Diary of Mary Ann 'Bessie' Pocock, 1914-1918 vol 2 - Part 1
LONDON, ENGLAND. C.1919.
MATRON MARY A / (BESSY) POCOCK (SECOND FROM LEFT) OUTSIDE
BUCKINGHAM PALACE WITH OTHER NURSING SISTERS AFTER
RECEIVING HER ASSOCIATE OF THE ROYAL RED CROSS (ARRC)
MEDAL.
Photograph - see original document
Photograph - see original document
ASSOCIATE OF THE ROYAL RED CROSS MEDAL
MATRON BESSIE POCOCK RECEIVED THIS MEDAL
AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE 2ND MAY 1919
Photograph - see original document
GALLIPOLI
STAR
MEDAL
AWARDED
TO
MATRON
BESSIE
POCOCK
1ST WORLD
WAR
1914-1918
Photograph see original document
VICTORY MEDAL
1ST WORLD WAR
1914-1918
ATTACHED TO
MENTIONED IN
DESPATCHES
RIBBON
BESSIE POCOCK
WAS MENTIONED
IN DESPATCHES
Photograph - see original document
Bronze: Bronze medallion struck by the Australian Government to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the landing at Anzac. It was issued to
surviving veterans or their next of kin. Obverse shows Simpson and his donkey,
a laurel wreath and 'ANZAC ''. Reverse shows the Southern Cross superimposed
on a map of Australasia and fern fronds.
M.A. BESSIE POCOCK
TRAINEE SYDNEY HOSPITAL NOVEMBER 1890 'TILL JANUARY 1900
ACTIVE SERVICE BOER WAR SOUTH AFRICA JANUARY 1900-1902
CONTACTED ENTERIC FEVER - RETURNED TO ENGLAND 1902-1903
RETURNED TO SYDNEY HOSPITAL 1903-1907
MATRON MENTAL HOSPITAL NEWCASTLE 1909-1911
MATRON MENTAL HOSPITAL GLADESVILLE 1911-1914
ACTIVE SERVICE TROOPSHIP "ARGYLLSHIRE" OCTOBER 1914
ACTIVE SERVICE EGYPT - FRANCE - ENGLAND
TWO MONTHS IN CHARGE TEMPORARY HOSPITAL ISMALIA - EGYPT
WOUNDED WHEN TURKS CROSSED CANAL - JANUARY 1915
SIX MONTHS SISTER-IN-CHARGE HOSPITAL SHIP "ASSAYE" JULY
15TH TO JANUARY 1916. TRAVELLING FROM ALEXANDRIA TO
GALLIPOLI - CAPE HELLES - SUVLA BAY AND TO MALTA - ENGLAND
AND SALONIKA. ANZAC
TO FRANCE APRIL 1916 - MARSEILLES - BOULOGNE - MOUSSAT NO2
NINE MONTHS S.in.CH N2 A.C.C.S STEENWERCKE - THEN BACK TO
A.G.H BOLOGNE U (RELIEVING)
ENGLAND 1917 - TWO MONTHS IN-CHARGE LADY DARNLEYS HOME
FOR AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS.
NO.2 A.G,H DARTFORD - KENT 1918-1919
TO NSW 1/C TROOPSHIP "ZEALANDIA" 1919
OPENED "ISMALIA" CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL CHATSWOOD
SYDNEY - 1924
MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES BY LORD KITCHENER - SOUTH
AFRICAN WAR AND MENTIONED TWICE IN GREAT WAR
RECEIVED ROYAL RED CROSS 2ND CLASS MAY 1915
MEMBER OF WOMEN'S JUSTICES OF NSW 1923
LIFE MEMBER T.N.A AND A.A.N.S.
PREFACE
The diaries of Bessie Pocock were copied from originals by hand
by her niece Margaret (Margy) Pocock, daughter of Fred and Chris
Pocock Margy still manages the family property at (Stockyard
Creek) The Punchbowl via Grafton.
Margaret (Margy) Pinkerton Sharpin (nee Munro) granddaughter of
Rebecca Pinkerton, sister of Bessie has, with much respect and pride
for Aunty Bessie, typed them up as journals, hopefully for future
generations to read. Some text & phrases have been highlighted to
denote points of interest in the diaries.
The Boer War Diary was created by Roger Pocock's wife Maree,
daughter in law of James (Jimmy) & Betty Pocock, nephew of Bessie
and brother of Margaret Pocock.
The original diaries will be sent to a suitable Archive destination once
they have been copied.
Mary Ann (Bessie) was born at Dalby Q'ld on 20th July 1863 to
George and Mary Ann (nee O'Toole) Pocock.
Career Highlights
Before commencing her nursing training at Crown St Women's Hospital in 1890
Bessie Pocock worked as a domestic. Upon completion of her training, she
joined the hospital staff as a sister. I 1899 Bessie became a member of the New
South Wales Army Nursing Service Reserve (NSW ANSR) and served in the Boer
War being posted to hospitals in London, Johannesburgh and Middleburg.
She was Mentioned in Dispatches twice and awarded the Queen's and King's
South Africa medals. After the war she returned to her position at the Sydney
hospital and later (1911-1914) at Gladesville.
During World War 1 Bessie served with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in
hospitals at Cairo and Ismailia (Egypt) She was then Matron of the Hospital ship
"ASSAYE" before being stationed at Marseilles and Wimereux (France),
followed by Trois Arbres (Belgium) and then Boulogne and England. On 2nd
May 1916 Sister Bessie Pocock was awarded the Royal Red Cross (2nd Class)
After the war Bessie returned to Gladesville Hospital as matron. Before retiring,
she set up a convalescent hospital at Chatswood called "Ismailia". She remained
an active member of the Australian Trained Nurses Association of which she
became a life member, as well as the Australian Army Service reserve.
Bessie Pocock never married and was lovingly cared for by her brother John and
sister Alice, nieces Jean and Margy Pocock and nephew Jimmy Pocock at
Stockyard Creek (Punchbowl) until she passed away on 16th July 1946.
LEST WE FORGET
An Extract from the diary of Alice Mary Munro (nee Pinkerton, daughter of
Rebecca Pinkerton (Rube), sister of Bessie Pocock.
My Aunt, Annie Bessie Pocock, started nursing at Crown St. Women's Hospital
when quite young. Her eldest brother George Pocock, later to become a
Superintendent of Police around Junee way, had left Stockyard Creek during the
early bad times and joined the Police Force. He encouraged Aunt Bessie and Aunt Lil
(Mrs. Billie McKee) to come to Sydney and start nursing.
Bessie lost her fiancé tragically to tetanus when he was spurred in the hand by a
rooster and she never married.
POCOCK FAMILY: Mum had 4 sisters, Bessie, Lil, Margaret (and Margaret died
young so we did not know her) also Alice. Three brothers, George, John and Fred,
Aunty Chris is Fred's wife (Chris Bennetts). When Anne Pocock went to Sydney to
nurse, all nurses were known those days by their christian names eg. Nurse Florence,
Nurse Mary etc. There already was a nurse Anne at Crown St. so the Matron gave my
young Aunt a few days to find another name, her mother's maybe. But when Aunt
Bessie hadn't decided the old Matron said "Take my name girl, Bessie, Matron
A.B. Pocock made that name famous.
As a young nurse she went to the Boer War and saw service at Bloomfontein etc. We
had a photo of her and other nurses outside the Hospital in Africa the day war was
declared finished. In the group were Generals Botha and De Wette. Then in 1915 she
was in charge of the Hospital Ship "ASSAYE" taking wounded Australian soldiers
from Gallipoli to the Australian Hospital on Lemnos Island.
Although I was still at school I knew more about the 1st World War than most school
children as letters came weekly from the battle front. Aunt Bessie received the Royal
Red Cross Medal at Buckingham Palace. She was Matron of Lady Darnley's Home in
England for "recuperating" soldiers.
I think that is where she got her love for "Big" houses, for after retiring as Matron of
the Women's Section of Gladesville Mental Hospital she bought herself a big house
in Beaconsfield Road, Chatswood, Sydney. With a maid and gardener, she lived there
many years. She took private patients, wives of Doctors and mothers of her Doctor
friends. One of her chief friends was Dr. Dick, Director of Health for N.S.W., he had
several sons who all became Doctors.
Another friend of Aunt Bessie was the wealthy Chinese merchant, Quong Tart. He
and his family gave her a wonderful party when she came home from the Boer War.
He never finished helping the returning men ---- he really was a good citizen.
SYDNEY, NSW. C 1914.
GROUP OF ARMY NURSES AT VICTORIA BARRACKS.
SEATED (ON CHAIRS) ARE SISTER A. M. (BESSIE) POCOCK (LEFT);
MATRON I. J. GOULD (SECOND FROM LEFT); SISTER JULIA BLIGH
JOHNSTON (THIRD FROM LEFT), SEATED ON GROUND: SISTER P.
FRATER (FOURTH FROM LEFT).
ALL THE NURSES NAMED ARE BOER WAR VETERANS.
Photograph - see original document
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT. 1916.
NO. 17 BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL, WHERE NURSING SISTERS
FROM NO. 3 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL (3AGH) SERVED
AFTER THE EVACUATION FROM LEMNOS AT THE END OF THE
GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN. (DONOR AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY)
Bessie started duty here on 11th May 1915
Nurses quarters are the tents in the foreground
Bessie started duty on hospital ship Assaye on 20th July 1915
Photograph - see original document
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