Updated on VWMA

UREN, Amelia (Millie)

Staff Nurse 
AANS
No 5 Section Sea Transport Staff

Born 31 January 1881 at Glanville, SA
Daughter of Jonathan UREN and Elizabeth Runnalls nee TEMBY
Of 'Penquite' Payneham Road, St. Peters, SA
Occupation prior to enlistment at Adelaide Hospital
Board of Health Nurse for the East Torrens District
Enlisted 09 July 1915 at North Adelaide, SA
Embarked 16 July 1915
Aged 36 years
Served in England
Returned to Australia 20 June 1916 per 'Themistocles'
Appointment terminated  07 July 1916
Enlisted 16 June 1917
Embarked 23 June 1917
Embarked 05 January 1918
Embarked 06 August 1918
Appointment terminated 03 May 1919
Did not marry
Died 12 September 1971 at St. Peters, SA
Aged 90 years
​Buried Payneham Cemetery

UREN, Catherine Temby

Staff Nurse
AANS
No 5 Section Sea Transport Staff

Born 31 January 1881 at Glanville, SA
Daughter of Jonathan UREN and Elizabeth Runnalls nee TEMBY
Of 'Penquite' Payneham Road, St. Peters, SA
Occupation prior to enlistment at Adelaide Hospital
Enlisted 16 July 1917 at North Adelaide, SA
Embarked 23 June 1917
Aged 35 years
Served in England
Returned to Australia 05 January 1919 per 'Suevic'
Discharged 04 February 1919
Did not marry
Died 26 September 1967 at Daw Park, SA
Aged 86 years
​Buried Payneham Cemetery

Sister Catherine Temby "Kate" Uren (left) and Sister Amelia "Mill" Uren (right)

www.awm.gov.au
P10964.002

UREN, Ethelda Runnalls

Matron
AANS

Born 13 September 1871 at Adelaide, SA
Daughter of Jonathan UREN and Elizabeth Runnalls nee TEMBY
Of 'Penquite' Payneham Road, St. Peters, SA
Aged 45 years
Trained at Adelaide Hospital (3 years)
Enlisted 22 May 1917 at Keswick, SA
Embarked 09 June 1917 per 'Mootan' at Sydney, NSW
Served in Salonkia
Returned to Australia 03 October 1918 per 'Wiltshire'
Appointment terminated 20 November 1918
Did not marry
Died 02 October 1947 at Heathfield, SA
Aged 76 years
Buried Payneham Cemetery

www.awm.gov.au
P10964.001
Picture
Awarded Royal Red Cross (1st Class)
Date of Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 1 April 1920
Location in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: Page 543, position 5
Date of London Gazette: 1 January 1919
Location in London Gazette: Page 77, position 2
Matron E. R. Uren, who has been awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal for services at Salonika, has for some years conducted the Narma Nursing Home, South-terrace. She has been connected with the Australian Army  Nursing Service Reserve since it was formed in 1904,and in 1915 was appointed principal matron for the 4th (South Australian) Military District. Holding that position until 1917, she embarked with the A.I.F. for India, but was recalled to join the nursing staff organised in Sydney for service at Salonika. With about 300 other nurses she travelled from Sydney to Adelaide, and embarked, being in charge of No. 3 unit of 91 nurses. A fourth unit of nurses was dispatched later, chiefly as reinforcements. Those Australian nurses staffed four Imperial General Canvas Tent Hospitals, each containing 1,560 beds, at Salonika, Sister Uren being matron-in-charge of the 60th General Hospital for 13 months. Then, owing to urgent private business, she was granted leave, and returned to Adelaide on October 6 last. When the armistice was signed Matron Uren was placed on there serve again. She considers herself fortunate in having gone through the campaign without falling ill as at Salonika there was much sickness among the nursing staff, owing to malaria and dysentery.  On her way to Salonika the matron and the other Australian nurses volunteered for hospital service at Alexandria during the three weeks that the transport was held up at Port Said, and their services were appreciated.

Chronicle Saturday 11 January 1919 page 31
Sister E. Uren, of the Narma Hospital, South terrace, Adelaide, has just received an unusual decoration. She holds the grade of Honorary Serving Sister to the Grand Prior of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England. The token of the order is of black enamel, with a silver band and white cross, and has a black ribbon. Sister Uren first served as a military sister in 1901, when the Commonwealth Army Nursing Society was formed. She left for active service in the Great War in May 1917, when she was appointed matron of the 60th General Hospital at Salonika. Sister Uren was trained at the Adelaide Hospital, and afterwards went to Glasgow, where she obtained the highest possible certificates in her profession. She has also received the Royal Red Cross, which is a reward for having tended sick and wounded soldiers and sailors with conspicuous devotion.

The Register Wednesday 07 September 1921 page 8

Sister Ethel Uren, who now lives at Stirling, was in charge of the detachment of nurses at Salonika. Soon after they arrived the town was swept by fire, food ships were torpedoed, and there was shortage of supplies.  Another night, when there was an air raid, the nurses refused to go into the dug-outs, but waited outside in the open and watched, solemnly holding enamel wash-basins on their heads as protection. A piece of shrapnel fell a few feet from them, and Sister Uren promptly seized it and burnt her fingers. But she brought it home as a souvenir.

​News Monday 25 April 1938 page 6
Picture
Birthday For Matron Uren

Matron Ethel Uren one of South Australia's best-known and loved World War I sisters, she 
holds both the Royal Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem-had a delightful 
surprise party on her birthday.Thirty old friends wished her many happy returns, at the 
home of her sisters. Sisters Kate and M. Uren, St. Peters. Tea was served outdoors, where Matron Uren cut her birthday cake. Congratulatory speeches were made by 
her niece, Sister E. R. Uren, World War II nurse, and others and Mrs. Edward Reeves 
recited. Melbourne visitors at the party included former Army sisters Mrs.Alan Walker, 
Mrs. Cliff Taylor and Miss Hook. Several serving members of the Australian Army Nursing 
Service were among those present.

News Thursday 19 September 1946 page 7

UREN.-On October 2, at her residence,"Gnarwyn," Mount Lofty, Matron Ethelda Runnalls Uren, beloved sister of Frank (W.A.), Reg (Vic.), Mill and Kate. Late 1st A.I.F.

News Thursday 02 October 1947 page 8
Death Of Miss Ethel Uren

The death occurred yesterday morning at her home at Mt. Lofty of Miss Ethel Uren, who was well known in nursing and medical circles in South Australia. Miss Uren had a distinguished career in nursing, from which she retired about 20 years ago. She trained at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and at Glasgow Maternity Hospital, and was matron for many years of Narma Private Hospital in South terrace, which she established. During the 1914-1918 war she was acting principal matron of the 4th Military District for two years, and in 1917 was one of three matrons who accompanied the largest group of trained nurses, numbering 300, which embarked from Australia for active service.  She was in charge of a composite unit, representative of every State, which was attached to the 60th General Hospital at Salonika, with, 1560 beds under canvas. She was awarded the RCC and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Advertiser Friday 03 October 1947 page 10
Photograph - The Chronicle Saturday 19 May 1917 page 25