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Historical records matching S/Nrs. Mary Helen Rae
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About S/Nrs. Mary Helen Rae
Mary Helen Rae was born at Raes Junction in Otago, New Zealand on 29 January 1880 (reg. 1880/8704). Her parents were James Rae and Isabella Rae (nee McLean). Mary trained at Dunedin Public Hospital and in April 1915 enlisted in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, departing from Wellington on board the SS Maheno in July that year. The ship sailed to Suez, Egypt, and the contingent of nurses worked in a stationary hospital at Port Said. In October 1915 Rae was on board the SS Marquette when it was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk 36 miles south of Salonica Bay. Mary lost her life that day, along with 29 crew and 182 troops. 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 on 22 October 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 had sunk. 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. Two years after her death, the Otago Nurses' Association created the New Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund in memorial to Mary and fellow Otago Marquette victim, Lorna Rattray. Donations from the medical community in Dunedin started the fund, which aimed to be a practical fund of "people helping people". Most grants are given to retired nurses who are struggling financially. Mary is named on the Mikra British Cemetery in Greece and in the Nurses' Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital. She is also remembered in the Five Sisters Window at York Minster in York, England.
Sources
- Cenotaph Record
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record
- Military Personnel File
- New Zealand War Graves Record
RAE, MARY HELEN
- Rank: Staff Nurse
- Service No: 22/161
- Date of Death: 23/10/1915
- Age: 36
- Regiment/Service: New Zealand Army Nursing Service
- Panel Reference:
- Memorial: MIKRA MEMORIAL
- Additional Information: Sister of Miss Robina Rae, of 25, Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch. Born at Rae's Junction, Otago.
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S/Nrs. Mary Helen Rae's Timeline
| 1880 |
January 29, 1880
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Raes Junction, Otago, South Island, New Zealand
Birth Registration Number: (reg. 1880/8704). Confirms birth as 29 January 1880. |
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| 1915 |
October 23, 1915
Age 35
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Aegean Sea
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October 23, 1915
Age 35
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Mikra Memorial, Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
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