Nurse Helena Kathleen Isdell from Kumara. 1888-1915.

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DescriptionHelena Kathleen Isdell born 30 Nov 1888 at Greymouth. Before enlisting for WW1 she was the Matron of Kumara hospital.
She drowned in the Aegean Sea when the Marquette was torpedoed on 23 Oct 1915.
The Marquette sank within 15 minutes of being torpedoed. The 7000ton ship was transferring the No.1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital from Alexandria in Egypt to Salonika (modern day Thessalonika) in Northern Greece and was torpedoed less than 50 kilometres from the safety of Salonika Bay and ani-submarine nets.
The tragedy saw the loss of 211 lives including 10 New Zealand nurses of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service (NZANS) and 22 New Zealand Medical Corps staff.
A body found in a lifeboat was never identified but may have been Helena Isdell. There is a grave in the Mikra British Cemetery of " A nursing sister of the Great War. Known unto God"Date of Photo1915Map^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

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Location (city or town)KumaraPersonHelena Kathleen IsdellEventGreat War. Sinking of the Marquette.

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Category TagWar

From Facebook

Date Created19th April 2020CommentsHeather Newby another pointless loss of life of a lovely young lady.

Jessie Guy A lovely photo of a dedicated woman but a very sad story

Ina Lineham There are quite a few bits of information in the historic newspapers. A memorial was made at the Kumara hospital I think. I'll check out my old research... ill see if I can find it.

Del Godfrey Roni Wright- you did some research on these two didn’t you? I remember a photo in the local paper with you and Sue Wells. I’m sure you can add to this.

Ina Lineham MEMORIAL TO NURSE JAMIESON AND NURSE ISDELL. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/new.../WCT19151201.2.19...
Manage
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 1 December 1915 | MEMORIAL TO NURSES ISDELL AND JAMIESON.
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 1 December 1915 |…
Papers Past | Newspapers | West Coast Times | 1 December 1915 | MEMORIAL TO NURSES ISDELL AND JAMIESON.

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/news.../EP19321022.2.45...
Manage
Papers Past | Newspapers | Evening Post | 22 October 1932 | SCARLET AND GREY
PAPERSPAST.NATLIB.GOVT.NZ
Papers Past | Newspapers | Evening Post | 22 October 1932 | SCARLET…
Papers Past | Newspapers | Evening Post | 22 October 1932 | SCARLET AND GREY

Maye Dunn Awful...just awful..so brave.

Mary Kearney The Nurses memorial chapel at Christchurch hospital is dedicated to the nurses from the Marquette and all nurses who lost their lives serving their country .

Maye Dunn I'm not sure if her name was Isdell or Idsell it has been reported as both spellings.

Judi Mears Interestingly Marsden Valley Education Centre(MVEC), Shantytown put out a Distance Learning Resource this week to Coast Schools, including a Challenge for West Coast students to research information photos etc on our WW1 Coast Nurses. Helena Isdell MVEC is hoping to share a Compilation for our local libraries on our WW1 Nurses

Ina Lineham Judi Mears There is quite a lot on paperspast. Um.. nurse Cherry shared a lot of stories about her nursing. If I remember rightly. A,nursing magazine as well. But it no longer seems to be on paperspast

Judi Mears Oops ... sorry bumped the key board. Helena Isdell is one of the nurses in the challenge being set for Coast students this week.

Heather Benzie My great great aunt was also a nurse who died on the Marquette. Thanks for sharing this story

Judi Mears Who was your great great aunt?

Colleen O'Neill Does anyone know who owned the Kumara hospital before it was closed and when was it shut down

Ina Lineham Colleen O'Neill had a quick look. Dont know if this helps...... https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/new.../GEST19201126.2.6...

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Nurse Helena Kathleen Isdell from Kumara. 1888-1915.

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