Alice Joan Tywnam MID, RRC

Service: AANS
Place of Birth: Born at ‘Riversdale’ Goulburn which her parents owned and lived at, prior to buying and moving to ‘Richlands’, in the Taralga district.
Highlights: Born in 1886 and known as Joan. Completed her nurse training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and joined AANS in May 1910 as a Reserve Sister, prior to formation of the AIF. She described herself as a ‘Bush Nurse’ on her enlistment forms. Joan was mobilised for full time duty in Sept 1914 and sailed for Egypt with the first convoy from Australia on 15 Dec 1914 as a member of 1st Australian Stationary Hospital. This tented hospital had been established in Cairo, adjacent to the Light Horse Camp, before being packed up and moved by ship to Lemnos Island just prior to the Gallipoli Landing. Elements of the hospital worked at Gallipoli later in the campaign, but not the nurses, before the unit returned to Egypt and was re-established in a former French Nunnery on 1 Feb 1916, at Ismailia, Egypt. From 3 Sep 1915 to sometime in 1916 Joan worked on various hospital ships evacuating casualties from Gallipoli. On 1 Mar 1916, Sr Twynam was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir J. B Maxwell as follows: “In continuation of my despatch of the 1st March 1916 I have the honour to submit the names of officers and other ranks whom I desire to bring to your notice: Administration in Egypt Sister Alice Joan Twynam, 1st Stationary Hospital. Gazetted on 21 Sep 1916.” On 26 Mar 1916, Joan departed from Alexandria with British Expeditionary Force Staff and sailed to Marseilles, France arriving 4 Apr 1916. Joan worked in a number of units in France, namely No 1 Aust Casualty Clearing Station, 2 AGH, and 10th General Hospital (British). On 1st Sep 1917, Joan was appointed as the Acting Head Nurse of 25th General Hospital at Hardelot, Pas de Calais. This was a British establishment taken over by the AIF and Joan remained in this position until 28 Feb 1919, when she started her journey back to Australia. Like all the other nurses she had to work her journey home, as Sister in Charge of the nurses on HM Troopship Anchises. On 3 Jun 1919 Joan was awarded the Royal Red Cross 1st Class Citation as follows: “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Royal Red Cross to the undermentioned lady of the Nursing Services in recognition of her valuable service with the Armies in France & Flanders, and her untiring devotion to duty. Has served for 4 years in Egypt and France, and did valuable work at a C.C.S. during a very busy period. Head Sister Alice Joan Twynam.” Gazetted 15 Sep 1919 and presented to Joan by The Prince of Wales (Later King Edward V111) during his visit to Sydney Australia in June 1920. Joan never married and died in Goulburn in 1967.