Nellie Elizabeth Stronach

Nellie Elizabeth Stronach (28 March 1892 – 20 November 1991) was an Australian officer in the Australian Women's Army Service. She later worked as a welfare officer for the YWCA in Japan.

Early life and career Stronach was the only child of John Stronach, a marine engineer who had immigrated from Scotland, and his wife Helen née McDonald. She was born in Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, and attended private school until she was 12 and, after this, she was educated by a governess until the age of 15. Because of her father's heritage and the work that he did Stronach and her family spent significant periods in Scotland during her childhood.

In 1920 the family returned to Sydney where, alongside caring for her aging parents, Stronach became a partner in a tea and sandwich shop. In 1930 she joined the Young Women's Christian Association in Sydney and she ran their cafeteria from about 1935. This was possible as both her parents died in the 1930s which freed her from her caring responsibilities. She served first as a cook within the 2nd Ambulance Car Company, where she worked between Sydney and Tamworth. By June she was promoted to sergeant and then applied for a commission, but her true age was discovered and it was rejected.

Despite this, promotion did continue and in May 1943 Stronach became a warrant officer and, in July 1943, was posted to the Australian Defence Canteens Service Club in Sydney. In September 1944 she was transferred to the Australian Army Canteens Service Women's Club in Melbourne. In 1952 she was awarded an Order of the British Empire for ‘service to the troops far beyond the normal call of duty’.

She remained in Kure until November 1953. She was a very popular staff member and was called 'Stronnie' by many.