointed Sister of the Lister male surgical ward at the Albert and Victoria Hospital. Four months later she was called up for military service and became a member of the Territorial Forces Nursing Service working in London.
1915
Elise was working at the Albert and Victoria Hospital.
1916
In January Elise was posted to the Western Front and served there for 22 months.
1917
Elise was nursing on the Western Front until October. On 20 October, although attached to 58 Casualty Clearing Station, she was on temporary duty at 37 Casualty Clearing Station at Godewaersvelde, Flanders. In the evening the station was bombed by enemy aircraft and Elise was killed. She was buried at Godewaersvelde in Flanders.
NOTE: Elise is believed to be the only NZ born nurse to be killed in action in World War 1.