Page 62 - The Gazette Autumn 2024

62 The Gazette QARANC Association
OBITUARY
Army provided foundation for a lifetime of service
Lt. Anna McRae, born 25 April 1926 and died 1 September 2024, gave service abroad and in the UK including spells as Sister in Charge.
Anna was born and brought up in Brechin. After a short time working as a secretary in an engineering firm, she completed her General Nursing training at Stracathro Hospital, Brechin, winning several prizes and a special certificate of Merit.
She qualified as a State Registered Nurse and State Certified Midwife. She was commissioned in the QARANC in 1951, serving in the military hospital in Colchester, then as Midwifery Sister at the British Military Hospital in Singapore from October 1952 to April 1953.
She was Sister in Charge of the Families’ Wing of the British Military Hospital, Kluang, Malaya from April 1953 until May 1954.
She was Sister in Charge with the Sprue Investigation Team at the British Military Hospital, Hong Kong from May 1954 until June 1955. Following this she returned to the UK, as a Charge Sister at the Military Hospital at Catterick Camp, before completing a resettlement course at the end of her commission.
In 1959 she married Lt. Col. Samuel Biggart RAMC. They had two children (one of whom went on to become a Consultant Cardiologist) and settled in Reigate, Surrey where Sam was appointed a GP
The Last Post
Catherine ‘Katie’ BAKER (nee Lennie) 7 November 2023 Paula BOLLINGTON, 23 December
John MURPHY February 2024
Elizabeth (Betty) WOODS, 17 February
Kim LARTER, 22 February
Joyce GROVES, 29 March
Nora ANNAN, 11 April
Margaret JOHNSON, 22 April
Lillian OSBOURNE 23 April
John McCANN, 28 April
Margaret HOLLIDAY, 12 May
Sheila COOPER RRC , 19 May
Nancy HENDERSON (nee Aitkin), 16 May
Partner in a local practice. Anna raised their children, ran the house, and was involved in numerous local charities, organisations and events, continuing after Sam’s retirement.
Tragically predeceased by Sam and both their children, Anna spent her final few years in a Nursing Home in Reigate. She died quite suddenly but peacefully at the age of 98.
Supplied by Andrew Inglis
Col (Retd) Noeleen BRAISBY MBE RRC, 17 June
Carolyn SMITH, 28 June
Josephine Ann CHURCHILL, 2 July Maj (Retd) Enid Margaret THOMAS
ARRC, 4 July
Jean McKEE (nee Graham) , 7 July
Rosemary Anne WHITNEY (nee Waldron), 15 July Iain RENNIE, 18 July
Helen HOWE, 26 July
Our sympathy and condolences to families and friends