Kathleen Best was a nurse to her core. Completing her training at the Western Suburbs Hospital in Sydney in 1932, Best went onto train in midwifery before holding leadership positions at several Sydney hospitals. In May 1940, she began her military career, joining the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) as Matron of the 2/5th Australian General Hospital (AGH). Breaking ground as the youngest matron of the AANS, Best soon demonstrated her strength of leadership and character. By 1942, she had seen service in the Middle East, had led her nurses of the 2/5th AGH through the evacuation from Greece, and had been awarded the Royal Red Cross for her courage and efficiency. Best’s service abroad with the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) early in the Second World War made her well versed in military organisation. Showing her understanding of the effective operation of the military medical service, in January 1943 she stated, ‘Every position in a medical unit is important for ultimate efficiency ... and every girl in this service is helping to save lives’. In this statement Best was not referring to the nurses of the AANS; the ‘life-saving’ work Best was referring to was that being undertaken by the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS).