Sacrifices of war heroes in both trenches and hospitals inspires pride

CALEB McClure says it is important we never forget the sacrifices our war heroes made - both in the trenches in and the makeshift hospitals.

Caleb McClure, 14 from Werribee Victoria with the Nurse coin for the Anzac Coins promotion, this will be shared across the group. Each of them has a connection with a Digger family. Picture: Jonathan Ng

CALEB McClure says it’s important we never forget the sacrifices our war heroes made — and he is not only talking about the Diggers in the trenches.

The 14-year-old, from Wyndham Vale in Victoria, says the tireless work of the nurses to patch up injured soldiers in woefully under-resourced hospitals was remarkable.

“The things they would have seen, fixing up blown-up hands and gunshot wounds, to get the soldiers back out on the battleground; some of these nurses suffered a lot of depression,” he said.

The actions of the medical teams during the war is close to his heart as his great-great-great-grandmother, Eleanor Anne Perry, was a nurse in World War I.

“I’m proud she was there to help the wounded troops,” he said.

Ms Perry left Sydney in July 1915 and served in the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Egypt.

She also did stints in England, France and Lemnos before returning home in 1919.

As part of the Herald Sun’s Centenary of Anzac campaign, in collaboration with the Australian Mint, a limited edition 14-piece coin collection is available to our readers.

Find out more at heraldsun.keeptheanzacstoriesalive.com/app/#/rewards

Originally published as Sacrifices of war heroes in both trenches and hospitals inspires pride