Jean Erwin

Jean Neill Erwin MBE (25 January 1890 – 24 July 1969) was a New Zealand civilian and military nurse, masseuse, and army nursing administrator.

Erwin was born in Fendalton, Christchurch, New Zealand on 25 January 1890.[1] Her parents were the Presbyterian minister Reverend Dr Robert Erwin and Esther Erwin.[2]

In July 1915, Erwin enlisted in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service and was posted overseas leaving on the SS Maheno.[1][2] In October that year, she was aboard the SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk.[1] Ten New Zealand nurses lost their lives, but Erwin and other survivors continued to serve in hospitals and hospital ships for the remainder of World War I.[1] She then nursed at the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital in Brockenhurst, England from 1916 through the 1918-1919 flu epidemic.[1][2][3] After the war had ended, she continued as a nurse in England before returning to New Zealand in 1920.[1]

Erwin worked at Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs in 1921[4] and then trained as a physiotherapist (known at the time as a masseuse) in 1922. She worked at Wellington Hospital before becoming head of the physiotherapy department at Christchurch Hospital.[1][3][5]

During World War II Erwin was District Commandant of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps[6] as she was too old to serve overseas.[1]

She was an elder at Knox Church in Christchurch.[1][3] In 1968 she unveiled a memorial window in the Nurses' Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital.[1][2]

Erwin died on 24 July 1969 at Christchurch Hospital.[1]

Honours and awards

She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1945 King's Birthday Honours just after her retirement from the military.[1][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Latham, Iris. "Jean Neill Erwin". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jean Neill Erwin". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Obituary Miss Jean Erwin". Press. 26 July 1969. p. 2. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Resignations, appointments etc". Kai Tiaki: The Journal of the Nurses of New Zealand. XIV (2): 101. 1 April 1921.
  5. ^ "Resignations, appointments etc". Kai Tiaki: The Journal of the Nurses of New Zealand. XV (2): 83. 1 April 1926.
  6. ^ "W.A.A.C. parade". Press. 30 September 1942. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  7. ^ "No. 37119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1945. p. 2946.
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