Gertrude Aphra Willis (1912 - 1968)

Ancestors

Biography

Gertrude Aphra Willis was always called Trudie, she was born in a nursing home in New Plymouth, Taranaki, when her parents, John and Beatie were running the family farm on Skeet Road in Kapuni.

Trudie was a very bright child and received a great deal of encouragement to achieve academically. She won a scholarship to attend secondary school and, with the help of her Aunt Truda (Schweiters) Cutter, she was sent to board at New Plymouth Girls High School. Trudie went to Medical School in Otago, graduated MD ChB in 1935, then spent two years as a house surgeon in Auckland Hospital. In 1937 she went to England for post-graduate work in anaesthetics. Trudie became a debutante in London Society and was presented at Court.

TWO NEW ZEALAND DOCTORS MARRIED Dr. M.L.R.Morley, son of Mr A.E.Morley of Westport and the late Mrs Morley, and his bride leaving Chelsea Old Church, London after their marriage on November 20th. The bride was Dr. Gertrude Willis, daughter of Mrs J.E.Cummings of Matamata.

: New Zealand Herald 14th December 1937 page 3 [1]

TWO DOCTORS MARRY - BOTH NEW ZEALANDERS

The wedding took place at Chelsea Old Church, London, on November 20th, of Dr. Gertrude Aphra Willis, only daughter of Mrs. J. E. Cuminings, of Matamata and Dr. Malcolm Lionel Robert Morley, younger son of Mr. A. E. Morley and the late Mrs. Morley, of Westport. The Rev. R. W. Sadlier officiated at the choral ceremony. The bride, who was given away by Mr. J. E. Cummings, wore a slim-fitting ivory satin gown heavily embroidered with crystal beads, the long train being caught in one with the skirt. Beneath the veil of silver embroidered tulle she wore an orange blossom coronet, and carried a sheaf of lilies. Dr. Mary Watson of Masterton, who was in attendance as bridesmaid, wore a dress of deep red, gold embroidered with matching, shoes and tiara. She carried a sheaf of scarlet carnations. Dr. M. C. Moore (New Zealand) was best man. After the ceremony Mrs. Cummings held a reception at the Alexandra Hotel, Hyde Park Corner and later the bride and bridegroom left for the Continent. Mrs. Cummings was dressed in grey, with a squirrel coat and carried a bouquet of deep red carnations.

Morley was also undertaking postgraduate work in London, he had been at the University of Otago with Trudie and graduated the same year. Trudie worked in several London hospitals, including six months as officer in charge of the “new up-to-date fever hospital at Isleworth.” At the outbreak of war she joined the Emergency Medical Service, working as anaesthetist for her husband who was superintendent at Tilbury Hospital. In 1939 she took her anaesthetics degree at Oxford and gained the Diploma in Anaesthetics of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the highest qualification available. Toward the end of 1941, Trudie joined the Royal Army Medical Corps at Aldershot as “anaesthetist specialist”. After three years spent serving in Quetta, Karachi and Bungalore, Trudie returned to New Zealand on three months leave to visit her mother, now living in Matamata. According to a local newspaper clipping, “Major Willis is a petite and attractive figure in her khaki uniform distinguished by its glengarry of deep wine-red.”

Lt. (1942) Gertrude Aphra Willis 250607 Auxiliary Territorial Service

After the war, Trudie sent her khaki uniforms to her sister-in-law Jessie, who made them into suits trimmed with red rickrack braid for Gillian & Suzanne who, not understanding post-war depression or the virtues of recycling, hated them with a passion

Once war was over, Trudie set up in private practice in Harley Street, London, She divorced Robert Morley in 1946, and married Jack Carl Rudolph (John) Hindenach in London.

Some glimpses of Trudie's life as a young ex-pat New Zealander in London in the 1930s may be found in the personal diaries of Dr. William Delano Walker in South Australian Archives series AA357/04