Caroline Keer

Who was Caroline Keer?

Caroline Keer, RRC & Bar was a British military nurse and nursing administrator, who served in Natal during the Boer War.

She 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 1888-94. She served in Natal during the 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.