Florance Beatrice COOK

Florance Beatrice Cook. Florance Beatrice Cook. Florance Beatrice Cook. Florance Beatrice Cook.

Florence Beatrice Cook was born on 28th August, 1890 in Albany, Western Australia, the daughter of John Collin Cooper COOK and Mary Ann ROWLANDS, who married on the 2nd June, 1884 at All Saint’s Church, Durham, England.

Heliopolis, Egypt, c1915.
Group photograph of nurses of
No. 1 Australian General Hospital

She trained as a nurse at the Perth Public Hospital and during World War 1 served at the Base Hospital, Fremantle for a few weeks prior to sailing. Florence embarked at Fremantle 18th November, 1915 on the A67 Orsova for Egypt and served with the 1st AGH, at No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital in Egypt.[2]

She married Captain Albert McLeod, 16th Bn, on the 3rd March, 1916 at the Garrison Chapel at Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt. Both Beatrice and Albert are listed on the Katanning and Districts Honour Roll, as well as her two brothers Claude and Frederick. The couple had one son, Frederick Albert who was born on 28th December, 1916 at Northam, Western Australia (3 weeks after his father’s death).

In 1918 Florence was appointed Matron of Beverley Hospital, WA, and in 1925 she was an Enrolled Nurse at Edward Millen Home, Victoria Park, WA. In 1931 she was ER Nurse at Cottesloe Beach, WA before transferring to the Government Hospital at Wagin, WA, in 1936 as an ER Nurse. In 1937 she accepted a position as Matron of the Government Hospital in Margaret River, WA. Then in February 1938 she was temporary Matron of the Katanning Hospital before being appointed to the position in May 1940 to January 1942. From 1943 to 1949 she returned to Cottesloe Beach, WA (Home Duties) and in February 1954 she was at West Perth. Her final position was in 1954 as Matron of the District Hospital in Busselton, WA.

Beatrice never remarried and she eventually moved to Rose Park, SA, in September of 1967 and died on 28th May, 1986 SA, age 95. She was cremated at Centennial Park General Cemetery, SA.

From newspapers of the day.

Great Southern Herald
12 August, 1905 (p.3):

Personal Pars: Among the successful candidates at the recent pianoforte examination held by the University of Adelaide in conjunction with the Associated Board was Miss Florence B. Cook, daughter of Mr J.C. Cook, of this town. Miss Cook was only studying for the examination a short while and is to be heartily congratulated on her success.

West Australian
9 March, 1908

COUNTRY – KATANNING.
Mrs. J. C. Cook was being driven by her daughter in a sulky yesterday, and after going some distance Miss Cook found that she had no control over the horse. On looking for the cause she discovered that the bit had not been placed in the horse’s month.

Mrs Cook alighted to adjust the bit, removing the winkers to do so. The horse bolted, knocking Mrs. Cook down. The sulky was capsized, but Miss Cook escaped serious injury and was able to assist her mother, who sustained several bruises and a severe cut on the arm. Her injuries were attended to by Dr House at the Katanning Hospital.

Great Southern Herald
27 January, 1912 (p.1):

News in Brief: Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cook, accompanied by Miss Cook, returned to Katanning on Tuesday night after what they describe as a most enjoyable time in Europe.

Great Southern Herald
21 July, 1915 (p.2)

NEWS and NOTES: Katanning Nurses for the Front – On Monday evening there was a hastily arranged gathering of representative residents of Katanning to bid God-speed to Miss Lizzie Grover and Miss Beatrice Cook, who are starting almost immediately for hospital work amongst sick and wounded soldiers. Dr House had been asked to voice the good wishes of the people of town and district was unavoidably absent, and this duty fell to Rev. Father Reidy, and Mr R.L. Richardson. Each nurse was presented with a handsome travelling bag. Dancing followed, and supper completed a very interesting evening.

The West Australian
7 March, 1916 (p.3)

SOCIAL NOTES The engagement is announced of Lieutenant A. McLeod, 16th MG Section, 4th Brigade, O.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. G. McLeod, Katanning, to Sister Florence Beatrice Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Cook, late of Katanning.

Great Southern Herald
15 March, 1916 (p.2)

NEWS and NOTES: Military Wedding – A marriage of interest to the people of this district took place at Cairo, Egypt, on Monday, March 6, when Lieut. A. McLeod, jun., was married to Miss Florence Beatrice Cook, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cook, late of Katanning. The numerous friends of the young couple in this district will wish them happiness and prosperity.

The West Australian
5 April, 1916 (p.7)

Captain the Rev. Edward Makeham, chaplain in the Third Australian General Hospital, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt reports that, with the special permission of the General Officer Commanding, he has solemnized the following marriages in the Garrison Chapel at Abbassia, and the particulars have been entered in the marriage register of the chapel mentioned and forwarded to the office of the Registrar-General, Somerset House, England: – On January 18, 1916, Errol Wharton Kirke, Captain 18th Battalion, AIF, of Melbourne, public servant, to Miss Gwyneth Llewellyn Holland; on February 24, 1916, Carlton Eversleigh Cowper, Corporal AAMC, AIF, of Perth, to Miss Grace Croisdale Kirk, nurse; and on March 3, 1916, Albert McLeod, Lieutenant 16th Battalion, AIF, of Katanning, to Miss Florence Beatrice Cook, sister, No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital.

Western Mail (Perth, WA)
12 January, 1917 (p.31)

BIRTHS. McLeod – On December 28, at her mother’s residence, Charles Street, Northam, to Mrs. A. McLeod, wife of the late Captain Albert McLeod (16th Battalion, A.I.F.) – a son.

Northam Courier (WA)
22 November. 1918 (p.5)

LOCAL AND GENERAL: Mrs. A. McLeod, of Northam, wife of the late Captain McLeod, who was accidentally shot in Scotland about two years ago, has been appointed Matron of the Beverley Hospital. Mrs. McLeod, who leaves for Beverley this morning, served with the A.A.N.S. in Egypt during 1915-16. All will wish her and her bonny little son future health and prosperity.

Great Southern Herald
12 February, 1938 (p.2)

SOCIAL and PERSONAL: Matron McLeod, who will take charge of the Katanning Hospital during the absence of Miss Milne-Robertson, has a life-long association with Katanning. As Beatrice Cook, she will still be remembered by many of those with whom she went to school in Katanning, her parents then being in business in the town. Later, she married Albert McLeod, eldest son of the late George McLeod, who died in Scotland whilst on active service. On being widowed, she took up nursing and since rising to the status of matron has been in charge at Lake Grace and Wagin, amongst other Government hospitals.

Great Southern Herald
15 May, 1940 (p.2)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL: The Hon. Minister for Justice has appointed Mrs. Florence Beatrice McLeod, Matron of the Katanning District Hospital, as a Commissioner for Declarations under the Declarations and Attestations Act, 1913.

Great Southern Herald
4 February, 1942 (p.2)

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL: Mrs. Beatrice McLeod has resigned from the position of matron at the Katanning Hospital, and left for Perth during the week-end. Notes: Her birth is registered as Florance with an ‘a’ – she also writes her name like this in correspondence in her husband’s file – but signs herself F. Beatrice McLeod.

Florence Beatrice Cook – Enlistment details

The majority of this research comes from the “Discovering ANZACS” portal of the National Archives of Australia and the archives of the Great Southern Herald and other newspapers.

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