Sister Dora Clinch’s WWII medals

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Overview

1. The 1939–1945 Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces for 180 days of operational service in the Second World War.
2. The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during the Second World War.
3. The Defence Medal is a campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945, to be awarded to subjects of the British Commonwealth for both non-operational military and certain types of civilian war service during the Second World War.
4. The War Medal 1939–1945 is a campaign medal which was instituted by the United Kingdom on 16 August 1945, for award to subjects of the British Commonwealth who had served full-time in the Armed Forces or the Merchant Navy for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.
5. The Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 recognises service in Australia's armed forces, Mercantile Marine and Volunteer Defence Corps during World War II.

Historical information

The daughter of Francis and Eena Clinch (nee Morrell); Dora was born at Greenough on 6 December 1908. Dora was educated at Greenough. She then trained at the Perth Hospital. Dora was registered as a nurse in Perth on 28 October 1930. She served first as a staff nurse and later as a sister. Dora then took her midwifery and child welfare course at the King Edward Memorial Hospital after which she was appointed matron of the Government hospital at Broome, where she remained for two years. She then undertook some nursing in New Zealand.
Dora enlisted as a nurse in the Australian Army (WX1550) on 24 January 1940.
A farewell social was held at Greenough in March 1940 for Sister Dora M. Clinch, Sister-in-charge of the West Australian division of nurses, who were going overseas with the Second A.I.F. On behalf of the residents the chairman of the Greenough Road Board (Mr. F. Rudduck) presented Sister Clinch with a well filled wallet of notes, and tendered their good wishes to her. (West Australian, 3 April 1940).
Sister Clinch saw service in Palestine, Egypt and Syria with the 2/2 Australian General Hospital. For 12 months Sister Clinch was in Egypt. She was then transferred to Syria, being the first West Australian nurse to be promoted as sister in charge of a casualty clearing station. (Woman's Realm, West Australian, 12 March 1942)
She was discharged on 7 January 1947. Dora married H.J. Woods and lived in the Eastern States.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-72-GMOB0807

Item type

Material

Width

170 mm

Height or length

100 mm

Depth

8 mm

Themes

People

Social History

War and Conflict

Contextual Information

These medals are not rare. They are however an important reminder of the important contribution made by nurses in World War II, and especially the important role played by a woman born at Greenough.

Keywords

Medical - Nursing

Place made

Australia

Statement of significance

The object '5 WWII medals presented to Dora Clinch' (GMOB0807) has high aesthetic significance, given its (form, colour, texture) and has some rarity value. The item has low scientific significance, although being representative of the class NUMISMATICS/Medals-Military in good condition. The item has high historic significance for the local community and possibly for the State and has high interpretive potential. This item has very high social significance given it was owner DORA MURIEL CLINCH(c1945),

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Greenough Museum and Gardens

Organisation Details
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