General News
27 September, 2025
VETERANS' VOICES: Shirley Margaret Bodey
The Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS) was not a part of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (which was not established until March 1941) but a branch of the RAAF itself.
All members held commissioned rank and wore RAAF badges of rank along with the RAAF medical badge on their tunic lapels and capes but did not use air force rank titles.
Most RAAFNS nurses served in clearing stations, base hospitals, station sick quarters and rehabilitation centres in Australia, but all were obligated to serve overseas if required (unlike members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, who could choose to serve overseas or not).
Shirley Margaret Bodey was born in Horsham on September 5 1919 to David Leslie and Gertrude M Bodey.
She trained at Geelong District Kitchner Memorial Hospital, completing this on March 30 1942.
She passed her hospital and nurse’s state final examinations.
Shirley took on relieving staff positions at private hospitals.
She was also specialist nursing at Longernong College and Geelong Grammar School before enlisting.
Shirley enlisted on October 18 1943 with service number 500461.
Her place of residence at the time was Fine View, Jung via Horsham.
She served in World War II as a flying officer (lieutenant), having had family or other ties to the air force.
Shirley started her service at 2 RAAF hospital, Ascot Vale on October 18 1943.
Her rank was sister group 2.
Shirley was posted to 6 Hospital, Heidelberg, on January 8 1944.
No 6 RAAF Hospital began service as a section of the army’s 115th Australian General Hospital at Heidelberg, providing care and rehabilitation for servicemen returned from active service overseas.
The hospital was relocated to RAAF Base Laverton on May 23 1949.
She served there until she was posted to 7 Hospital, Adelaide, on August 20 1945.
No 7 RAAF Hospital had been formed as RAAF Wing, Royal Adelaide Hospital, on January 11 1943.
Hospital staff were responsible for providing medical care to RAAF personnel, performing major and minor operations, convening medical boards, treating infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
They were also responsible for WAAAF personnel working at the hospital and all naval cases at 105th Australian Military Hospital (105 AMH) as well as army urological cases.
Shirley was attached to 7 Hospital from October 9 to 15 and October 16 to October 24 1945.
She served at RAAF Parafield from late October 1945.
Shirley was attached to RAAF RSTN (radar station) Parafield for temporary nursing duties from November 23 to 29 1945.
Nurses were brought in to assist with surgical procedures at RAAF stations as required.
Parafield was 1 Elementary Flying Training School between 1939 and 1944.
For the final two years of the war it was busy as a centre for C47 Dakota Operations housing for both Australians and British transport.
Shirley also served on attachments at 7 Hospital from February 26 to March 10 1946, March 18 to 22 1946, and April 8 to 14 1946.
Shirley was serving at 6 Hospital, Heidelberg, on May 1 1946 before being transferred to 1 Personnel Depot, Ransford, on August 15 1946.
Her last posting was at 6 hospital N/E on September 24 and 25 1946.
The termination of her appointment was on compassionate grounds.
Shirley Margaret Bodey was demobilised and her appointment ended on October 29 1946.
Her posting at discharge was 6 Hospital.
In a letter to the secretary of the air force at Russell Offices, Canberra, on January 28 1965, Shirley offered to be placed on the reserve list.
On September 24 1946 6 RAAF Hospital Headquarters remarked on her service record that she was a good nurse service suited for staff positions.
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital was originally 115th Heidelberg Military Hospital, which opened on March 13 1941 to treat soldiers returning from World War II.
The hospital was located on the Austin Hospital campus in north-eastern Melbourne.
6 RAAF Hospital was also on site from 1942 to 1947.
Today the hospital has a remembrance garden, Flanders Wing and Vivian Bullwinkel Room and has a veteran liaison office and colour patch museum.
The hospital provides services to veterans, war widows and the wider community.
Services include day surgery, palliative care, mental health services, aged care and outpatient services.
It provides critical care with a sense of community that has nurtured and rehabilitated shattered people and served as a centre for innovation in the treatment of war injuries and mental illness and as a teaching hospital for the nursing and medical professions.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.
