Nurse Trott tells how on returning to New Zealand, she went to Timaru, where her home was then. After several months rest and travel she was asked if she would like to go on the staff at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, which she was pleased to do. In early January 1920 she went to Hanmer.
The hospital was opened on June 3, 1916, "permission having been given for the hospital to be so-named from Queen Mary". The building consisted of three wards, the Edith Cavell Ward, named after nurse Edith Cavell, plus the Kitchener and Joff Wards. "The New Zealand Goverment having asked permission from these two famous soldiers, Lord Kitchener and General Joff, to name the wards after them. Their consent was willingly given and they stated they were honoured to be associated with gallant New Zealand soldiers".
Prior to the opening of the Queen Mary Hospital, returned servicemen were nursed at The Lodge which Mr. Duncan Rutherford had put at the disposal of the authorities to be used as a Red Cross Hospital. This was opened October 1, 1915 and 218 patients were treated there during that time.
No women were employed at Queen Mary until September 5, 1919 when Miss Edna Pengelly, R.R.C., was appointed Matron, along with three nursing sisters, three masseuses and three VADs. Colonel Eardley Fenwick was officer commanding in early January 1920 but Colonel Chisholm took over in February and the hospital changed from being a convalescent to psychiatric hospital.