THE MISSING NURSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 2

THE MISSING NURSES

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:

Southern papers give .some' biographical notes of 'the nurses who are believed to have been lost' with the torpedoed Marquette, and curiously enough most of them would appear to have belonged to the south, or to have' followed their calling there. Nurse B. M. Rogers was very well known in Ohristchurch. She was trained in tho Christchurch Hospital under Miss Thurston. Subsequently she took '<a maternity nursing .certificate at St. Helens Hospital. Nurse Sogers was a member of St. Andrew's Ohurch, She offered her services as a trained nurse for foreign missions work, and her offer was accepted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which sat in Ohristchurch about two years ago. She was to be set apart for the Presbyterian Church's'hospital at' Ambrym, in the New Hebrides, and was to go as the representative of St. Andrew's Ohurch in the foreign mission field. However, th© severe earthquake which destroyed the hospital at Ambrym forced her to change her plans. While she was awaiting further developments she took up district nursing work, under Nurse Maude, and she was loved by all who came into contact with tho District Nursing Association. After tho departure of Mrs. Mackenzie, Nurse Rogers was tho leader of St. Andrew's Young Women's Bible Class. Then came the call for nurses for active service, and Nurse Rogers volunteered. She was about 27 years old. Her parents live at Wainui." In a. Tecent letter received from Nurse Margaret Rogers by a. friend she said: '".There is no romance about war, it spells 'suffering, hunger, and filth, and how thankful I am 'every day that I came to do what I could to help and relieve our brave boys." A letter from Niuse Maude- Haste described how the arrival of a convoy had kept them on duly from early morning until 10.30 at night, but she said: "We came to work, so nothing matters." There was a great bond of friendship between our New Zealand nurses, many special comrades having volunteered together, and we know that the survivors, in addition to tbe shock which they havo received, will feel bitter grief in many cases where "one was taken and the other left."

Nurse M. M. Hildyard. another of the lost, was a Lyttelton girl and the'first nurse from the port to go to the front. She left with the nursing sisters who sailed by the liosuital ship Mahono. She was,' also well known in Christchurch, where she had been connected with the public hospital, and iust prior to her departure, with Dr. Saiulston. Her father was the late Mr. William Hildyard, and her sisters are Mrs O Pitcaithly, of Waimate, Mrs. T, Turnbull, of Wellington, and Mrs. E. R. Curtis, of Lyttelton. At the time of her death she was attached to the No. I .New Zealand Hospital, Port Said, Hiid her relatives hail receiver! from her several cheerful letters tolling of her liking for the work in which she was engaged.

Nurse L. A. Rattray belonged to Dunedin. but was trained at the Christchurch Hospital. She afterwards loft for Dunedin, with the intention of going thence to England, but when an appeal was made for nurses she changed plans, and loft New Zealand by the hospital ship Mnheno.

Five of the missing nurses on the transport Marouette were well known in Waimate. Nurse M. Gorman belonged to Kapua (Waimate), and was trained in the Waimate Hospital. She left four veai'S Ago and become n sister in the Wellington Public Hospital. Nurse Fox belonged to a well-known •Stiidliplmp family. «ud was trained in tlm Dunedin Hospital.

Nurse M. S. Brown left Waimate about six months ago for the front being then in c'hario of Dr. Barclay's private hospital. She belonged originally lo AVaimatuku (Southland), and was a sister of Mr. J. B. S. Brown, manager of the Carrington Cheese Factory, Wairarapa:

Nurse Isabel Clarke is also believed to be a Waimate nurse, and Nurse .Tamioson ; who belongs to Auckland, is a. cousin of Nurse Jamieson, of Waimate.

Nurse M. 11. Rae was trained in the Dunedin Hospital. Nursq H. K, Isdell was trained m the I'almerston North Hospital, but was matron of tbe Kumara Hospital before she left New Zealand for active service.