Gillies, Janet (1864–1947)

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Gillies, Janet (1864–1947)

New Zealand nurse and nursing administrator. Name variations: Janet Speed. Born Janet Speed, Jan 31, 1864, in Wanganui, New Zealand; died July 24, 1947, in Auckland, New Zealand; dau. of James Speed and Janet (Montgomery) Speed; m. David Welsh Gillies (surveyor), 1904 (died 1930).

Trained as nurse at Wellington District Hospital (1887); served in South African War (1899–1902); studied military nursing at Royal Victoria Hospital (1902); elected honorary nursing sister for St John Ambulance District Nursing Guild, home-nursing service for poor (1903); appointed matron in chief, New Zealand Medical Corps Nursing Reserve (1908), but resistance to her leadership forced resignation (1910); her plans to establish army nursing service in New Zealand were eventually implemented during World War I. Awarded King's South Africa Medal (1902).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).

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Gillies, Janet (1864–1947)

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