Chapple, Phoebe

Furthermore

Honorary rank of Captain in Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Rank of Major in Rouen and Le Havre. Cremated with full Military Honours at Centennial Park Cemetary at the S.A. Garden of Remembrance.

Book of Remembrance entry

Not listed in the Book of Remembrance. Dr Chapple, a feminist, was one of a handful of Australian medical women who served in World War I. The army refused to appoint female doctors, so she left Adelaide in February 1917 for England and became attached first to the Royal Army Medical Corps and later to Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, although women were not accorded formal military status. Her first appointment was as surgeon at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. In November she went to France where she worked with the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps at Abbeville till August 1918 and also at Rouen and Le Havre. On the night of 29 May 1918 she was inspecting the women's camps when, because of intense bombing, she and forty women sheltered in trenches. A direct hit killed nine and injured several others. For 'gallantry and devotion to duty' on this occasion, Dr Chapple received the rare award for a woman of the Military Medal. From ADB entry

TIMELINE

1879

Birth in South Australia -- SA, Australia 31 March 1879
1895

Early education at Advanced School for Girls, South Australia, SA, Australia 1895
1898

Tertiary education at Adelaide University, South Australia, SA, Australia 1898
1904

Tertiary education at Adelaide University, South Australia, SA, Australia 1904
1904

Tertiary education at Adelaide University, South Australia, SA, Australia 1904
1905

House Surgeon at South Australia -- SA, Australia 1905
1905

School Doctor at Adelaide -Prince Alfred College- SA, Australia 1905
1910

Obstetrician at South Australia -- SA, Australia 1910
1914

Honorary Medical Superintendent at South Australia -- SA, Australia 1914
1917

Military service at Aldershot -Cambridge Hospital-, England ; Rouen --, France ; Abbeville --, France ; Le Havre --, France 1917
1918

Military award: M. Military Medal on 1918
1919

Medical Practitioner at North Terrace, Adelaide -- SA, Australia 1919
1919

Returned to Australia 1919
1919

Stood unsuccessfully for Adelaide municipal elections 1919 at South Australia -- SA, Australia
1921

Honorary Medical Officer at Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide -- SA, Australia 1921
1924

Tertiary education at Adelaide University, South Australia, SA, Australia 1924
1937

Australian delegate Medical Women's International Association conference 1937 at Edinburgh [ Scotland ]
?

Member of SA Medical Women's Society
?

Commemorated at St Anne's College : University of Adelaide [ SA Australia ]
1967

Death in South Australia -- SA, Australia 24 March 1967

Gender

Female

From the archives

Dr. Phoebe Chapple M.B.B.S. (1904) [ jpg ]

Dr Phoebe Chapple in Military Uniform (Australian War Memorial) [ jpg ]

Unless otherwise noted, these photographs, War Service Records, letters, diaries and cards were sent to the University by family and friends during and after World War One. If you have any material to add, please see our contribute page.