The Countess of Dudley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Viceregal consort of Australia | |
| In office 9 September 1908 – 31 July 1911 | |
| Monarchs | Edward VII George V |
| Prime Minister | Alfred Deakin Andrew Fisher |
| Governor | 2nd Earl of Dudley |
| Vicereine of Ireland | |
| In office 11 August 1902 – 11 December 1905 | |
| Monarch | Edward VII |
| Prime Minister | Arthur Balfour |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rachel Gurney 1867 |
| Died | 26 June 1920 County Galway |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley |
| Children | |
| Occupation | philanthropist, political hostess |
| Known for | WW1 work and founding a nursing association |
Rachel Ward, Countess of Dudley CBE, RRC (born Rachel Gurney; 1867 – 26 June 1920) was a British civic leader and philanthropist. She founded the Lady Dudley Nurses in Ireland and the New South Wales Bush Nursing Association in Australia. Lady Dudley lived in Ireland while her husband served as Lord Lieutenant and in Australia as the consort of the Governor-General. After her marriage ended, she set up the Australian Voluntary Hospital in France in 1914 and she was awarded the Royal Red Cross and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.