Mrs. Edith Svensen

Death of Devoted Nurse

AFTER a long and useful career in England and the British Solomon Islands, Mrs. Edith Elizabeth Svensen (Sister Elliot) died on March 20 at the Govern ment Hospital, Tulagi, B.S.I., from pneu-

monia, following a severe attack of influ enza.

Born of British parents in Bruges, Bel gium, in 1880, she went to England to he educated and received training as a quali fied nurse. Later, the Colonial Office ap pointed her to nursing work in West Africa. Returning to England in 1914, she did valuable work at the Military Hos pital, Norwich, and gained for herself a reputation for skill and kindness.

Early in 1915 Sister Elliot was appointed Matron in the Protectorate of the British Solomon Islands. Arriving in Tulagi in February of that year, she organized and established the first hospital in the Group.

For the notable service she performed among the European and native popula tions in B.S.I., the Colonial Nursing Association awarded her a silver medal “for long and faithful devotion to duty.”

In 1919 she resigned from the hospital to marry Mr. J. Y. Svensen, but during the devastating influenza epidemic of that year she was summoned to Tulagi to take con trol of the auxiliary hospital, with Messrs.

Lever Bros.’ doctor.

After the epidemic, Mrs. Svensen re turned to her husband’s plantation at Kokonavuka Island, Ovi Harbour, Gua dalcanal. There she devoted herself to medical work among the native women and children, and her achievements there testify to her ability and sympathetic kind ness.

Mrs. Svensen had many friends and cor respondents all over the Pacific —from New Guinea in the east to Tahiti in the west — and her presence will be sadly missed by all who knew her as a faithful and tender friend.

Mr. John Jukes, well-known as a Guinea Airways pilot on the New Guinea goldfields service, has definitely retired from flying, and will take a long holiday in America and England. He left Syd ney by the Monterey on June 27.

Mrs. Edith Svensen in nursing uniform.