AN army major whose work took her to Egypt, North Africa and Italy has died aged 91.

Edna Longworth, of the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps, was born in Darwen, the younger daughter of George and Margaret Longworth.

She later lived at the Thorncliffe Nursing Home in Darwen and died on Wednesday.

After leaving Darwen Grammar School she began work as a student nurse, which included scrubbing walls and floors at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Shortly before the outbreak of World War Two she did a short spell of private nursing which she did not enjoy.

At the outbreak of war she enlisted with the doctors and nurses who were formed into the 18th British General Hospital.

Her career was long and fulfilling and her work took her all over the world. She served in France but the war forced her to leave in the early 1940s and after a spell in Poona, India, with the 18th General, she saw active service on many fronts including Egypt, North Africa and Italy.

After the war she served in England for a while, then did a spell of duty in Gibraltar where she was deputy matron.

It was while she was in Gibraltar that she heard that she had been awarded the military honour, the Associated Royal Red Cross, which was presented at an investiture presided over by the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. After she retired, Major Longworth travelled widely, keeping in touch with her many friends.

She never married after her friend, a naval surgeon was lost at sea while serving on HMS Daring.

She leaves a niece, Anne Shaw and nephew John Hawthornthwaite. Mrs Shaw, who lives in Gloucestershire said: "She was a lively character while she was working. She was the life and soul of the party."