The troopship SS Marquette was a legitimate target for Kapitanleutnant Waldemar Kophamel of submarine U-35 when he spotted the ship in the Aegean Sea on October 23, 1915. A single torpedo struck the starboard side of the ship, which sank in ten minutes. On board were 741 people, including the 191 people serving in the No. 1 Stationery Hospital. They were non-combattants and could have been on the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle, which left on the same day for the same destination.
Of the 36 New Zealand nurses on board the Marquette, ten were not recovered from the water. One of those nurses was Marion Brown.
READY TO DIE.
WAIMATE NURSES' SACRIFICE.
THE TRANSPORT MARQUETTE’S MISSING.
A GLOOM OVER THE TOWN. (abridged)
I said that I knew Nurse Gorman “in the making,,” but I only knew Nurse M. S. Brown as the “finished” nurse. Nurse Brown was trained in Riverton Hospital, and afterwards went to Palmerston North Hospital for a time. Her people come from Waimatukii, Southland, and are an old Scotch pioneer family. Nurse Brown nursed for about one year in Waimate — six months as nurse with Miss Shanks and six months in charge of Shearman Street Private Hospital. Like the rest of the Sisters, Nurse Brown volunteered for active service early, and one could but further her going, because one felt that she was an ideal nurse for military or any kind of service requiring dependability and good judgment. Where all have given themselves so freely, it is invidious to partlcularise; and I want to speak only of what I know; but I feel, because I know them so well, that I have suffered a personal loss in parting from Nurses Gorman, and Hilyard. Nurse Brown embodied all the qualities of the nurse, and the good woman. If you ask me what qualities stood out prominently, they were dependability, womanliness,readiness to sacrifice her own comfort for the good of her patients. Those who were closely associated with her loved her, and her probationer and helpers served her, oh so willingly. Amongst her nurse friends, her regard stood just as high. It was only yesterday that I heard how much her services at Port Said were appreciated by men and officers alike.
We are glad that New Zealand women serve so gladly, that they are proving themselves worthy to be on the Roll of Honour beside their brothers, and though we mourn the separation of their bodily presence from us, their spirits will never die, but will ever urge us to more unselfish service.
We stand one with the men that died; Whatever the goal we have these beside,
Living or dead we are comrades all, Our battles are won by the men that fall!
He who died quick with his face to the foe. In the heart of a friend must needs die slow;
Over his grave shall be heard the call, The battle is won by the men that fall!
For the dead man leaves you a work to do; Your heart’s so full that you fight like two;
His share in the fight is your own withall — And the battle is won by the men that fall!
Oh lads, dear lads, you were loyal and true, The worst of the fight was borne by you;
So the word shall go to the cottage and hall - Our battles are won by the men that fall!
When peace dawns over the country side, Our thanks shall be to the lads that died;
Oh! quiet hearts, can they hear us tell, How peace was won by the men that fell?
—Laurence Hausman.
HOSPITAL COMMITTEE'S TRIBUTE.
At the meeting of the Waimate Hospital Committee to-day, before proceeding with the business, Mr John Anstey, M.P., said there was a duty, and a very painful one, he had been asked to propose, viz., a vote of condolence with the relatives of four nurses — noble women engaged in Red Cross work at the front — who, they feared, had lost their lives by the torpedoing of a troopship. Three of these, Nurses Gorman, Clark and Brown, had nursed in Waimate, while Nurse Fox native, of Studholme, though not trained here. These women had done their utmost to participate in the fight as far as their sex allowed.
Mr Talbot seconded, and regretted that such a resolution should have to be moved at the outset of the meeting. The Members of Parliament came in contact a great deal in Wellington with the Red Cross nurses and gauged the high spirit that animated them. At the receptions there, even the returned soldiers did not receive more hearty tributes from the public. The resolution was carried by the members standing in silence. -Waimate Daily Advertiser, 3/11/1915.
About People
Nurse Marion Brown, of the No. 1 N.Z. Stationary Hospital Staff, reported as missing when the Marquette was torpedoed, though born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, was brought up in Waimatuku, where her parents now reside. She was trained at the Riverton Hospital under Dr Trotter. After leaving Riverton she was for a time in the Palmerston North public hospital, but left there to fulfil some private engagements as nurse at home. A little over a year ago she took charge of Dr Barclay's private hospital at Waimate. From there she volunteered for the front, and on being accepted left New Zealand in the hospital ship Maheno. Nurse Brown was everywhere respected and beloved, and the cutting short of such a useful and promising career (for it is to be feared that in this case missing means lost) is just one of the thousands of tragedies of this great war. The last letter received by the family showed that she was at Port Said in the canvas hospital there, and the letter was stamped by the censor of the Indian Expeditionary Force. Two brothers are at present in training at Trentham. -Southland Times, 10/11/1915.
THE COUNTRY
WAIMATUKU. December 4. — The promise in the beginning of spring of an early season has so far not been fulfilled. The past few weeks of changeable weather has retarded growth, and things are about normal for this time of year. On the whole, crops are looking well, and, with a few weeks of warm weather, will be better than usual. Teams are busy preparing for turnip-sowing, which has been hindered by the heavy rains lately. Roll of Honour. — The war continues to claim toll from our community. Following a heavy casualty list of young men, the news of the death of Nurse Brown by the torpedoing of the transport Marquette came as a shock. Nurse Brown was well known and highly-esteemed by all, having been for some time on the staff of the Wallace Hospital. Much sympathy is felt for her parents, Mr and Mrs J. S. Brown, who have two sons at present in camp. -Otago Witness, 8/12/1915.
As a result of the sinking of the Marquette, medical personnel were, as much as possible, not placed on ships which were targets for the enemy.
No comments:
Post a Comment