Forenames

Elizabeth Catherine AWMM

Surname

Gunn AWMM

Service number

WWI 3/2062 AWMM

Gender

Female AWMM

Birth

23 May 1879 AWMM

Next of kin

Dr Gunn (brother), Timaru, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 01 Apr 1916 AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWI 3/2062 AWMM

Military service

Trentham Military Camp AWMM

Medals and Awards

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Civil) AWMM
MBE. 1951 AWMM

Enlistment

WW1 Unknown AWMM Medical practitioner AWMM

Embarkation details

WW1 01 Apr 1916-01 May 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 50 AWMM Vessel was RMS Tahiti AWMM New Zealand Medical Corps, Ship's Permanent Staff AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM

Last rank

WW1 Unknown AWMM Captain/Military AWMM
New Zealand Medical Corps AWMM

Death

26 Oct 1963 AWMM

Obituary

DR. ELIZABETH GUNN, M.B.E. Health Camp Pioneer Dies In Wellington

A WOMAN doctor whose name will always be remembered in New Zealand as the pioneer of the health camp movement, Dr. Elizabeth Catherine Gunn, M.B.E., died in Wellington today.

The health camp move ment which has grown tc Dominion-wide acceptance began in small fashion ir 1919 in Wanganui while Dr. Gunn was school medical officer for the district. The story goes that all arose from a bet between the doctor and Mr. B. P. Leth bridge during a weekend visit which she paid to him and his wife on their Turakina property. Dr. Gunn was deeply concerned about the health of some of the children she had examined who were suffering from malnutrition. She was convinced that if she could give them good food, regular hours, and an open air holiday she would build up their health permanently. Mr. Lethbridge took up the challenge and offered to let her establish a camp on his land. Fifty children were chosen for the first camp which was housed in tents and marquees with the co-operation of the Wanganui Education Board. Mr. Lethbridge provided milk. meat and other foods. Dr. Gunn organised a voluntary staff and despite bad weather the health of the children did improve. Next year Mr. Lethbridge erected a large shed to be used as dining room and shelter and improved cooking facilities. The camp, which was assisted by various groups such as Wellington Training College students, teachers, and school nurses, was run on military lines, with discipline such as the doctor had learned during her war service.

Loved it

The children loved it and they flourished. From then until 1930 it became an annual event in the district. In the meantime, under the encouraging interest of the director of school hygiene (Dr. Ada Paterson), other health camps were established in various parts of the country. In 1936 there was formed the National Federation of Health Camps which pre served the voluntary nature of the organisations running them, but ensured that available resources were used to the best advantage.

Dr. Gunn, who was born in Dunedin and educated at Timaru High School and Otago Girls' High School, studied medicine in Edinburgh and Dublin, returning to New Zealand with the degrees of M.B., Ch. B. (Edin.) and L.M. (Dublin). In 1912 she joined the school medical service and was stationed at Wellington until 1915, when she joined the New Zealand Medical Corps, in which she served as a captain for two years, part of the time overseas. In 1919 she was appointed school medical officer at j Wanganui, where she re- j mained until 1937, when, on the death of Dr. Ada Paterson, she became director of school hygiene. She retired from Government service in 1940, but eontinued in privatej practice. A funeral service will be held in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on Tuesday at 2.30. (DR. ELIZABETH GUNN, M.B.E. Health Camp Pioneer Dies In Wellington. Evening Post, 26 October 1963, Page 20) AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R16789613
  Further Reference
• Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
  https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3g24/gunn-elizabeth-catherine
  Further Reference
• Te Papa topic: health Camps and Stamps
  http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/theme.aspx?irn=2672
  Further Reference
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5362888
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R7880085
  Further Reference
• Newell, Antonia. ‘Was the Involvement of Women Doctors in British Military Medical Service in the First World War a Success or a Failure?’ MA dissertation, University of Wolverhampton, January 2020.
  https://www.friendsofmillbank.org/downloads/Women%20doctors%20in%20WW1%20-%20Antonia%20Newell.pdf
  Further Reference
• DR. ELIZABETH GUNN, M.B.E. Health Camp Pioneer Dies In Wellington. Evening Post, 26 October 1963, Page 20
  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19631026.2.130
  Further Reference

References

• Pat Clarkson Medical Practitioner Research Project (January 2014 - March 2022). This project identified Medical Practioners who served in WWI.
• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  28: 27
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 1: Includes portrait
• The Tahitian : official souvenir of H.M.N.Z. Troopship no. 50. (1916). On board ship: Printed by Arthur Treadwell, "G" Coy, on board H.M.N.Z. Transport no. 50.
• Carbery, A.R.D. (1924). The New Zealand Medical Service in the Great War, 1914-1918 : based on official documents. Auckland: Whitcombe & Tombs.
• Rogers, A. (2018). With them through hell : New Zealand Medical Services in the First World War. Massey University Press, Massey University Press.
• Tolerton, J. (2017). Make her praises heard afar : New Zealand women overseas in World War One. Wellington, New Zealand : Booklovers Books.