This Anzac Day we would like to honour Sister Theresa Butler MBE , who was one of the first New Zealand nurses to serve in WW1.

Born in Upper Hutt on the 8th of October 1884, Theresa was the granddaughter of early local settlers, Thomas and Louisa Butler. Her parents were Harry and Emily Butler. Tragically, when Theresa was only 6 years old her mother passed away.

As a young woman she went to Christchurch, to train as a nurse. In 1914, after completing her training, she left to England for a much deserved vacation. It was during this holiday that war was declared. Theresa immediately joined the Ambulance Corps of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.

In August, Theresa and fellow Kiwi nurse, Jessie McLeod, were part of a 41 strong party sent to Brussel’s to aid the Belgium Red Cross. This made them the first New Zealand nurses to serve on the front. Less than a week after their arrival the city fell to the Germans.

Effectively a prisoner, Theresa and her fellow nurses were required to treat injured German soldiers. After two months, the American Ambassador in Brussels was able to intervene, issuing them American passports. It was a tense and long trip back to England, taking them four and a half days (as opposed to the usual 8 hours). In one alarming instance a German officer accused them of being spies, which led to hours of interrogation before finally being released.

As recognition of her early service in the war, Theresa was awarded the 1914 (Mons) Star. She was only one of only four New Zealand Military personnel to receive this medal.

In April 1915, Theresa volunteered for more service, and was sent to Alexandria, Egypt. There she treated soldiers wounded in Gallipoli.

After the war Theresa was Assistant Matron at the military hospital at Trentham Camp.

Later she worked in Thames as a Plunket Nurse and then went to nurse in the Pacific Islands, where she served in Rarotonga and for an extended period in Niue. It was for these later contributions to nursing that she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1939.

Theresa passed away in Auckland on 13 November 1968 at the age of 84. She is buried in the graveyard on the grounds St John’s Anglican Church Trentham.

Upper Hutt Heritage / Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collections submitted this article to The Upper Hutt Connection

26/04/24