This is a very brief summary - there are interviews to support my stoy - this precise comes from my mother's inclsion in The Australian Roll of honour honoured by the Queen 1952-1998There are vsome photos but they would have to be sent as I have no facility at present to do so.S

Searle, Vera nee Knappstein MBE 1980 for services to Veterans.1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal. Australian Service Medal. Former Matron, Lameroo Hospital , Barmera Hospital, 1st Matron of the War Veterans Home Infirmary Myrtle Bank.

Born Clare County Augustv5th 1915 daughter of Philip Herman Knappstein and Esther Crane. Died 3rd April 1998.Married Cecil James Searle : one child Kathleen Vera Langham nee Searle.

Educated at Clare Primary School, Clare High School

Career: Matron Lameroo Hospital for 4 years

Matron Lady Weigal Hospital Barmera for 10 years

Matron War Veterans' Home Infirmary for 14 years

Highlights of career

First Matron to be accepted with a daughter in a fully government hospital

Resposible for creating a Tutor Sister role for Riverland hospitals for student nurses

Military service-enlisted 1941 Woodside Camp Hospital ,1941 Wayville Showgrounds Hospital - sailed on the Queen Mary as General Reinforcement 1941

Relieved at 2/1 ACH before being sent to 2/1 CCS and then attached primarily to 2/2 AGH and sent to Suez Canal, Returned to Australia on Strathallan, sent to Kapunda, South Australia to help at Casualty Clearing Station, sent to Wotton Hospital, Queensland 250 miles west of Townsville till hit by a cyclone then went to a Tablelands Hospital near Cairns then transferred to 2/2 CCS. Sent to the Islands, married on Morotai and discharged from the Army Formerly retired to Modbury.