Story of the RAAF Nursing Service 1940-1990
Metung, Australia: Nungurner Press, 1994. Quarto, illustrated hard cover, viii, 440 pp., illustrated throughout with black-and-white photos and documents, one appendix included. An errata page is inserted loosely at the front. Front cover's lower corner bumped, spine slightly faded, very slight spotting on top of text block, very light foxing on endpapers and half title page, otherwise a near-fine copy. First edition, numbered copy 619 of a limited edition of 1000 copies, signed by the author.
A comprehensive and profusely illustrated history of the Royal Australian Air Force's Nursing Service between from 1940 to 1990 written by a former member of the Service. The RAAF Nursing Service was formed on the 26th of July, 1940. From then to 1955, over 600 Sisters joined, including the author,Gay Halstead, and served in World War II, the Korean War and the Malaysian conflict. After 1955, many more joined and were involved in Vietnam War medical evacuations while maintaining their home-based duties. Gay served in Japan and Korea and was attached to No. 77 Squadron. For this impressive history, she interviewed hundreds of past and present RAAFNS Nursing Sisters; their stories, combined with her own experiences during the Korean War, makes this work a personal and thorough record of the Service.
Inserted loosely are a full-colour flyer and order form for the book, a Sydney Morning Herald obituary of Joan McRae (a Senior Sister with the RAAFNS) dated 12.12.97, and a cutting of an interview with Elizabeth Hassett (an RAAFNS Nursing Sister) from SundayLife! dated 12.11.2000. Item #4502
From the library of John Swanson. Inscribed by the author with: "To John, who told of the Padre & the nurses presence at the open air theatre TADJ', N6, 1945"
Price (AUD): $150.00