File:Troopship S.S. Marquette.webp

Summary[edit]

No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital embarked from Alexandria on a grey painted troopship. Troopship SS Marquette on the 19 October 1915 bound for Salonica. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine (U-35) and sunk in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonikia 23 October 1915 with the loss of 167 lives Nine were nurses of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. The same port and day a marked hospital ship left Alexandria completely empty.

Image of SS Marquetta, courtesy National Maritime Museum https://navymuseum.co.nz/explore/by-themes/world-war-one/marquette/

Nine Nurses lost their lives some through the sinking and others as the results of accidents in lifeboats.

Marion Sinclair BROWN. Staff Nurse 22/104 NZANS. No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital. Born 6 October 1880 in Scotland to John Steel and Maggie (Margaret) Brown nee Scott of Waiuatuku, Southland. Her parents married 13 June 1874 in the name of John and Maggie. Prior to enlistment, she was Matron in a private hospital in New Zealand. Enlisted in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service 6 July 1915. Embarked from Wellington, New Zealand on board No1 N.Z. Hospital Ship Maheno. The ship sailed to Port Said, Egypt, and the contingent of nurses worked in No 1 stationary hospital there. In October 1915 Lorna was on board the SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the Aegean Sea 23 October 1915 aged 35. Her body was never recovered. Her service records show cause and date of her death and where she served. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Brown_(nurse) service record https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10014591 https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/marion-sinclair-brown

Isabel CLARK. Staff Nurse 22/108, of No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, NZANS. Born 28 April 1885 at Oamaru, New Zealand to Christina and Hugh Clark. Sister of Alexander David Clark, of Ardgowan, Oamaru. She is remembered in the Nurses Memorial Chapel, Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand. 23 October 1915 she was on board transport ship SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonikia. Ten other nurses also died that day Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. Some notes from her service record. Enlisted 6 July 1915 aged 30 years into NZANS posted to at Wellington, New Zealand Next of kin was her older sister, Margaret M Clark of Ardgowan, Oamaru, New Zealand. 10 July 1915 posted to No1 N.Z. Hospital Ship Maheno, and embarked 19 July 1915 on active service from Wellington, New Zealand bound for Port Said, Egypt, disembarking 12 August 1915. She joined a contingent of nurses working at No 1New Zealand Stationary Hospital. She and others of No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital embarked from Alexandria on a grey painted troopship. Troopship SS Marquette the 19 October 1915 bound for Salonica. She and nine other nurses died when the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonikia 23 October 1915 she was aged 30. The same port and day a marked hospital ship left completely empty. Image credited to https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/isabel-clark https://www.cnmc.org.nz/Resources/The-Marquette/Early-Days-of-the-No-1-NZ-Stationary-Hospital/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Clark_(nurse)

Catherine Anne FOX. Staff Nurse 22/118 NZANS Born 18 March 1877 at Cardrona, Central Otago, New Zealand to Mrs. J. S. Brown, of Waiuatuku, Southland. Sister to Miss M. Fox, of Hallenstein's Buildings, Auckland. 6 July 1915 trained in Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand also self employed Private Nurse at Waimate, New Zealand. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others on the 23 October 1915, she was aged 38 Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. Some notes from her service record Enlisted 24 June 1915 aged 33. The 10 July 1915 posted to, No 1 New Zealand Hospital Ship, Maheno. Embarked 19 July 1915 on active service from Wellington, New Zealand on board hospital ship bound for Port Said, Egypt, disembarking 12 August 1915. She joined a contingent of nurses working at No 1 Stationary Hospital. She and others of No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital embarked from Alexandria on a grey painted troop ship. SS Marquette the 19 October 1915 bound for Salonica. ship was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonika 23 October 1915 aged 38. Ten nurses died https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Fox_(nurse) blue https://digitalnz.org/records?text=Catherine%20Anne%20FOX&i%5Bprimary_collection%5D=Archway&i%5Bcontent_partner%5D=Archives%20New%20Zealand%20Te%20Rua%20Mahara%20o%20te%20K%C4%81wanatanga

Mary GORMAN. Staff Nurse 22/73 NZANS. Born 10 May 1880 at Oamaru, New Zealand to John and Catherine Gorman, of Arno, Waimate, Timaru. New Zealand. 9 May 1915, Trained at Waimate Hospital and worked as a sister in the Wellington Public Hospital. Enlisted 19 May 1915 at Wellington, New Zealand aged 35. Next of kin her father of Wainmate, Canterbury, New Zealand. Served in Egypt. In October 1915 she was on board troop ship SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine U-35 and sunk. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others on the 23 October 1915, she was aged 35. Total service was 157 days. Her service record has vey little information, enlistment and that she drowned. The above information was found during my research. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece https://digitalnz.org/records?text=Mary%20GORMAN

Nora Mildred HILDYARD. Staff Nurse 22/125 NZANS. Born 4 November 1888 at Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand to William and Betsy Ann Hildyard, of Cressy Terrace, Lyttelton, Christchurch, New Zealand. 1913 Qualified as a Nurse at Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. Employment prior to enlistment. Private Practice Nurse for Doctor Sandston, Lyttleton, New Zealand. Enlisted 6 July 1915 at Wellington, Nurses at Christchurch Hospital from December 1913 for 4 years and 8 months Embarked from Wellington New Zealand on New Zealand No 1 Hospital Ship, Maheno 11 July 1915 for Egypt. October 1915 she was on board the SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine U-35 and sunk. She was injured by a bungled lowering of the lifeboat she was in into the Aegean Sea 23 October 1915. Her legs were crushed against the side of the ship. She drowned aged 28. Her service records are a little sketchy. Full extract from De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour on Ancestry. Nona (Nora) Milidred Hildyard. Nurse, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Daughter of William Hildyard of Lyttleton, New Zealand, by his wife Betsy Ahh, daughter of John (and Harriet) Libballie; b.Lyttleton aforesaid, 4 November 1890 (service record shows 4.11.1888); educ. Lyttleton Public Schools; entered the Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand, where she soon attracted the attention of her superiors and on the outbreak of war was one of the nurses specially selected by the Government to go to the Front with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. She left for Egypt 11 July 1915 and was for some time engaged in the Base Hospital, Port Said. When the New Zealand troops were being transferred to Salonika, she sailed for that port the other nurses of the hospital and was lost on the troop ship Marquetta, when she was torpedoed in the Gulf of Salonika 23 October 1915. Doctors who were eye-witnesses of the disaster affirm that she displayed wonderful courage and fortitude and sang “Tipperary” and “Are we down hearted? No!” to the last to keep up the spirits of her comrades. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece.

Helena Kathleen ISDELL. Staff Nurse 22/130 NZANS. New Zealand No1 Stationary Hospital Born 31 November 1888 at Stillwater, Westland, New Zealand to James and Josephine Margaret Isdell, nee McKeevey. It appears that her father has remarried as Helena gave her next of kin as Helena C of Preston Road Greymouth. The 25 October 1921 her war medals were sent to her “mother” Helena C Isdell at Guiness Street, Greymouth. Trained as a nurse in Napier Hospital, Napier, New Zealand. 6 July 1915 Matron at Kumara Hospital, Kumara, West Coast, New Zealand. Notes from her service record Enlisted 6 July 1915 at Wellington, New Zealand aged 26 years. Her next of kin was given as Helena C Isdell, mother. It appears that her father remarried. The 10 July 1915 she was posted to No1 N.Z. Hospital Ship Maheno at Wellington New Zealand. 19 July 1915 she embarked on active service from Wellington, on board the hospital ship bound for Port Said, Egypt, disembarking 18 August 1915 with a staff of seven medical officers and 86 other ranks. She joined a contingent of nurses working at No 1 Stationary Hospital. She and others of No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital embarked from Alexandria on a grey painted troop ship. SS Marquette the 19 October 1915 bound for Salonica. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine U-35 which sank in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonika 23 October 1915. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others, she was aged 37. Ten nurses died. She served 14 days in New Zealand. Egypt 91 days. Balkans 5 days. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56178523/helena-kathleen-isdell

An extract from the service record of Staff Nurse 175 Margaret Rogers, the other nurse whose body was recovered. Extract from Cable dated 30 October 1915. Two nurses taken from an overturned boat at Zagora. Gold watch marked Margaret Rogers together with badge 1366 NZANS from one body has been forwarded to the British Consul, Volo Badu. Buried at Zagora this morning 30 October 1915. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, New Zealand.

Letter dated 1 February 1916 Re22/175 Nurse Margaret Rogers. to to P.E. Patrick Esq. P.O. Box 1527, Wellington.

“ I have now to advise having received a cablegram from Alexandria worded as follows. Your telegram BR 138 Bodies of two nurses recovered from overturned boat a Zagora stop gold watch with inscription of Margaret Rogers together with badge N.Z.A.N.S. 1366 taken from one body stop there are no other means of identification stop sent effects to New Zealand December 24th per “Tofua” stop Bodies buried at Zagora October 30th , in the in south corner near church stop no other bodies have been recovered”. P.S. The other nurse was Helena Isdell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Isdell

Her brother Private 761027 Charles Creagh Isdell, 29th Canadian Infantry died of wounds aged 34 in 22 Causality Clearing Station, France. At rest in Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Mabel Elizabeth JAMIESON. Staff Nurse 22/133 NZANS. of New Zealand No1 Stationary Hospital. Born 21 July 1881 at Kumara, West Coast New Zealand to Thomas McCullough and Frances Jane Jamieson, of Church Street, Kumara, Greymouth, South Island New Zealand 6 July 1915, nurse at Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerston North New Zealand and Berhampore Isolation Hospital, New Zealand Notes from her service record. Enlisted 6 July 1915 at Wellington, New Zealand aged 33 years. 10 July 1915 posted to Egypt on No 1, N.Z. Hospital Ship Maheno, disembarking Port Said and transferred for duty at No1 N.Z. Stationary Hospital. The 19 October 1915 she embarked with other nurses from Alexandria on the ex-Transport SS Marquette when it was torpedoed and sunk the 23 October 1915 by German submarine U-35. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others, she was aged 34. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial Alexandria, Egypt and also on the Nurses Memorial Chapel, Christchurch, Bew Zealand blue This link to go on all records of the sinking of the Marquette. https://ww100.govt.nz/no-ordinary-transport-the-sinking-of-the-marquette

Mary Helen RAE. Sister 22/161 NZANS. New Zealand No1 Stationary Hospital. Born 29 September 1880 at Rae’s Junction, Dunedin, New Zealand. Sister of Miss Robina Rae, of 25, Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch. Born at Rae's Junction, Otago. Notes from her service records Trained at Dunedin Public Hospital. Enlisted 6 July 1915 aged 35 at Wellington, New Zealand. Next of kin her sister Miss Robina Rae of 35 Aldred Street, Christchurch. Enlisted aged 25 years for service 7 July 1915 at Wellington, New Zealand, She embarked 17 August 1915 with Australian 2nd Contingent for Egypt on No 1 New Zealand Hospital Ship, Maheno , later disembarking at Port Said Egypt and posted to No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital. The 14 October 1915 No 1 NZ Stationary Hospital was packed up onto 23 trucks and transported the Alexandria and loaded onto British transport ship SS Marquette which embarked 19 October from Alexandria, The 23 October 1915 the ship was torpedoed and sunk, by a German submarine (U-35) in the Aegean Sea on 23 Oct 1915. There were a total of 167 fatalities of which 32 were New Zealanders. Ten were nurses who died, mostly drowned, and the other 22 were male members of the hospital staff. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others on the 23 October 1915, she was aged 36 years

Her Will “This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Helen Rae at present of Christchurch in the Principal District of Canterbury in the Dominion of New Zealand, nurse, about to join the New Zealand Hospital Ship for active service abroad on behalf of His Majesty the King. I give devise and bequeath the whole om my estate both real and personal of whatsoever nature and kind and wheresoever situate unto my sister ROBINA RAE and CHARLOTTE MARGARET RAE both of Christchurch aforesaid spinsters. AS WITNESS my hand the first day of July one thousand nine hundred and fifteen. Mary Helen Rae” Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rae

Lorna Aylmer RATTRAY. Staff Nurse, 22/160 NZANS. New Zealand No1 Stationary Hospital Born 10 January 1875 in Dundedin, New Zealand to James and Catherine Aylmer. Sister of Mr. C. W. Rattray, of Crawford Street, Dunedin. Notes from her service record Nursed in Christchurch prior to enlistment on the 6 July 1915 Wellington. Next of kin was her sister, Miss Ada Frances Rattray of Eglington Road, Mornington, Dunedin, New Zealand. The 10 July 1915 posted to No 1 New Zealand Hospital Ship, Maheno at Wellington, New Zealand. 19 July 1915 she embarked on active service from Wellington, on board the hospital ship bound for Port Said, Egypt, disembarking 18 August 1915 with a staff of seven medical officers and 86 other ranks. She joined a contingent of nurses working at No 1 Stationary Hospital. She and others of No 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital embarked from Alexandria on a grey painted troop ship. SS Marquette the 19 October 1915 bound for Salonica. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine U-35 which sank in the Aegean Sea, Gulf of Salonika 23 October 1915. She lost her life when a life boat being lowered into the Aegean Sea swung out of control into the nurses in their life boat killing and mortally wounding others.Cause of her death was heart failure owing to prolonged immersion in the waters, she was aged 27. Ten nurses died. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. Image credited to https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/lorna-aylmer-rattray https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorna_Rattray

Margaret ROGERS. Staff Nurse 22/175 NZANS. New Zealand No1 Stationary Hospital. Born 11 December 1887 at Oamaru, New Zealand to Thomas Brisbane and Janet Dale Rogers, nee Stevenson of Beach Road , Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Nursing training from 1911 to 6 July 1915 at Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch New Zealand. District Nurse Christchurch Hospital Christchurch July 1915. October 1915 she was on board the H.M. Transport. SS Marquette en-route to Salonika when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk. She survived the sinking of SS Marquette in the Aegean Sea 23 October 1915. Her body was found in a lifeboat by a Royal Navy Minesweeper and was identified by her wristwatch which had her name etched into it. She was aged 29. At rest in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece. http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nzlscant/marquette.htm

Notes from her service records Enlisted 6 July 1915 aged 28 years and 5 months. She embarked from New Zealand on SS Meheno bound for Egypt. Disembarked in Egypt and posted to New Zealand No 1 Stationary Hospital, Port Said. Embarked from Alexandria on troop ship SS Marquette 19 October 1915. Ship torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat the Aegan Sea 23 October 1915.

Extract from Cable dated 30 October 1915. Two nurses taken from an overturned boat at Zagora. Gold watch marked Margaret Rogers together with badge 1366 NZANS from one body has been forwarded to the British Consul, Volo Badu. Buried at Zagora this morning 30 October 1915. P.S. The other nurse was Helena Kathleen Isdell The bodies were found by a Royal Naval Minesweeper.

Letter dated 1 February 1916 Re22/175 Nurse Margaret Rogers. to to P.E. Patrick Esq. P.O. Box 1527, Wellington.

I have now to advise having received a cablegram from Alexandria worded as follows. “ Your telegram BR 138 Bodies of two nurses recovered from overturned boat a Zagora stop gold watch with inscription of Margaret Rogers together with badge N.Z.A.N.S. 1366 taken from one body stop there are no other means of identification stop sent effects to New Zealand December 24th per “Tofua” stop Bodies buried at Zagora October 30th , in the in south corner near church stop no other bodies have been recovered”. They were given a Naval funeral https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7182311 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Rogers_(nurse)

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