Caroline Keer, RRC & Bar (1857 – 29 December 1928) was a British military nurse and nursing administrator, who served in Natal during the Second Boer War.

Nursing career

Keer served with the British Army's Nursing Service from December 1887, where she nursed at the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley, before she was posted to Egypt from 1888 to 1894. She served in Natal during the Second Boer War in 1899 for which she received the Royal Red Cross and the Queen's and King's South African medals. In 1903 she was appointed Principal Matron at Pretoria, South Africa. At the time of her appointment there were 14 military hospitals serving soldiers and their families; a central duty of her position was to supervise and inspect each hospital.

Upon her appointment as matron-in-chief, the British Journal of Nursing reported:

Miss Keer has many qualifications for the high office to which she has been appointed. Her quiet, modest confidence, confidence evidently born of knowledge, cannot fail to beget the conviction that the choice which placed the reins of government in this important position in her hands and that she will maintain the dignity and prestige which the Service has acquired during the tenure of office of the present Matron-in-Chief Miss Sidney Browne, R.R.C. During her time as the Matron in Chief Miss Keer was involved in improving the pay, allowances and conditions of the nurses of the QAIMNS and making changes to the Military Families Hospitals.

Keer served as matron-in-chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from 5 April 1906 to 5 April 1910, retiring two months later.^[1]

Laterlife and family

Caroline Keer died on 29 December 1928, aged 71, at her home in West Worthing, Sussex from undisclosed causes. She never married.

Honoria Somerville Keer was a half-sister by their father, Major General Jonathan Keer (1825–1907), ex-HM Bengal Staff Corps.

References

External links

• RCN archive
• Biodata at QARANC website