Silver filagree butterfly brooch sent from Evelyn to Dos from Palestine in 1942

It is believed that Evelyn was Australian Army Nursing Service Lieutenant Evelyn Hay Drummond Carmichael, who served with the 6th Australian General Hospital situated on the Gaza Ridge in Palestine at the right time.
Evelyn was born in Bald Hills, Queensland on 26 May 1912. She enlisted for service in Brisbane on 5 August 1940, aged 28 and a single nurse. Her rank was Staff Nurse and her service number was QX6375. She served in Australia at various hospitals until the end of January 1941, when she embarked for the Middle East, arriving on 19 February 1941. She was promoted to Sister on 1 December 1941. She married Supt. Ian Mackenzie Truner of the Palestine Police Force in Gaza on 14 November 1942 and her appointment was terminated two days later.

This brooch was sent to someone named Dos (yet to be determined) in June 1942, inside an olive wood box which is also held in the collection. The writing on the Y.M.C.A. envelope gives details of the gift. Another olive wood box with a napkin ring inside also came with the same grouping.

Visiting servicemen and women purchased a variety of souvenirs from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Palestine and The Holy Land while passing through on active service during both world wars.
Some of the more common items were embroideries such as cushion covers, painted artworks on fabric, jewellery made from mother of pearl, metal and timber, and photo albums with wooden covers filled with postcards of local scenes and pressed dried flowers.
There was also a range of trinket boxes, often with hidden drawers, made from the local olive wood and a range of other olive wood items including napkin rings and even a portable book shelf.