Restrictions on married nurses – nurse uses maiden name to enlist

A minute paper regarding a nurse who enlisted in World War I under her maiden name.

A minute paper regarding a nurse who enlisted in the First World War under her maiden name.

About this record

Elsie Cook used her maiden name, ‘Sheppard’, to enlist as a nurse in the First World War because nurses had to be single or widowed to serve. Her husband, George Sydney Cook, also served and, after he was shot, Elsie joined the Red Cross to care for him. He was the son of Joseph Cook, Australia’s Prime Minister from 1913 to 1914.

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