General News
24 May, 2025
VETERANS' VOICES: Jessie Maie Taylor
Jessie Maie Taylor (later Sparrow) was born in 1881 at Lake Bolac.
Jessie was the daughter of John George Taylor and Jessie (née McQualter) Ferguson of St John’s, Bulla Road, Essendon.
Jessie’s occupation before she enlisted was nurse.
She had trained for three years at a Melbourne hospital, obtaining medical and surgical nursing certificates from there and from the Royal Victorian Trained Nurse Association.
Jessie received recommendations from the hospital’s matron.
Jessie Maie Taylor enlisted on June 17 1915 and served with 1 Australian General Hospital.
She sailed from Sydney aboard Aeuralia.
Her unit was AAMC No 4 General Sea Transport.
On April 23 1916 she disembarked in Bombay (modern-day Mumbai), India.
After Jessie became ill with broncho-pneumonia the Australia Auxiliary Hospital medical board recommended she be invalided to Australia.
Jessie returned to Australia on May 12 1916 per Karoola to recover.
However, she was posted to Station Hospital, Bombay, on July 23 1916.
Jessie returned to duty at Sandringham House from August 5 to September 10 1916.
She re-embarked on September 11 1916 on No 4 Sea Transport Service from Sydney per Euripides.
She was detached for duty with 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, London.
Jessie returned to Australia on Wilshire as part of the ship’s nursing staff, leaving England on November 12 1916.
Jessie’s next of kin were advised that she was returning to Australia and she was to be posted to 3rd Military District for duty by November 15 1916.
She re-embarked on February 10 1917 with No 4 Sea Transport for duty with her AMCE unit, sailing aboard Osterley from Sydney.
She disembarked at Plymouth, England, on April 11 1917.
Jessie was posted to Administration Headquarters, AANS London, from March 22 to April 12 1917.
She was marched out to return to Australia and was detached for duty at 2 Australian General Hospital from sea transports on April 13 1917.
Jessie was detached from there to return to Australian transport duty in April 1917 and took furlough up to April 28 1917.
Jessie sailed from Sydney aboard Aurelia and, disembarking in Bombay, was posted to station hospital for duty on July 23 1916.
After this posting concluded Jessie embarked at Bombay on SS Mooltan for the UK, then made a voyage once again to Australia.
On August 2 1917 Jessie embarked at Sydney on HMAT Miltiades, disembarking at Glasgow, Scotland, on October 2 1917.
She was marched to Administration Headquarters on October 3 1917.
Jessie was attached to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, until October 17 1917, then reposted to 2 Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, until November 1 of the same year.
She was at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, when she was detached from attachment duty and marched out to return to Australia on transport duty on November 4 1917.
Jessie returned on December 31 1917 per Thermistocles, disembarking at 3rd Military District.
Jessie re-embarked on February 2 1918 from Sydney aboard Wilshire and disembarked at Suez on March 1918.
Jessie served at 27th General Hospital in Abyssinia, Egypt, for temporary duty from April 18 until April 26 1918.
Jessie left Abyssinia for England.
She spent time aboard Indarra between Alexanderia, Egypt, and England.
They sailed on May 24 1918 to England, where she disembarked at South Hampton Dock to continue her duty.
After this duty concluded she reported to Administration Headquarters London on June 7 1918.
She was attached for duty at 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England, from June 9 1918.
She then served with 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, until June 21 1918.
Jessie was detached from attachment duties from 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, for further transport duties.
She returned from England to Australia with Nestor on December 12 1918.
On February 1 1919 Jessie was detached to 3rd Military District.
Her appointment was terminated on March 28 1919.
Jessie Maie Taylor then married Vivian Sparrow.
Jessie died on May 17 1958 in Victoria and is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Thomas Simmons Lawn, in row AC, Grave 51.
[CROSSHEAD]Sea transport staff
Sea transport staff were the personnel assigned to run ships carrying reinforcements to the Middle East and Europe and to transport seriously wounded or ill soldiers back to Australia.
This included Australian Army Nursing Service sisters who attended to the sick and wounded.
There were seven sea transport sections.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.
