HOW A NURSE WON THE MILITARY MEDAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 2

HOW A NURSE WON THE MILITARY MEDAL

SISTER PRATT, OF VICTORIA. Sister Rachel Pratt was a Victorian countrv child, but some .rowded hours of glorious life have fallen to her lot. She was the first Australian nurse to be wounded in llio war. She has beon awarded tho Military Medal. Sister Pratt was ministering f« tho wounded at a clearing station in Franco when she. received a gunshot wound in the right shoulder. She says' that she has made a. good .reeovory, but tho X-rays or nOino <:i[tialiy reliable authority, says that there is a piece of shrapnel still in her shoulder. Before 'being enrolled in tho Australian Army. Nursing' Service Sister Piatt served on the staff of.the l.lallarat Hospital fov throe years. She joined the nursing service in Mny, 1915. and was Boon alter on her way to the front. She had seen three months' service in Franco before- being wounded; but prior to that she had been at Lemnos, Cairo, and England. Sister Pratt is a sister of Mir. John Pratt, of Mumbannar, in the western district, of Victoria. In congratulating Sister• Pratt on her decoration, General Birdwood wrote :- "I write to toll you how leally pleased ] am to see that you havo been awarded (he Military Medal in recognition of your courageous' behaviour and devotion to duty during the bombing of your hospital. 1 well know the value of the fine example on such occasions, and havo learnt of the presence of mind which you displayed. 1 congratulate you most heartily on tho honour which you have so fully deserved. I do hope you are .well again now, .is f know tne of tho 'bombs wounded yon."