Matron E. R. Uren, who has been awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal for services at Salonika, has for some years conducted the Narma Nursing Home, South-terrace. She has been connected with the Australian Army Nursing Service Reserve since it was formed in 1904,and in 1915 was appointed principal matron for the 4th (South Australian) Military District. Holding that position until 1917, she embarked with the A.I.F. for India, but was recalled to join the nursing staff organised in Sydney for service at Salonika. With about 300 other nurses she travelled from Sydney to Adelaide, and embarked, being in charge of No. 3 unit of 91 nurses. A fourth unit of nurses was dispatched later, chiefly as reinforcements. Those Australian nurses staffed four Imperial General Canvas Tent Hospitals, each containing 1,560 beds, at Salonika, Sister Uren being matron-in-charge of the 60th General Hospital for 13 months. Then, owing to urgent private business, she was granted leave, and returned to Adelaide on October 6 last. When the armistice was signed Matron Uren was placed on there serve again. She considers herself fortunate in having gone through the campaign without falling ill as at Salonika there was much sickness among the nursing staff, owing to malaria and dysentery. On her way to Salonika the matron and the other Australian nurses volunteered for hospital service at Alexandria during the three weeks that the transport was held up at Port Said, and their services were appreciated.
Sister E. Uren, of the Narma Hospital, South terrace, Adelaide, has just received an unusual decoration. She holds the grade of Honorary Serving Sister to the Grand Prior of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England. The token of the order is of black enamel, with a silver band and white cross, and has a black ribbon. Sister Uren first served as a military sister in 1901, when the Commonwealth Army Nursing Society was formed. She left for active service in the Great War in May 1917, when she was appointed matron of the 60th General Hospital at Salonika. Sister Uren was trained at the Adelaide Hospital, and afterwards went to Glasgow, where she obtained the highest possible certificates in her profession. She has also received the Royal Red Cross, which is a reward for having tended sick and wounded soldiers and sailors with conspicuous devotion.
Sister Ethel Uren, who now lives at Stirling, was in charge of the detachment of nurses at Salonika. Soon after they arrived the town was swept by fire, food ships were torpedoed, and there was shortage of supplies. Another night, when there was an air raid, the nurses refused to go into the dug-outs, but waited outside in the open and watched, solemnly holding enamel wash-basins on their heads as protection. A piece of shrapnel fell a few feet from them, and Sister Uren promptly seized it and burnt her fingers. But she brought it home as a souvenir.
Service were among those present.
UREN.-On October 2, at her residence,"Gnarwyn," Mount Lofty, Matron Ethelda Runnalls Uren, beloved sister of Frank (W.A.), Reg (Vic.), Mill and Kate. Late 1st A.I.F.
The death occurred yesterday morning at her home at Mt. Lofty of Miss Ethel Uren, who was well known in nursing and medical circles in South Australia. Miss Uren had a distinguished career in nursing, from which she retired about 20 years ago. She trained at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and at Glasgow Maternity Hospital, and was matron for many years of Narma Private Hospital in South terrace, which she established. During the 1914-1918 war she was acting principal matron of the 4th Military District for two years, and in 1917 was one of three matrons who accompanied the largest group of trained nurses, numbering 300, which embarked from Australia for active service. She was in charge of a composite unit, representative of every State, which was attached to the 60th General Hospital at Salonika, with, 1560 beds under canvas. She was awarded the RCC and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.