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Anglican Church, Bellingen
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Part of the World War 2 memorial display located in the Anglican Church, Bellingen.
The HMAHS Manunda display panel is in memory of NX70211 - Sister Margaret Augusta DE MESTRE.
"Sister Margaret DeMestre
The first A.N.C. Nurse serving in the 2nd Australian Imperial Forces to be killed-in-action during World War II.
Sister DeMestre was born in Bellingen on St. Margaret's Day, 16 November 1915.
She grew up in Bellingen and trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney in 1935. In 1940 she enlisted in the [Royal] Australian Nursing Corp and made two trips to the Middle East on the 2/1st Hospital Ship, H.M.A.H.S. Manunda. Whilst the ship was being reconditioned in 1941 she served at the 113th A.G.H Concord. She rejoined the ship in January 1942.
At 10.05am on the 19th February, 1942 Japanese forces bombed Darwin [243 killed, 350 wounded, 8 ships sunk] and the Manunda was badly damaged with 12 killed, including Margaret.
Sister Margaret DeMestre is buried in the Darwin War Cemetery."
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