Woman at War
With the declaration of war against South Africa there was an enormous patriotic response and the nurses of New Zealand were no exception, offers came from trained nurses throughout the country. Seddons offer of nurses for the war was initially declines but the vocal persistence from nurses and the government resulted in permission granted by the Imperial war department. Nurses going to war has to be experienced and well trained, between 25-45 years of age with at least 2 years service in a reputable hospital willing to serve in any military hospital.
New Zealand officially sent 13 nurses over, paying for only 6 of the nurses travel costs other nurses relied upon community fundraising or sponsorship to be able to serve, many NZ nurses came as part of the Army Nursing Service Reserve from England.
Some nurses did fall ill while serving but none died in the Anglo-Boer war, upon completing their service they were awarded with the Queens South Africa Medal without clasps, 6 New Zealand nurses were awarded with The Kings South Africa medal for an additional year of military service in South Africa. Returning home they had gained valuable field experience in the war, which proved inexpensible as some of these nurses later went on to serve in the First World War.