Leah Rosenthal MM RRC (1879 - 1930)

Born 1879 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Died 4 Oct 1930 at about age 51 in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Leah Rosenthal MM RRC is Notable.

Leah Rosenthal, the daughter of Martha (Avinsky) Rosenthal and Joseph Jacob Rosenthal, was born in 1879 in Melbourne, Victoria.^[1]

Before or during her training as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital, Leah became friends with Isabella Kate Jobson (1878-1943). From 1910 they ran the Windarra Private Hospital in Toorak together.

In December 1915, they set out for England, where they joined Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. In April 1916, they commenced duty in France. Both worked in hospitals and clearing stations. Leah was awarded the Military Medal and Royal Red Cross, the latter for heroic conduct at casualty stations under shell fire.^[2] Isabella was also awarded the Royal Red Cross.

The two women returned to Australia where they bought and ran a private hospital which they renamed Vimy House.

Leah Rosenthal died on 4 October 1930 in South Melbourne, aged 51.^[3][4][5][6] She was buried in Brighton General Cemetery.^[7]

The following obituary appeared in the Herald newspaper:^[8]

USEFUL LIFE ENDED
Death of Distinguished Nurse

A lifelong partnership has been broken by the death of Miss Leah Rosenthal, R.R.C. She and her copartner of Vimy House private hospital, Miss Isabel Jobson, R.R.C., were close friends before they joined the nursing profession. They entered the Alfred Hospital to train together, and got their certificates at the same time. When war broke out they gave up "Windarra," the private hospital they had established, and joined up for military duty. Together they shared the dangers and hardships of active service for nearly four years with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing Service.

They were both recommended for honors by their commanding officer and matron for heroic conduct under fire at a casualty clearing station in France.

When the Imperial authorities called for volunteers to be trained to administer anaesthetics hundreds of applications were received. Miss Rosenthal and Miss Jobson were among the 75 selected.

Leah left her pictures, ornaments and personal effects to Isabella, and the bulk of her estate on trust for nieces and nephews.^[4] Isabella continued to run Vimy House after Leah's death.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria BDM birth registration number 10580/1879. Name: Leah Rosenthal; father: Joseph; mother: Avinsky Martha; place: Melb. Accessed 12 November 2023.
2. ↑ A JEWISH NURSE WITH THE ALLIES. (1919, January 24). Jewish Herald (Vic. : 1879 - 1920), p. 5. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from National Library of Australia Trove 149669872. "SISTER LEAH ROSENTHAL DECORATED. Miss Leah Rosenthal, who is in her fourth year of active service, has been awarded the Royal Red Cross. On more than one occasion she has been recommended for honours by her commanding oflicer and matron for heroic conduct at casualty stations under shell fire. She was one of the first Victorian army nurses entrusted with the administering of anaesthetics; a small group of them being specially trained for this responsible work. For some time she has been attached to a medical unit deputed to follow up the advance of the Allies... Sister Rosenthal is a trainee of the Alfred Hospital, St. Kilda-road, Melbourne, and before volunteering for active service with Miss Isabel Jobson managed "Windarra" private hospital, Williams-road, Toorak. She and Miss Jobson enlisted on the same date, and have never been separated all the time they have been on active service. Sister Rosenthal is now with the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station, and has been continuously right up to the end of the war with the first army of occupation, and is, we believe, the first Jewish nurse in Australia to gain the decoration of the Royal Red Cross..."
3. ↑ Family Notices (1930, October 6). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from National Library of Australia Trove 202248844. "ROSENTHAL.—On the 4th October, Leah, the beloved daughter of Martha and the late Joseph Rosenthal, of 45 Dickens-street, St. Kilda, and loved sister of Fanny (deceased), Jack, Henry, Sam (deceased), Milly (Mrs. F. Nunn) and Myer. Rest in peace. ROSENTHAL.—On the 4th October, Leah Rosenthal, of Vimy House, Queen's-road, Melbourne."
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Public Record Office Victoria. Wills. VPRS7591/P0002 239/227. Leah Rosenthal: Will; Grant of probate. Residence: Melbourne; Occupation: Trained Nurse. Date of grant: 1 November 1930. Date of death: 4 October 1930 3 images available. CC BY 4.0. Accessed 12 November 2023.
5. ↑ Public Record Office Victoria. Probate and Administration Files. VPRS28/P0003 239/227. Leah Rosenthal: Grant of probate. Residence: Melbourne; Occupation: Trained Nurse. Date of grant: 1 November 1930. Date of death: 4 October 1930. CC BY 4.0. Accessed 12 November 2023.
6. ↑ Victoria BDM death registration number 14720/1930. Name: Leah Rosenthal; father: Rosenthal Joseph; mother: Avinski Martha; place: Melbourne South; age: 51. Accessed 12 November 2023.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 12 November 2023), memorial page for Leah Rosenthal (1879–4 Oct 1930) Find A Grave: Memorial #158982350, citing Brighton General Cemetery, Caulfield South, Glen Eira City, Victoria, Australia; maintained by nettlyne (contributor 47486944).
8. ↑ USEFUL LIFE ENDED (1930, October 7). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved November 12, 2023, from National Library of Australia Trove 242933402.

See also:

• Wikipedia:Leah Rosenthal
• Wikidata: Item Q60325018
• Discovering Anzacs. Leah Rosenthal. Copy made 2 November 2022 at the Internet Archive. Accessed 12 November 2023.