Nurses had gone overseas with the AIF in 1940, but during the early years of the war women were generally unable to make a significant contribution to the war effort in any official capacity.

Sylvia Duke was one of 3,477 Australian nurses who served during WWII. She was posted abroad as a Sister in the 6th Australian General Hospital in Greece.

"I thanked God many times for the privilege of being born an Australian. They had such guts - they could always see another lad who was worse than they themselves - and then my dear the awful sensation of helplessness, that awful hopelessness when evacuation was imminent - we nurses were put on trucks and sent off down to the water front - matron and about 25 other Sisters were on a truck ahead of us. They were boarded on a hospital ship but we arrived at the docks in the midst of an air raid, and as the planes were dive bombing the harbour they cut the ships ropes and away she went leaving the remainder of us on shore. We returned to our former hospital and attempted to carry on - the casualties still pouring in every hour of every day.

"We were on movement orders, we did our nursing in our outdoor uniforms expecting our orders to walk out any minute - our nights were passed in empty houses - no beds or any such luxuries and believe me those tiled floors can be jolly hard to sleep on. And then my dear, when our next orders came to go once more - the boys saying 'Cheerio Sister, thanks so much. Hurry up - Go.'

EXTRACTS FROM SYLVIA DUKE'S LETTERS TO FRIEND, SOPHIE HEALY

Private Jack Clarris was full of praise for the work of Australian nursing sisters and VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachments).

He had good reason to be grateful to the nurses after spending more than eight weeks in hospital recovering from wounds.

"First of all I am now in a Convalescent Depot in Egypt. I was wounded at El Alamein & have spent about 8 weeks in hospital. I was hit by a shell in the leg, arm and back. I had my arm operated on & a small piece of shrapnel taken out & there is still a little piece in my back they have left there. It was the old leg that gave me all the trouble, but I am pleased to say that she (the leg I mean) has been patched up and is as good as ever.

"I would like to be able to tell you something of the battle but fancy that the censor may object so that shall have to wait until I see you and then I can tell you everything; but I can say this much that Rommel & his Africa Corp got the biggest hammering they ever got.

"It was not by any means a walk-over and to see the way that our boys waded into him shall be something that I shall never forget. The lads have had such a belly-full of this place & they went in determined to do the job, which they did very efficiently, the only thing that I am crooked on is the good lads that we left behind up there. We had more casualties in 10 days fighting at Alamein than they have had throughout the New Guinea campaign.

"One more word before leaving this war subject, don't ever let anyone tell you anything about our Australian girls (Sisters and VADs). They are simply wonderful, that is the only way I can describe them. When in hospital they do anything and everything for you bar eat your meals. No matter where you see our boys or girls over here it sends a surge of pride through you & makes you feel proud to be an Australian."

EXTRACT OF LETTER HOME TO COUSIN EDWARD