Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of James WILSON and Harriett nee WEBB
Of Mount Crawford, SA
Resided at 'Glen View' Armadale, WA prior to enlistment
NOK listed as Mrs HOWARD (Sister) of 18 Forrest Road, Kalgoorlie, WA
May  was travelling to England when World War 1 was declared.  She joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve as a sister.
Appointed to QAIMNSR 28 March 1915
Served in France
16th General Hospital
29 December 1915 30th Casualty Clearing Station
14 March 1916 16th General Hospital
28 March 1916 30th Casualty Clearing Station
13 May - 10 June 1916 Sick Leave
To England on leave 29 June  - 12 July 1916
22 August 1916 24th General Hospital
Leave to France 17 December - 31 December 1917
14 February 1917 41st Casualty Clearing Station
26 March 1918 No 1 South African General Hospital
31 March 1918 20 General Hospital
13 April 1918 Admitted to Hospital
20 April 1918 to Duty
14 May 1918 2nd Stationary Hospital
Leave 22 July - 18 September 1918 (suffering from Rheumatism)
09 October 1918 Rejoined 2nd Stationary Hospital
11 October 1918 20th Ambulance Train
12 January 1919 to Calais
12 April 1919 32nd Stationary Hospital
21 April 1919 to England for Demobilization
Posted to Military Hospital Devonport for temporary duty pending repatriation to Australia
Service terminated 18 October 1919 (demobilized)
She was awarded The Royal Red Cross – Second Class at Buckingham Palace by the King on May 31st 1919
Embarked for Australia 18 October 1919 per 'SS Morea'. 

May married in New Zealand Robert William GLASSON, a blind NZ soldier she met in England.
After Robert died in New Zealand in 1931, May returned to South Australia to live.

DESPERATE NEED OF HELP
EVERY MAN WANTED.

Sister M. Wilson, who has been serving as a nurse since the beginning of the war, writing from the 16th General Hospital, France, on July 8, to Mrs. H. Howard, of Forrest-street, Kalgoorlie, says : — 'I hope that Australia is sending every possible man, for they are greatly needed here. Every man over 18 and under 40 should enlist, never mind what the home ties are. Nothing in the world is more important than that England should win this war, and it will take every man to do it. I don't think you in Australia can possibly realise the desperate need of help here: I hate to think of another winter for the soldiers in those awful trenches.   They often have to stand for 48 hours up to their arms in iced water because there are no men to relieve them. The summer months are nearly over, and we have had one really hot day. At present it is wet and cold. We are hoping to get into tin huts for the worst of the winter. I am on night duty, and it is 2 a.m., and I must go round - my sleeping charges. I know by their mutterings they are living through some of the horrors again, but they are all anxious to go back, and have their revenge, and save England from a horrible enemy."   Writing on July 19, from Windemere, England, the nurse said: — 'This is the most glorious place in all the world. I have been here six- days, and it has been a haven, of rest. It is the lake district of England, and I don't wonder at all the poets living here and loving it so much. Wherever one turns there is just a wealth of beauty. I have never seen anything so beautiful, and have never enjoyed anything more in my life. It is the first time since September, 1914, that I have been able to get away from the war, and I must confess now that I was at the end of my tether. There is not a trace of the war here, not even a bit of khaki, and the few people who are here never speak of it, so that the silence, peace and beauty have given me a new lease of life. I am going to Dorsetshire next week to stay at an old castle. After that I am going on the Thames for four days, so my three weeks will be well spent. I am enjoying every second of it. If only this war would end now. I would give anything not to go back to its horrors and hard work, but I must not give   up now, and all this beautiful scenery has given me a fresh start again. I am sending you some post cards, but they are very feeble in comparison to the real thing. The lakes are just glorious with the quaint villages by each one. The   beautiful oaks and the wealth of green everywhere is a sight to behold. Some of the old churches are three hundred years old. They are so wonderful.'  

Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1950) Monday 31 December 1917