S/Nrs. Mary Louise Christmas, ARRC

Sister Mary Christmas served in the 21st general hospital in Alexandria and received the Associate Royal Red Cross medal for her efforts. She survived the sinking of the troopship Marquette when it was torpedoed by a submarine in the Aegean Sea, 23 October 1915. She managed to get hold of the rudder and clung to it all day until she was rescued. Mary eventually returned to New Zealand to become the first tutor sister at the Christchurch Preliminary School of Nursing. One of the stained glass windows, in the Nurses' Memorial Chapel, Christchurch, St. Agatha, was dedicated by the chaplains in 1968 to commemorate Mary Christmas. St Agatha is the patron saint of nurses.

Newspaper Articles

Sister Mary Christmas (saved) joined the Christchurch Hospital nursing staff as a probationer on March 1st, 1910. Upon attaining sister's rank she was placed in charge of the isolation ward, and upon the departure of Sister Rose to join the Australian nursing contingent she was appointed sister in charge of the operation theatre. She is the third sister in succession in charge of the operating theatre who has left for nursing service with the troops, Sister McNie, whom Sister Rose succeeded, having been a member of the Samoan Contingent. Source: Press, 3 November 1915, Page 6
Sister M. L. Christmas, who is expected to arrive in Christchurch on Friday morning, is the youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs William Christmas, of Ohoka. Sister Christmas volunteered from Christchurch Hospital, where she received her training. She is one of the survivors of the ill-fated Marquette. She has been nursing in sick and wounded hospitals in Alexandria, Cairo and Malta, and for the past two years has been in charge of a ward at Walton-on-Thames, England. Source: Star, 23 January 1919, Page 6

Sources

1. Cenotaph Record
2. Military Personnel File