Speech, delivered at Parliament Buildings on 10 April 2024

I was invited by the New Zealand Remembrance Army to give an address about the legacy of Ettie Rout at a Parliamentary event to celebrate the work she did with New Zealand troops in World War One. This was a pre- ANZAC Day project organised and funded by the Remembrance Army. Painting by Matt Gauldie.

I am one of 3000 NZ Remembrance Army volunteers around the country. We are best known for our work in cleaning up headstones on military graves. We have also erected headstones on previously ‘unknown’ graves, but lesser known is the important historical role we play in telling stories and histories, often long forgotten, of our military personnel. Ettie Rout, the reason we are all here tonight, is one such case. Although never in uniform herself, her dedication to New Zealand and Australian troops during World War One is worthy of commendation and deserving of remembrance.

I’m delighted to speak about the life and legacy of Ettie Rout. Those who pay attention to politics may by surprised I’m here supporting the remembrance of an “ardent labourite and committed socialist”, as Ettie described herself. However life is seldom black and white and Ettie was much more than her political being. If I had to sum her up I would say Ettie Rout was a master campaigner. She had a gift for identifying causes and then, doing something about them, often single-handedly – although she was also gifted at drawing others in to assist whether they wanted to or not.

I would like to commend Jane Tolerton for her biography “Ettie”. In the Remembrance Army we frequently talk about dying twice. The first time is obvious – when you die physically. The second death is when no-one says your name anymore – you are forgotten forever. Thanks to Jane’s biography and the actions of the Remembrance Army Ettie Rout will not suffer the ignominy of a second death.

Ettie had her supporters and many detractors, but it is accepted that she was a force of nature, a truly remarkable woman who left a remarkable legacy, one not recognised as such while she was alive.

We have already heard of Ettie’s extraordinary life before World War One. Her campaigning took a different direction after New Zealand joined the war. Although we might have expected her efforts to be philosophical in nature, they were in fact very practical and this is where Ettie’s health campaigning came to the fore. She became a courageous, innovative and unyielding advocate for the well-being of our soldiers. Ettie firmly believed women were more than capable of contributing to the war effort, both at home and wherever our troops were stationed in Europe. In fact she firmly believed women would be superior in delivering health services, hence the establishment of the New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood.

Amongst the chaos of war she arrived in Egypt in early 1916. Ettie immediately became aware of the soldiers’ high venereal diseases rate. Definitely a woman ahead of her time, where most saw this as a moral problem, Ettie saw it as a medical problem. She believed these infections should be treated like any other disease and all preventative measures put in place. Remember, the cure in the form of antibiotics didn’t become widely available until World War Two. Such topics were taboo, but her proactive approach and unwavering dedication to the health of the ANZAC troops underscored her visionary mindset.

Ettie was also responsible for providing better rest and recreation facilities and better food for the troops. These types of health initiatives were acceptable to society and for this work she was mentioned in dispatches and in the Australian official war history.

Ettie recognised the dire consequences of Sexually Transmissed Infections, which were rampant and significantly affected the fighting capabilities of the soldiers. The New Zealand Medical Corps refused to address the issue, other than to promote abstinence. She advocated fiercely for the use of preventative measures but her early efforts weren’t welcomed. Ettie was not fazed. She drew on the research of the  foremost doctors in this field and developed her own prophylactic kit. Eventually, by the end of 1917, the NZ Expeditionary Force adopted her kit and it was distributed free to all soldiers going on leave. Ettie received no credit for her significant role, instead she was censured by the NZ Cabinet who banned her from NZ newspapers under the War Regulations. A 100 pound fine was imposed if any publication mentioned her after the New Zealand Times published a letter from Ettie suggesting kits and hygienic brothels.

What sets Ettie Rout apart was not just her activism but her practical approach to solving a critical problem. When war-time society was dominated by male hierarchy and structure, she took them on. When obstacles were put in her way she went around them to achieve her desired outcome. She opened health clinics in both London and Paris, ensuring soldiers had access to the kits, and worked tirelessly to change public opinion and military policy regarding sexual health.

Not content to stop at preventative kits, she took it upon herself to educate the soldiers, traveling to Britian where many ANZAC troops were stationed, to distribute health kits and information directly to the soldiers.

Not surprisingly, at an individual level Ettie was loved by the soldiers.

In April 1918 Ettie moved to Paris where she single-handedly set up a social and sexual welfare service for soldiers. As the troop trains would arrive from the front, she would greet the New Zealanders and hand out cards recommending the brothel of Madame Yvonne, who had set up her establishment to strict standards set out by Ettie. For her work in Paris and Villers (where she ran a red cross depot) the French awarded her with the Reconnaissance Franchise Medal.

Later, in France she assisted Australian soldiers tasked with cleaning up the French battlefields and burying the dead.

Sadly, as the men returned from war and got on with their lives, Ettie’s work became an uncomfortable truth for post-war society. Decorated by the French, acknowledged by the British, she was ignored by her own country. Worse, she was shunned by a peace time community and was outcast by many of her former friends and colleagues.

Ettie’s legacy is multifaceted. She demonstrated remarkable courage by tackling a health crisis head-on, challenging societal norms, and advocating for sensible health practices amidst widespread stigma and opposition. Her work significantly reduced the rates of venereal diseases among soldiers, showcasing the impact of preventative healthcare and pioneering public health practices of the future.

Her actions should remind us that progress often requires challenging prevailing norms and the well-being of individuals is paramount, deserving of dignity and advocacy.

From 1920 Ettie lived in the United Kingdom where she published several books. After her only return visit to New Zealand, and somewhat lost in life, she moved to the warmth of the Pacific Islands, where in 1936 she died by a self-administered overdose.

So ended the extraordinary life of a woman who put all before herself, resting in a neglected grave in Rarotonga.

So why is Ettie Rout not celebrated today? Much of Ettie’s story exposed the hypocritical attitudes of the day. While our fighting men’s qualities were extolled on the battlefield, their behaviour on leave was ignored. In tackling a reality head on that our society was not prepared to accept, it was more comfortable to ostracise her than commend her for her work.

Ettie Rout’s life teaches us that one individual’s steadfast dedication can indeed change the course of history for the better. May her story inspire us to address contemporary health challenges with the same fervour and foresight. She laid the groundwork for more open discussions about sexual health and her actions have had a lasting impact on public health policies in New Zealand and beyond.

Ettie was no stranger to this place, our parliament. In the early 1900’s she commandeered some rooms in the building on this site to hold workshops for one of her causes. It is also the place where during WWI she was silenced by the Cabinet of the day.

Finally, after 105 years Ettie will be recognised and remembered.

In a few minutes we will unveil a painting from Matt Gauldie, to be hung in Parliament so she is finally recognised for her enduring legacy,

From being labelled in the House of Lords as the ‘most wicked woman in Britain’ to being seen as the “guardian of the ANZACs” Ettie stirred emotions. She was a woman ahead of her time. Her friend HG Wells once said to her in a letter “It’s a mixed blessing to be born too soon”.

Much of what Ettie did has been vindicated since her death. Its time as a nation we celebrate one of our heroines and let her join the ranks where she belongs, amongst our greatest.

Lest we forget.