Vida Mary Katie MacLean

Vida Mary Katie MacLean (4 November 1881 – 1 July 1970) was a New Zealand civilian and military nurse and hospital matron with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service Corps during World War I and the Samoan Expeditionary Forces in 1914.

MacLean was born in Hunterville, New Zealand, on 4 November 1881 to mother Julia Williamson and father Finlay McLean. Her father came from Scotland and bought the Bird Grove farm where MacLean spent her childhood. The MacLean family became the first Pākeha settlers in the area.

New Zealand Army Nursing Service In 1915 upon the conception of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, MacLean travelled to Egypt. She worked at the Egyptian Army Hospital, Abbassieh, running the infectious diseases isolation unit. MacLean was promoted to matron of the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital in Hornchurch in January of 1917 and then matron of the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital in April.

MacLean was awarded a Royal Red Cross, second class in 1916 as well as a 1914-15 Star.

Personal life MacLean returned to her birthplace, Whanganui, to retire and lived with her sister Edith. Maclean never married, dedicating her life to nursing.

She died in Whanganui Hospital on 1 July 1970 at age 88 and received a full military funeral.