After war broke out in 1914 Cambridge local Mrs Elsie Nixon devoted much of her time towards the war effort. As honorary secretary of the Cambridge Women’s General Hospital and War Relief Committee she helped to arrange events and fundraisers for various wartime causes, such as the relief of refugees in Europe and returning New Zealand soldiers. In 1916 Elsie helped to organise a patriotic show and a Christmastime campaign in aid of Belgium. In recognition of her fundraising efforts for Belgium, Elsie received the Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth (Queen Elisabeth Medal).
Family information
Parents: Elisha Veale and Sarah Veale (née King)
Born: 1883
Died: 9 March 1943, aged 59
Buried: Hautapu Cemetery, Cambridge, Block G, Row 20, Plot 322
Married: Herbert Lowthorpe Nixon, 1907
Active in: Cambridge
Selected sources
'Cambridge Queen Carnival', Waikato Times, 4 September 1915, p. 4
'Cambridge Queen Carnival', Waikato Times, 27 September 1915, p. 4
'Patriotic Show', Waikato Independent, 8 February 1916, p. 5
'N.Z. Farmers' Union', Waikato Times, 11 August 1916, p. 3
'Belgian Relief Fund', Waikato Independent, 2 December 1916, p. 5
'Cambridge en Fete', Waikato Times, 7 September 1917, p. 4
'Women's World', Waikato Times, 31 August 1918, p. 6
'Tribute to France', Waikato Times, 1 October 1918, p. 6
Community contributions