S/Nrs. Jeanne Spiers Peek

Jeanne was born in Wainuiomata, Wellington, although her family lived in Normanby in Taranaki. She became a pupil teacher at the age of 14, qualified as a teacher and taught in schools in the New Plymouth district. After three years teaching Jeanne then trained as a nurse and became registered with a New Plymouth Hospital Certificate in January 1912. During WW1, nurses were enlisted in the army and, as part of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, Jeanne sailed for Europe in June 1915. Jeanne was on board the 'Marquette' when it was torpedoed by a German submarine on 23 October 1915. Jeanne survived the sinking and wrote a remarkable account of what took place.

“We walked along the top deck and then stood to look along the forward. We saw a green line coming through the water and remarked about it and Grigor said “I wonder if it is a torpedo” and then “Bang!” It was a torpedo – we raced for our life-belts got in line in our night places – half on each side – no noise – not a single scream and I cannot think how it was that we were so cool and collected.”

Read more of her amazing story here: Jeanne and the sinking of the Marquette PDF

Sources

1. Military Personnel File
2. Cenotaph Record
3. Tauranga Memories: Remembering War
4. Tauranga Historical Society blog
5. Kete Taupo: Our WW1 Stories