# Edith Rudd > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edith_Rudd > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edith_Rudd.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Rudd > Source revision: 1338433600 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Edith Mary Rudd** (née **Lewis**; 14 February 1882 – 7 May 1967) was a [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) civilian and military nurse. She served in both [World War I](/source/World_War_I) and [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and received the [Florence Nightingale Medal](/source/Florence_Nightingale_Medal) from the [Red Cross](/source/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement) in 1961.[1][2] ## Early life Rudd was born in [Northampton](/source/Northampton), [England](/source/England), the daughter of George Llewellyn Lewis and Mary Hunter née Littlejohn.[3] She trained as a nurse at [Whanganui](/source/Whanganui) Hospital in the North Island of New Zealand.[3] ## Career Rudd worked as a nurse at Rostrevor Hospital in [Gisborne](/source/Gisborne,_New_Zealand), in the North Island of New Zealand, until 1915, when she enlisted with the [New Zealand Army Nursing Service](/source/New_Zealand_Army_Nursing_Service).[3][4] In December that year she sailed from [Wellington](/source/Wellington) on the ship [SS *Marama*](/source/SS_Marama).[5] She served in [Egypt](/source/Egypt) until 1918, nursing soldiers injured on the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)).[5] On returning to New Zealand, Rudd continued nursing and from 1921 to 1941 she was Matron of Wairau Hospital in [Blenheim](/source/Blenheim,_New_Zealand).[1] She also became involved with the [New Zealand Red Cross](/source/New_Zealand_Red_Cross), joining the [Marlborough](/source/Marlborough_Region) branch in 1925.[1] Rudd served as a nurse again in World War II, as Matron of the New Zealand Hospital Ship *[Maunganui](/source/NZHS_Maunganui)* from 1941 to 1945*.*[6] Rudd and the *Maunganui* sailed from Wellington to [Suez](/source/Suez) in April 1941 with a group of 20 New Zealand nurses.[5] She became known as the "Momma of the Black Dressing Gown" as she wore a black silk dressing gown to make her night rounds during blackout conditions on board the ship.[6] By the end of Rudd's service, in 1945, the ship had carried more than 5,600 patients.[5] Rudd spent some time in 1945 and 1946 nursing at Trentham Military Hospital in Wellington on her return to New Zealand.[3] In 1952, Rudd became president of the Marlborough branch of the Red Cross.[1] In 1963, she published her memoirs, titled *Joy in the Caring*.[7] ### Honours In the [1944 King's Birthday Honours](/source/1944_Birthday_Honours_(New_Zealand)), Rudd received the highest military nursing award, the [Royal Red Cross](/source/Royal_Red_Cross) (First Class). In 1953, she received the [Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal](/source/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Coronation_Medal).[1] In 1961, she was presented with the Florence Nightingale Medal by the Red Cross.[5] In 2013, Rudd's Florence Nightingale Medal was loaned to the Marlborough [RSA](/source/Royal_New_Zealand_Returned_and_Services'_Association) for display in its rooms.[1] ## Personal life In 1927, Rudd was engaged to a Mr Nees, chairman of Wairau Hospital.[8] Rudd married William George Rudd in 1946.[5] Edith Rudd died in Blenheim on 7 February 1967 and is buried at Omaka Cemetery.[3] ## References 1. Duggan, Kat (2013-08-07). ["Matron's medal on display at RSA"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/9008462/Matrons-medal-on-display-at-RSA). *Stuff.co.nz*. Retrieved 2016-08-31. 1. ["International Aid Worker Programme | New Zealand Red Cross"](https://www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/overseas/international-aid-worker-programme/). *www.redcross.org.nz*. Retrieved 2016-08-31. 1. ["Edith Mary Lewis"](http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C48352). Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 31 August 2016. 1. ["Nurses at war"](http://gisborneherald.co.nz/lifestyle/2276751-135/nurses-at-war). *Gisborne Herald*. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-31. 1. ["Matron E.M. Lewis, Wairau Hospital"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160911052524/http://www.marlborough.museums.org.nz/mhs/vewebsite32/exhibit6/e60037a.htm). *WW1 Marlborough Sacrifice, The People*. Marlborough Museums. Archived from [the original](http://www.marlborough.museums.org.nz/mhs/vewebsite32/exhibit6/e60037a.htm) on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-31. 1. ["Matron 'Momma' Lewis"](http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/newsletter/museum-news-june-2015.html#story1). *National Army Museum Newsletter*. June–July 2015. Retrieved 2016-08-31. 1. Rudd, Edith M. (1963). [*Joy in the Caring*](http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18039479?selectedversion=NBD7111608). Christchurch NZ: N. M. Peryer. 1. National Library of New Zealand. ["Papers Past | Marriages and Engagements (Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, 1927-04-01)"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/KT19270401.2.66.2). *paperspast.natlib.govt.nz*. Retrieved 2016-08-31. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edith Rudd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Rudd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Rudd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.