Military Medal First World War.
Dorothy Gwendolen Cawood
Dorothy Gwendolen Cawood was born on 9 December1884 in Parramatta. She was the seventh child of carpenter John Cawood and his English-born wife, Sarah Travis nee Garnett. She commenced her nursing training in 1909 and subsequently registered with the Australasian Trained Nurses' Associationon 14 May 1913.
On 14 November1914 she enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and subsequently embarked. On 22 July1917, whilst part of No. 2 Australian Casulalty Clearing Station at Armentieres, Dorothy along with Sisters Clare Decon & Alice Ross-King, evacuated patients from burning buildings during a bomb attack. All three Sisters were awarded Military Medals for their valiant rescue. When stationed at the 6th Australian General Hospital, Dorothy was mentioned in despatches for 'distinguised and gallant service in the field'. Not long after, Sister Cawood was transferred to the 38th Stationary Hospital, Genoa, Italy. She was hospitalised with tonsillitis for a few months in 1918 but her service in Genoa lasted until January 1919. After that, she was transferred to England where she was attached to the 3rd and 2nd Australian Auxilary Hospitals at Dartford.
Sister Cawood returned to Sydney in May 1919 and joined the nursing staff at Liverpool State Hospital. In 1928 she became Matron at the David Berry Hospital Berry, staying in this position until her retirement in 1943. In 1944 she moved back to her old home in Parramatta and died on 16 February, 1962.