Evelyn Gertrude Brooke, nurse

These are the seven New Zealand nurses who accompanied the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when it took control of German Samoa in August 1914. Evelyn Brooke is second from left in the back row.

Evelyn Gertrude Brooke (1879–1962): nurse

Evelyn Brooke was appointed matron on the hospital ship Maheno, which embarked for Turkey in July 1915. As a hospital ship matron, she was responsible for all nursing arrangements. Much of the work was carried out by male orderlies, whom she trained but were under the command of a non-commissioned officer (the wardmaster). It was thus necessary for everyone to be tactful and generous, but, from the first, disputes arose over rank. Nurses were commissioned officers but many male officers refused to recognise this and the women were 'subjected to a great deal of unpleasantness'.

Seasickness devastated many of Brooke's staff, and the horrors of war could not be avoided: during August and September 1915 the Maheno made five visits to Anzac Cove at Gallipoli. In extreme heat, while bullets raked the decks, the nurses worked with the 'poor, torn, mangled fellows' amid the 'horrible sickly odour' of dysentery, disease and decay.

Brooke returned to New Zealand in January 1916 to be matron of the military hospital at Trentham.