During the First World War, Innes was principal matron at the 2nd Northern General Hospital, based at Beckett Park, Leeds.

Euphemia Steele Innes was born in Panbride on 26 February 1874[1][2][3] the eldest daughter of Free Church of Scotland minister James Innes, MA, (1832 – 28 October 1894) and his wife Elizabeth Morris (27 August 1839 – 1888), of Forfarshire, Scotland, who was born in Edinburgh, and died in Panbride.

[nb 1] In 1929, listed as Euphemia S. Innes, she made an ocean voyage to New York City.

She returned from New York on 5 August 1929 via Boston to Liverpool on the Baltic of the White Star Line.

[17] On 31 July 1914 under the auspices of the Nottinghamshire branch of the British Red Cross Society, in anticipation of the First World War military hospitals, Innes took part in a military casualty treatment demonstration on a grassed area next to the Riding School at Welbeck.

Among the aristocratic and military personages in the audience were the Duke and Duchess of Portland and Surgeon-General W.W. Kenny, besides War Office personnel who performed an inspection.

[18] During the First World War, Innes was principal matron of the 2nd Northern General Hospital, at Beckett Park, Leeds, and remained in that position until December 1934.

Since he expressed a wish "to see the people rather than buildings and machinery" there were many presentations among the local worthies, including Innes as matron of the Leeds Infirmary.

Before entering the Town Hall, the royal couple spoke to the ex-servicemen, but on leaving they stopped and chatted to Innes.

[24] On 24 July 1925, prompted by a previous promise by John Wheatley MP, Innes gave evidence to Neville Chamberlain's 1925 Select Committee of the House of Commons on the General Nursing Council, on behalf of the General Nursing Council of which she was a member.

She said:[30] This organisation has done much to improve conditions for nurses – salaries and hours of work have been bettered, and a superannuation scheme with benefits at 55 is well advanced and it is hoped will soon become generally adopted.

It must be remembered that a nurse receives much for nothing, including board, lodging, uniform, laundry, care in sickness and professional education – practical and theoretical.