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Sister Ada Joyce Bridge |
Ada Joyce Bridge was born on 6th July 1907 in Stoney Creek, Belltrees, via Scone, New South Wales, Australia. She was the only daughter of William Bridge and Ada Thurlow, [1] and the great great granddaughter of Joseph Bridge and Betty Buffey, convicts who arrived in New South Wales in 1806 on board the Fortune and the Alexander, respectively. Stoney Creek was about 30kms from Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. She and her brother, Leslie, rode their horses about five kilometres to the public school at Belltrees until they reached sixth class. The outdoor life tanned her skin and emphasised her brown eyes and short brown hair. Those who knew Joyce at this time described her as a happy girl, who enjoyed her life to the full. She had a ready smile which often turned into an infectious chuckle. [2]
Joyce commenced her nursing training on 1st February 1930 at St Luke's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney and upon completion of her course on 23rd May 1934 was registered as a nurse. She obtained employment with Toshack’s Nursing Agency based in Kings Cross, providing private nursing. [2] Toshack's was commenced by former Boer War nurse, Sister Janet Toshack. [3]
Joyce's father passed away in 1938 at Scone, aged 68 years. Her mother continued to live at Scone, cared for by Joyce's brother, now married.Along with twenty fellow nurses, Joyce was murdered – gunned down in the back – by Japanese soldiers on 16th February 1942 on what has become known as the Bangka Island Massacre.
Ada Joyce Bridge's name is located at panel 96 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, [6] at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore, [7] on the Australian Military Nurses Memorial, Pialba, Hervey Bay, Queensland, and on the Vyner Brooke Tragedy Memorial, Melville, Western Australia. [2]
The Scone & District Country Womens Institute dedicated its Baby Health centre and Assembly Hall to Joyce at its opening in 1954. A photo of Joyce and her medals still hang in the centre. [2]
In 1989, Joan Crouch published a small book entitled One Life is Ours: the story of Ada Joyce Bridge. In the foreward, fellow nurse, Vivian Bullwinkel recalled "... our respect, esteem and affection grew daily for Joyce’s commitment, skills and dedication. Joyce faced every crisis with cheerfulness and fortitude ... One cannot but feel resentment and so very sorry that such a young, lovely and defenceless Australian Nurse, wearing a Red Cross Armband, was murdered in such a cruel and calculated way. A young woman who had so much to give the community and humanity ..." [2]
This week's featured connections are French Notables: Joyce is 20 degrees from Napoléon I Bonaparte, 23 degrees from Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, 22 degrees from Sarah Bernhardt, 38 degrees from Charlemagne Carolingian, 24 degrees from Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, 19 degrees from Pierre Curie, 26 degrees from Simone de Beauvoir, 23 degrees from Philippe Denis de Keredern de Trobriand, 19 degrees from Camille de Polignac, 19 degrees from Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, 22 degrees from Claude Monet and 23 degrees from Aurore Dupin de Francueil on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
Categories: Belltrees, New South Wales | Scone, New South Wales | St Luke's Hospital, Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales | Australia, Nurses | 113th General Hospital, Australian Army, World War II | 1939-1945 Star | Pacific Star | War Medal 1939-1945 | Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 | Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Singapore Memorial, Kranji, Singapore | Killed in Action, Australia, World War II