S/Nrs. Isabella Clark

Isabella Clark (known as Isabel) was born at Oamaru in New Zealand's South Island on 28 April 1885. Her parents were Hugh Clark and Christina Clark (nee Watt). Isabella trained for nursing in Oamaru; she was one of the first NZANS nurses to leave New Zealand. The nurses arrived in Alexandria on 16 June 1915, the second on 21 May and the third on 10 July. The Marquette was a British Merchant ship of 7,057 tons. It sank when a torpedo launched from a submarine hit it 36 miles south of Salonika Bay. Twenty nine crew and 182 troops were lost. 10 of those who died were New Zealand nurses who had been working at No.1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Port Said in October 1915 when they were ordered to prepare to go to Lemnos. The hospital was to be set up there to care for casualties being brought back from the Dardanelles. The Transport Ship Marquette took on board officers and men of the New Zealand Medical Corps, 36 New Zealand Army Nursing Staff, 610 officers and men of 29th Divisional Ammunition Column , 541 mules and some ammunition in mid October sailed for Salonika. The French torpedo destroyer Tirailleur joined the convoy on 22 October which gave credence to the idea that there was a real danger of being attacked by German submarines in the Mediterranean. The torpedo destroyer left the convoy that night and at 9.15 am on 23 October the Marquette was hit by a torpedo on the starboard side and began to list. Within about 15 minutes she sank. Nurses lost their lives in the evacuation as lifeboats tipped over as they were lowered into the sea, some boats falling on others, with some being left on the ship and going down with her.

Sources

1. Cenotaph Record
2. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record
3. Marquette link found
4. Military Personnel File
5. New Zealand War Graves Record

Details

• Rank: Staff Nurse
• Service No: 22/108
• Date of Death: 23/10/1915
• Regiment/Service: New Zealand Army Nursing Service
• Panel Reference:
• Memorial: MIKRA MEMORIAL
• Additional Information: Sister of Alexander David Clark, of Ardgowan, Oamaru.