General News
19 July, 2025
VETERANS' VOICES: Lawrence Amy Majorie Brooke
Lawrence Amy Majorie Brooke was born on September 12 1904 in Horsham to Margaret Lawrence and Charles Edward Brooke.
Before enlisting, Lawrence’s occupation was a trained nurse.
She was living in Hawthorn.
Lawrence enlisted at AAMC Depot in Williams Street, Melbourne.
Her next of kin was her mother, Margaret, up until her death, then Lawrence’s sister, Jean Isobel Garret Brooke, became her next of kin on August 7, 1941.
Her service number was VX8372.
On August 14, 1940, Lawrence was a nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).
She was taken on strength to 7 Australian General Hospital on August 23, 1940.
Lawrence was admitted to GDS Seymour with injury to her right knee but an x-ray found no fracture.
She was transferred to the X-list and transferred to Hamilton Russell House.
On September 12, Lawrence was detached to Principal Matron Field, Melbourne, AANS.
She was removed from the X-list and rejoined her unit from Hamilton Russell House, Prahan, on October 3, 1940.
She was taken on strength to 7 Australian General Hospital (AGH) and boarded RMS Aquitania to sail from Sydney on October 3, 1941.
She disembarked to 1st Australian General Hospital (AGH) on March 15, 1941, in the Middle East.
Lawrence ceased to be attached to 1 AGH on detachment to 11 Australian Stationary Hospital (ASH) on April 23, 1941.
She rejoined 7 AGH from 11 ASH on May 30 1941.
Lawrence was detached for transport duty at Bombay (Mumbai), India.
Lawrence was admitted to 7 AGH with tonsilitis on June 1, 1941.
On discharge on June 7, 1941, she rejoined staff of 7 AGM from 11 AGH.
Lawrence spent time in the 7 Australian General Hospital on August 12, 1941.
She was discharged on August 18.
Lawrence was appointed sister GP1 on December 1, 1941.
She was detached to 6 AGH for duty from 7 AGH on May 13, 1942, rejoining 7 AGH on July 7.
Lawrence embarked from the Middle East on January 31, 1943, and disembarked at Melbourne on February 25.
Lawrence took 21 days’ leave from February 26 to March 18, 1943, then rejoined her unit from leave on March 19 and attached from 7 ASH to 115 Heidelburg Military Hospital (HMH) the same day.
Lawrence served at Queen Victoria Hospital before rejoining 2/7 AGH.
On March 23, 1943 Lawrence was told she was to be appointed lieutenant.
Lawrence was admitted to 86 CH on July 25, 1943.
Discharged on August 1, she was attached for duty ex 2/7 AGH on August 24.
On September 9, 1943, Lawrence was marched out from 2/7 AGH to 2/9 AGH in the Queensland Line of Communication area.
(Line of communication units were responsible for the administrative control of personnel, equipment, stores and consumables within their jurisdiction and had headquarters in the military district headquarters, with outlying depots throughout the district.)
On August 16, 1943, Lawrence was appointed lieutenant and told she was then to be promoted to captain.
On September 21 Lawrence embarked with her unit from Townsville on SS Canberra for ‘Searamouche’ (a secret codename for Port Moresby).
They disembarked at Port Morsby September 27 1943.
On December 1, 1944, Lawrence embarked on Taroona at Lae.
She disembarked at Townsville on December 5, 1944, where she was re-allocated for duty with 115 Heidelberg Military Hospital on December 6.
Lawrence was detached to 58 Australian Camp Hospital (ACH), Portsea, from 115 HMH on February 2, 1945, as a captain.
She was re-allocated back to 115 HMH as captain (AANS) on February 19, 1945.
On September 1, 1945, Lawrence was evacuated to 58 Australian Camp Hospital and transferred to the X-list on September 8, 1945.
She rejoined her unit and was marched out to General Details Depot (GDD) (WS) Victoria Line of Communication area.
On January 15, 1946, Lawrence was transferred to ROFO (AANS) 58 ACH, then marched out to Leave & Transit Depot (LTD), Army Women’s Services, Victoria, on January 16, 1946.
Lawrence was marched in for discharge and her appointment was terminated on January 30, 1946.
Her rank on discharge was captain and her posting was Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).
The next day she was transferred to Australian Army Reserve (Reserve of Officers) of the AANS Victoria.
Lawrence was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.
Lawrence Amy Marjorie Brooke died in 1991 and was buried in Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
With thanks: Sally Bertram, RSL Military History Library. Contact Sally at sj.bertram@hotmail.com or call 0409 351 940.