[Index]
Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON (1891 - 1948)
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON (1891 - 1948)

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Arthur FIRKIN
 David William BOON (1861 - 1925) David BOON (1836 - 1912) David BOON
Lucy WOOLLEY
Mary Ann GUTTERIDGE (1836 - 1906) Thomas HAWLEY NEWTON
Frances Ann GUTTERIDGE (1815 - 1891)
Elizabeth SOUTHWELL (1861 - 1940) Thomas SOUTHWELL (1813 - 1881) Samuel SOUTHWELL
Sarah Ann JACKSON
Mary ROFFE (1826 - 1885) Edward ROFFE
Sarah GIBBS
Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON
Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON
Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON
b. 19 Feb 1891 at Canberra, ACT, Australia
m. 1925 Arthur FIRKIN at Orange, New South Wales, Australia
d. 25 Nov 1948 at Manly, New South Wales, Australia aged 57
Near Relatives of Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON (1891 - 1948)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather David BOON 1836 Ramsay, Huntingdonshire, England 30 Nov 1912 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 76
Grandmother Mary Ann GUTTERIDGE 1836 Holme, Huntingdonshire, England 10 Aug 1906 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 70
Grandfather Thomas SOUTHWELL 1813 Robertsbridge, Sussex, England 31 May 1881 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 68
Grandmother Mary ROFFE 1826 Kent, England 29 Apr 1885 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 59

Father David William BOON 1861 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 25 Jan 1925 64
Mother Elizabeth SOUTHWELL 1861 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 18 Nov 1940 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 79

Self Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON 19 Feb 1891 Canberra, ACT, Australia 25 Nov 1948 Manly, New South Wales, Australia 57

Husband Arthur FIRKIN

Sister Daisy BOON 1884 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1884 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0
Sister Olive Mary Ann BOON 1885 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Sister Marianne Esdale BOON 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Brother Alick David Eugene BOON 1889 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Sister Beatrice May BOON 1894
Brother Arthur Southwell BOON 1897

Aunt Lucy BOON 1863 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 27 Jun 1960 97
Uncle Samuel WILLIAMS 1861 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle Arthur L BOON 1866 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
Aunt Margaret M CURTIN
Aunt Frances Mary Ann BOON 1868 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
Aunt Eliza May BOON 1871 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Aunt Ada Ruth BOON 1873 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 23 Jul 1951 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 78
Uncle Henry Edwin PHILPOTT 1872 Glebe, New South Wales, Australia 20 Oct 1917 45
Uncle Frederick John BOON 1875 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Ernest Llewellyn BOON 1877 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Isaac Walter BOON 1879 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Clement Everard BOON 1881 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Thomas SOUTHWELL 1835 Robertsbridge, Sussex, England 08 Feb 1921 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia 86
Aunt Eliza ROFFE 1840 Kirkham, New South Wales, Australia 21 Jan 1923 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia 83
Aunt Mary Ann SOUTHWELL 1837 Robertsbridge, Sussex, England 25 May 1874 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia 37
Uncle Alfred BEMBRICK 1837 Rye, Sussex, England 08 Jan 1922 Harden, New South Wales, Australia 85
Uncle William SOUTHWELL 1840 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Samson SOUTHWELL 1841 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 08 Aug 1914 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 73
Aunt Elizabeth (Betsy) VENESS 1838 Sussex, England 10 Feb 1903 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 65
Uncle Samuel SOUTHWELL 1843 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 17 Dec 1928 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 85
Aunt Harriet BEMBRICK 1840 16 Apr 1876 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 36
Aunt Eliza Jane SMITH 1847 10 Oct 1939 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 92
Uncle John SOUTHWELL 1845 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 21 Oct 1912 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 67
Aunt Louisa SMITH 1844 Ramsay, Huntingdonshire, England 1926 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 82
Aunt Eliza SOUTHWELL 1847 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Aunt Lydia SOUTHWELL 1849 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Jabez SOUTHWELL 1852 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1852 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 0
Uncle James SOUTHWELL 1853 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 01 May 1940 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 87
Aunt Hannah BROWN abt 1853 Dalton, New South Wales, Australia 08 Aug 1938 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 85
Uncle Richard SOUTHWELL 1855 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 27 Apr 1933 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 78
Aunt Amelia SMITH 1859 Pialligo, ACT, Australia 31 Mar 1927 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 68
Aunt Sarah SOUTHWELL 1857 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Stephen Charles BROWN 1854 Dalton, New South Wales, Australia 1878 24
Aunt Jane SOUTHWELL 1859 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 23 Jul 1928 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 69
Uncle Ellis SMITH 1856 Pialligo, ACT, Australia 03 Nov 1928 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 72
Uncle Mark SOUTHWELL 1863 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 26 Jun 1936 Blayney, New South Wales, Australia 73
Aunt Elizabeth BROOKS 1864 Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia 02 Jun 1945 Blaney, New South Wales, Australia 81
Aunt Hannah SOUTHWELL 1865 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1931 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Uncle Job BROWN 1860 1937 77
Aunt Beatrice SOUTHWELL 26 Aug 1868 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 30 Sep 1947 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 79
Uncle James Kinlock KILBY 1870 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 21 Jul 1950 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 80
Uncle Benjamin Roffe SOUTHWELL 1871 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 04 Oct 1945 New South Wales, Australia 74
Aunt Sarah GORDON 10 Apr 1955
Aunt Ann CROXTON 1846 Camden, New South Wales, Australia 22 Jul 1932 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 86
Uncle Samuel (Captain) SOUTHWELL 1844 Salehurst, Sussex, England 22 Jul 1920 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 76
Aunt Harriet CROXTON 1849 Picton, New South Wales, Australia

Cousin Edmond WILLIAMS
Cousin Lyndon WILLIAMS
Cousin Myra WILLIAMS
Cousin Neal WILLIAMS
Cousin Phyllis WILLIAMS
Cousin Ernest P B WILLIAMS 1885 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Herbert S N WILLIAMS 1887 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Myrtle L J WILLIAMS 1889 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin David L C WILLIAMS 1891 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Annie WILLIAMS 1893 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ruby WILLIAMS 1895 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Erick D BOON 1895 Bourke, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Arthur D R BOON 1897 New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Kenneth F L BOON 1899 New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Edna Pretoria May PHILPOTT 1900 Enfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Clive Redvers PHILPOTT 1901 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Eril David John PHILPOTT 1903 Enfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Claire Mary Ann PHILPOTT 1905 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Clement Keith PHILPOTT 1907 Enfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ervin Henry PHILPOTT 1911 Enfield, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Jabez SOUTHWELL 1858 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1858 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Jane SOUTHWELL 1859 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1859 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Sarah SOUTHWELL 1861 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Richard SOUTHWELL 1864 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Samson SOUTHWELL 1866 Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin David SOUTHWELL 1869 Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Noah SOUTHWELL 1872 Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Josiah SOUTHWELL 1875 Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mary Ann Adelphi SOUTHWELL 1882 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Thomas BEMBRICK 1858 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin James BEMBRICK 1860 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 1927 67
Cousin Alfred BEMBRICK 1861 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Samson BEMBRICK 1863 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Samuel BEMBRICK 1863 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin John BEMBRICK 1865 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mark BEMBRICK 1867 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Michael BEMBRICK 1868 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Helen BEMBRICK 1871 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Silas BEMBRICK 1872 Rye Park, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Dorothy BEMBRICK
Cousin William BEMBRICK 1875 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mary Ann BEMBRICK 1877 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elizabeth BEMBRICK 1878 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia 1879 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia 1
Cousin Wesley BEMBRICK 1879 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia 1879 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Priscilla BEMBRICK 1881 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Alice BEMBRICK 1883 Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Thomas SOUTHWELL 1863 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 20 May 1925 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 62
Cousin John SOUTHWELL 1865 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 29 Jan 1942 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 77
Cousin Henry SOUTHWELL 1867 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 18 Apr 1942 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 75
Cousin Charlotte Ann SOUTHWELL 1869 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Emily SOUTHWELL 1870 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Obed SOUTHWELL 1872 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Lucy Jane SOUTHWELL 1874 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin William Abel SOUTHWELL 1876 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Samson James SOUTHWELL 1878 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 25 Jan 1955 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 77
Cousin Elizabeth Beatrice SOUTHWELL 1880 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Walter SOUTHWELL abt 1881 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Edward SOUTHWELL abt 1882 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elizabeth SOUTHWELL 1864 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 18 Nov 1940 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 76
Cousin Mary Ann Marianne SOUTHWELL 1866 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 29 May 1961 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 95
Cousin Alfred SOUTHWELL 1867 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Etty SOUTHWELL 1869 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Charles William SOUTHWELL 1871 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ernest Richard SOUTHWELL 1874 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 1875 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 1
Cousin Harriet SOUTHWELL 1876 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Linsdey Edwin SOUTHWELL 1878 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Bertha Eveline SOUTHWELL 1881 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Ethel Eliza SOUTHWELL 1885 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Henry STEAR 1872 24 Sep 1904 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 32
Cousin Albert SOUTHWELL 1868 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Eva Annie SOUTHWELL 1869 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Amelia Alma SOUTHWELL 1871 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin William Shelton SOUTHWELL 1873 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Raymond SOUTHWELL 1875 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 16 May 1942 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 67
Cousin Sidney Rowland SOUTHWELL 1880 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 16 Jan 1933 Illabo, New South Wales, Australia 53
Cousin Edward John Thomas SOUTHWELL 1882 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Mary Jane SOUTHWELL 1878 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Cecilia Augusta SOUTHWELL 1880 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elsie Mildred SOUTHWELL 1883 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Norman James SOUTHWELL 1885 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Stella Hannah SOUTHWELL 1888 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Aubrey Valetta SOUTHWELL 1889 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Selby Athelstan SOUTHWELL 1892 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 1895 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 3
Cousin Guilford Ashley SOUTHWELL 1894 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Vida Patience SOUTHWELL 1883 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 1883 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Harold Ellis SOUTHWELL 1884 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 30 Dec 1951 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 67
Cousin Cecil James SOUTHWELL 1886 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 1886 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Mary Adelaide SOUTHWELL 1888 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Clarence Elvin SOUTHWELL 1889 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 1889 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 0
Cousin Muriel Irene SOUTHWELL 1891 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Hubert Lindley SOUTHWELL 1893 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Louisa Marion SOUTHWELL 1895 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Cedric Richard Ewan SOUTHWELL 1899 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Rebecca Jane SMITH 1879 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 14 May 1950 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 71
Cousin Lavinia Mary SMITH 1881 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ernest Clement SMITH 1883 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Beatrice Louisa SMITH 1885 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Leslie Edward SMITH 1887 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elvira Clare SMITH 1888 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Leon Russell SMITH 1891 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia 21 Jun 1974 Canberra, ACT, Australia 83
Cousin Eunice Alma Victoria SMITH 1897 Wallaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Kenneth Charles Norton SOUTHWELL 1886 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Cyril Ernest Brooks SOUTHWELL 1888 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Ruby Millicent SOUTHWELL 1890 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Lyle Thomas Hedley SOUTHWELL 1891 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Linda Mary Ellen SOUTHWELL 1894 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Gladys Elizabeth SOUTHWELL 1897 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Verna Lavinia SOUTHWELL 1899 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Bessie Wilga SOUTHWELL 1902 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Clarence Mark Ebert SOUTHWELL 1905 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Leila Mary BROWN 1889 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Morley T BROWN 1892 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Elsie S BROWN 1893 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mervyn R BROWN 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1898 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 3
Cousin Rita Beatrice BROWN 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10 Aug 1974 Canberra, ACT, Australia 75
Cousin Ronald A BROWN 1906 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Keith Kinlock KILBY 31 Jan 1898 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 28 Mar 1976 Canberra, ACT, Australia 78
Cousin Athol Carlyle KILBY 28 May 1899 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia 02 Sep 1962 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 63
Cousin Clyde Redvers KILBY 1901 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Selby William KILBY 1903 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Beryl Beatrix Mary KILBY 1904 Parkwood, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Bruce Beltran KILBY 1907 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Grace Allison Jane KILBY 1909 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Cleon Kennison Robert KILBY 1912 Hall, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Gordon Rex SOUTHWELL 1895 1982 87
Cousin Phyllis Lorna Mary SOUTHWELL 1904
Cousin Harriet SOUTHWELL 1865 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1868 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 3
Cousin Lewis SOUTHWELL 1868 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 15 Jul 1916 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 48
Cousin Reuben SOUTHWELL 1869 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Horace SOUTHWELL 1871 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 10 Oct 1946 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 75
Cousin Ben Richard SOUTHWELL 1874 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin George SOUTHWELL 1877 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 05 Jul 1942 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 65
Cousin Ernest Croxton SOUTHWELL 1879 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Mary Lucy Ann SOUTHWELL 1882 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1894 12
Cousin John Herbert SOUTHWELL 1885 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Frank Owen SOUTHWELL 1887 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Albert Clive SOUTHWELL 1890 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia

Events in Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON (1891 - 1948)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
19 Feb 1891 Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON was born Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1925 34 Married Arthur FIRKIN Orange, New South Wales, Australia 80
25 Jan 1925 33 Death of father David William BOON (aged 64) 6
18 Nov 1940 49 Death of mother Elizabeth SOUTHWELL (aged 79) Hall, New South Wales, Australia 6
25 Nov 1948 57 Gladys Elizabeth Clare BOON died Manly, New South Wales, Australia 80
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 20 (Birth)
- Reference = 20 (Name, Notes)
80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/3570/gladys-elizabeth-clare-boon.html (Death)
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/3570/gladys-elizabeth-clare-boon.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Gladys Elizabeth Clare Boon

Born: 19 Feb 1891; Died: 25 Nov 1948; Married: Arthur Firkin

Gladys Elizabeth Clare Boon
Related Places
Parkwood
The Parkwood Home of Thomas and Mary Southwell Southwell Family Society In 1863 at the age...

Parkwood Chapel
Thomas and Eliza Southwell and their two small children (Thomas and Mary Ann) arrived in Australia...

Gladys Elizabeth Clare Boon served in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) at Salonika, Greece from 1917 to 1919 and then briefly in England before returning to Australia. Trained at Orange Hospital, she nursed at Bathurst District Hospital and Wallsend Hospital before her marriage to Arthur Firkin in 1925.

Gladys Elizabeth Clare Boon was born at Queanbeyan, NSW on 19 February 1891 to David William Boon, a policeman, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Southwell). Gladys's mother Elizabeth was a daughter of Thomas Southwell, a pioneer settler at 'Parkwood', a property on Ginninderra Creek, in New South Wales. After Elizabeth Southwell married David William Boon at Parkwood Chapel they lived near 'Parkwood' until David Boon joined the mounted police and was posted to a succession of New South Wales country towns. Gladys's connection to Canberra is through her descent from the pioneer Southwell family.

Gladys Boon trained as a nurse at Orange Hospital graduating with a four-year nursing certificate in February 1915. She continued nursing at Orange Hospital until December 1916 when she resigned as head nurse to nurse at a military hospital, 4th Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Randwick in Sydney. On 3 April 1917 Gladys enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in Sydney. Her enlistment papers describe her as aged 26, her religion as Methodist and her next of kin as her father David Boon of Orange. She gave her birthplace as Goulburn but NSW birth records state she was born at Queanbeyan.

She was recruited following a request from the British Government for Australian trained nurses to staff four British military hospitals in Salonika in northern Greece. In response to the request three units, each of 91 nurses, embarked from Australia in June 1917 and a fourth unit in August. The first three units began duty in Salonika in August 1917. The fourth was delayed in Egypt and reached Salonika later. Altogether 42 Australian sisters and 257 staff nurses served in Salonika.

British and French forces had arrived in Greece in 1915 to fight Bulgarian forces invading Serbia, to regain control of the Balkans and prevent enemy forces taking areas leading to the Suez Canal and the Middle East but they saw only intermittent action over the next three years. Most patients at the military hospitals were British soldiers and Bulgarian prisoners of war. Many were not battle casualties but suffering from diseases including malaria, dysentery and black water fever. Australian nurses preferred to serve in Australian-run hospitals and to nurse Australian soldiers. This was never the case in Salonika. In addition they felt they had been relegated to the war's sidelines. Any action in Greece was little reported at the time. The final battle against the Bulgarians in September 1918 was not reported in the London Times in any detail until 1919.

All the nurses in Salonika felt the bitter cold and snow in winter and the intense heat in summer in hospitals that were accommodated in tents or primitive huts often in swampy areas which became quagmires after rain. In winter there was not enough fuel for braziers to heat the tents and by morning the blankets on patients were stiff with ice. In summer mosquitoes were a serious problem. Most nurses had bouts of malaria which was endemic and those who suffered recurrent malaria had to repatriated to Australia. Two nurses died in Salonika and, by August 1918, 46 nurses had been invalided back to Australia. Nurses wore heavy mosquito nets and clothing covering every part of their bodies in an effort to ward off mosquitoes but they sometimes discarded extra coverings that made nursing impossible.

Three months after enlisting Gladys Boon travelled with one of the first groups on RMS Mooltan to Suez and then on to Salonika arriving on 25 July 1917. After short postings to the 60th British General Hospital (BGH) at Hortiach and 52 BGH, she was assigned to 50 BGH, a hut hospital at Kalamaria on the outskirts of Salonika. She remained there for most of her service in Salonika apart from being hospitalised in August 1918 with debility and again the following month with influenza. She was still nursing in Salonika in January 1919 when she was sent to England to nurse at the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford where war nerves and neurosis cases were treated. This was her first experience nursing Australian soldiers.

At the end of April 1919 Gladys was given three months' leave with pay to attend a course in Domestic Economy at the Battersea Polytechnic, London. This scheme was available to members of the AIF and the AANS to enable them to undertake suitable courses in England to assist them to return to civilian life.

Gladys's course was cut short when her leave was cancelled preparatory to returning to Australia. She received a certificate in domestic economy which included cookery, laundry and domestic work, her record stating that she had shown 'great interest in all subjects' and the 'standard of her work had been very good'. She embarked for Australia on SS Zealandia on 3 July 1919 and was discharged in Sydney. When Gladys Boon returned to Orange late in August 1919 the Orange Leader reported that she looked 'remarkably well'. The Model Band played as the train pulled into the station and the Mayor and a representative of returned soldiers welcomed her home, as well as a crowd of relatives and friends.

During 1920 Gladys Boon nursed at Bathurst District Hospital but resigned early in January 1921. She later nursed at Wallsend Hospital and on 29 July 1925 married Arthur Lawry Firkin of Wallsend at the Methodist Church, Orange. A resident of Wallsend, Gladys Firkin died suddenly at Manly, New South Wales on 25 November 1948.

She was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and is listed on the ACT Memorial and on the Orange Methodist Church Honour Roll.
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/3570/gladys-elizabeth-clare-boon.html (Marriage)
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