Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Elijah ABELL (Mining Overseer) and Margaret nee BROWN - both parents deceased on enlistment papers
Trained at Newcastle Hospital October 1895 - October 1898
Private nursing July 1900 - March 1901
Submatron March 1901 - February 1902
Private Nursing February 1902 - June 1915
Royal Hospital for Women June 1904 to December 1904
Travelled to England (with Nurse Ellen Lowe, age 43) by the RMS Arabia, embarking Sydney 18th September 1915 – and arriving Tilbury 1 November 1915
Enlisted 01 July 1916 in QAIMNSR
NOK Mrs. E LOCKLEY (Sister) of Ridge Street, Gordon, North Sydney, NSW
Served England and France – first at Talence, near Bordeaux – then 32nd Stationary Hosp, Boulogne – hospital barges on one of the canals – 14th Gen Stat Hosp at Bolougne – casualty clearing stations, including No. 2 CCS in 1918 when she won her RRC
Received her RRC from the King 15 May 1919
Served 2 years and 299 days
Demobilized 26 April 1919
Returned to Australia per 'Katoomba', embarking 7 August 1919, and arriving Sydney 25 September 1919
Did not Marry

Awarded the Royal Red Cross

'Advices just received describe the hasty removal of an important casualty clearing station immediately behind the lines on the Western front owing to the Allied army being pressed back by the oncoming German forces during a recent offensive. Less than half an hour's warning was given to the staff to prepare to leave with the wounded patients and to pack as best they could all the surgical appliances and stores. Doctors and nurses worked heroically, and while hospitals in the vicinity were being deliberately bombed by German aircraft, succeeded in re-establishing the station in a safer quarter. Sister Abell who has now been honoured with the Royal Red Cross was one of the heroic band of nurses.'

Sister Abell, who is a native of Wallsend, was trained at the Newcastle Hospital, and eventually became a charge nurse at that institution. Matron Greaves, of the Australian Voluntary Hospital, and Matron Veenman, of the Randwick Military Hospital, both of whom were some time ago decorated with the Royal Red Cross, were among her colleagues at Newcastle. For some years Sister Abell continued the practice of her profession in Sydney, and was attached to the Phillip-street Nurses' Home. Her services were secured by the Government on two occasions when special staffs of nurses were engaged to cope with serious epidemics at Coonamble and at Newcastle. Sister Abell is one of the foundation members of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association.

Desiring to assist in war work, Sister Abellin September 1915, proceeded at her own expense to London and France to volunteer her services to the military authorities, and was at once attached to Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. She was appointed to a military hospital at Talence, near Bordeaux then transferred to the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and afterwards was chosen for hospital barge work on one of the canals and was frequently under fire. Subsequently she received an appointment to the 14th General Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and later was selected for duty at casualty clearing stations in the danger zone.

Sister Abell is at present the only Australian nurse on the staff of the No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station "somewhere in France."

The Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday 08 August 1918 page 8

SISTER L. ABELL
Royal Red Cross Nurse Retires.

Sister L. Abell, who has been on the staff of the Lady Davidson Home, at Turramurra, for the past 12 years, has retired from the service of the Repatriation Department.

Sister Abell, who is a native of Wallsend, was trained at the Newcastle Hospital, and later continued to practise her profession in Sydney. She is one of the foundation members of the Australasian Trained Nurses' Association. In September, 1915, desiring to assist in war work, Sister Abell proceeded to London at her own expense to volunteer her services, and was immediately attached to Queen Alexndra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. She was appointed to a military hospital at Talence, near Bordeaux, then transferred to the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and afterwards was chosen for hospital barge work on one of the canals, being frequently under fire. Subsequently she received an appointment to the 14th General Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and still later was selected for duty at casualty clearing stations in the danger zone. On May 15, 1919 Sister Abell was decorated with the Royal Red Cross by his Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace. 

A farewell party was tendered Sister Abell at the Lady Davidson Home on Monday night. Dr. F. R. Featherstone, medical superintendent, on behalf of the patients and staff, presented Sister Abell with a travelling clock and a wallet of notes. He eulogised her splendid war services, and said she had given 18 years of her life serving the Interests of the Digger. He had never heard her say a word to the detriment of the Australian soldier, and he viewed her going as a personal loss.

The Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 14 June 1933 page 14