Matron Sarah Anne Jewell (1901-1943)

Summary

Biography of Sister Sarah Ann Jewell who worked as factory nurse at Sunshine Harvester Works in the 1930s.

Sarah Anne Jewell was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1901, and trained as a nurse. Around 1930 she commenced employment as a factory nurse in the Sunshine Harvester Works' First Aid Room. She worked for the company for seven years before moving into the Physiotherapy Department at Epworth Hospital. Sister Vera Lillian Dunn took over Sister Jewell's position as factory nurse at Sunshine Harvester Works.

On 21 December 1940, Jewell joined the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) - service no VX 39205. In December 1942 she became matron of a 'hospital ship ex. Ambulance Sea Transport', and then other ships, transporting ill and wounded Australian and New Zealand troops back home from the Middle East.

On 12 May 1943, Matron Jewell was travelling aboard the 2/3 Australian Hospital Ship Centaur when it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland. She was one of 268 people on board who lost their lives. Only one of the 12 nursing staff on board survived: Sister Ellen Savage, who helped other survivors though wounded herself. Matron Jewell's date of death is recorded as 14 May 1943.

The Sunshine Harvester Works paid tribute to their much-loved nurse by placing a large, coloured portrait of Sister Jewell in the company's First Aid Room.

References

'Fewer Deaths on Centaur', 1943, The Daily News, 19 May, p.12.

'Successful Social Held by Ern Nayler's Department', 1937, Sunshine Advocate, 8 January, p.4.

'Memorial to 'Centaur' Victim', 1943, Sunshine Advocate, 13 August, p.1.

National Archives of Australia, Jewell, Sarah Ann [sic], series B883; control sumbol VX 39205; item ID 6225413.

Australian War Memorial, Centaur, https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/centaur, accessed 16/11/2021.

Studio portrait of Matron Sarah Ann Jewell, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), circa 1940, taken by Julian Smith, Australian War Memorial accession no. P04244.001.

Related Narratives

Factory Site of Sunshine Harvester Works