HS MARQUETTE
ROLL OF HONOUR
On the 23 October 1915 the Hospital Ship TSS Marquette was torpedoed a German U-boat near Salonika. Ten New Zealand nurses, 19 members of the New Zealand Medical Corps and 3 New Zealand soldiers lost their lives.
This letter is from one of the survivors Edith Popplewell. It was published in Kia Tiaki - the journal of the nurses of New Zealand in January 1916.
"Grantully Castle,"
Hospital Ship,
31st. Oct., 1915
I know you want to hear about everything, so I am going to tell you all I may write about.
We left Port Said by special train on the evening of the 18th. I was rather disappointed to miss the journey in daylight. It was bright, moonlight, however, and bright moonlight in Egypt is a wonderful thing, and it was very fascinating. We arrived at the port of Alexandria at about 3 a.m., and were told our bunks were made and tea was ready for us; so in the moonlight we climbed the steep, steep gangway to our new abode, the "Marquette."
It was such a big ship, and we got up next morning we found ourselves very important indeed - travelling to Salonika with a big British Ammunition Column! We were proud. We had not known before this what we were going to do, or where we were going to be. About 5 p.m. of that day we left, and had three of the happiest and most peaceful days I have ever known at sea.
It was so calm and sunny, and everyone was so well! no one even tried to be sea-sick. The Imperial officers were so good to us, it was all very nice and very comfortable indeed, and No. 1 New Zealand Hospital very much felt the honour that had been conferred it by being sent to so important a field. There were rumour so torpedoes of course, and we had life-belt drill for two days, which we really hardly took seriously I am afraid.
On Friday we were picked up by a convoy, a French torpedo destroyer, and I think the girls were only then aware that they were really afraid of the "Marquette", and even then took it for granted that it was only precautionary on account of our very valuable cargo, and mules, etc., especially as it left us that night; and at breakfast on Saturday morning they told us that we would be on Port by midday. So the danger seemed past, and we were mostly enjoying a brisk walk on deck, as it was very cold, and we felt it after Egypt, when the crash came. It was simply awful.
No one had any doubts of course as to what had happened, and several saw the periscope quite near. We all rushed for our own life-belts. Everyone was so calm; and although men and girls alike were as white as sheets, no one cried or spoke even, except to give orders. We had had our places at the boats detailed to us of course, but it was there the trouble arose; they were not managed properly, and the ropes refused to act.
We were however put into the boats, and the next minute we were floundering in the sea, and the "Marquette" appeared to be tipping fight over on top of us. Some of them struck our; but to me and those quite near me an absolute miracle happened. In what seemed barely a second a huge wave had washed us right aft past the very end of the boat.
I'll never understand that part, for she was a huge boat, and we were away at the end. It was pretty awful then for a while; and the "Marquette" sank as if she had been a tiny cockle-shell, and so quietly - no explosion, that also was a miracle, and after a fearful experience of what seem to me touching the very bottom of the sea, etc. etc., and I found myself and my friend a Tommy clinging to a bit of wreckage and perished with cold, and my little chum terrified.
We were thrown with a lot of the others for a while, but by and by all got separated. Another sister joined us, and we four just managed to hang on by our hands to our life-saving board. It was all too awful and too harrowing to write about. My friend died sometime in the afternoon, and the only thing that made me let her go even then was the thought that we would be the next. The Tommy went off too, and then Sister and I climbed right up on to the board and lay flat down on it and let the waves do as they liked.
Then we saw smoke of a steamer, it deemed so far off though; and the another of those big and miraculous waves came and washed us all in half-minute right up to the very side of a life boat they had sent out; or so it seem to me. We were taken on board a British mine-sweeper, and never can I tell how good those men were to us. It was almost five o'clock then, and we had been tossed and tossed for miles since 9 a.m., so I needn't tell you how we felt. Later, about midnight, we were taken to a Hospital Ship - more kindness and comfy beds in lovely big two-berth cabins; but the suspense waiting for the others to come was awful.
By morning fifteen of the Sisters were on board, and eleven more came that afternoon. We had all been rescued much about the same time - the other picked up by two French ships. Some of them had managed to keep to the "Marquette" life boat, or to be picked up by them; but it was a doubtful blessing, for they were almost under water, and kept tipping over and over. -- sat on an upturned boat with a couple of men all the time. The awfulness of being tipped out so often terrified and exhausted and hurt others.
In all we found no less than ten of our Sisters had gone - nearly all we had known to have died from exhaustion. I think about a dozen of our N.Z. men too and the rest were the R.F.A. boys in all I think about 160. So awful, and yet I think so wonderful that so many were saved, and all except two or three quite well, except for shock and bruises, and a very troublesome lachrymose condition; and even those minor complaints almost quite gone now.
We were in Salonica till Friday evening. On Wednesday all the survivors got orders to go ashore. We were billeted in two hotels, the boys and men in a cotton mill; but when we left they were beginning to form a camp - about 50-bed Hospital to start with, I think which was all the equipment they could get from Headquarters; and a couple of the Officers are returning to Alexandria to see about the rest of the equipment. It is very sad losing such a grand Hospital.
It had been wonderfully equipped on leaving Egypt - X-Ray plant and our own dynamo for electric-lighting the whole camp and 100 European pattern tented, etc. Had we landed as we expected we were to have proceeded right to the front at once. Instead they had to send a clearing Hospital forward. Our Medical Officers were fearfully sad at that - they wanted the N.Z. Hospital; to be in the thick of it.
I think they left us on shore those two days hoping we would volunteer to be left also. About half a dozen did, but none of the rest were fit in any way; and much to everyone's relief we were ordered back on Friday to our friend this Hospital Ship bound for Headquarters at Alexandria, for equipment, and with a very urgent demand from our Officers that we should be sent back again as soon as possible - and so we shall see.
We were at Lemonos all day yesterday; it is so wonderfully interesting; and today we were out on the ocean again, and it is sad and sorry feeling to be going back. Nothing would matter if only we were all here. That is the awful part, and yet surely that also must be right, and all for the best. This is the most beautiful Hospital Ship. How little we knew and how little N.Z. people know when they fondly imagine the "Maheno" the best ship afloat.
I believe its operating theatre is more elaborate than any other, but that is certainly all. This is beautiful; but they say is not nearly as good as some of the other English ones. We heard the "Muretania" was to be in Lemnos yesterday; but she did not turn up. She must be wonderful.
The town of Salonica is in such a state of political upheaval that we were not allowed out in the streets at all.Some of the Doctors took one or two of the girls to a couple of shops, and they got such necessities as hair-pins and handkerchiefs, etc; but that is all. You have no idea what a plight it is to be in. Talk about the destitute! However we laugh and joke over that part, for it matters least after all, and one feels ashamed for sometimes grieving over sunken treasures, but it is a bit difficult not to - even ones photos. You keep forgetting that everything is gone, and get many shocks when you realise what it means.
We were all so shocked too, as we were told to prepare for hardships and possible months without shopping and we bought Port Said quite out of woollens and such sensible things. We signed in Salonica for a grant of £20 each; but they could not get it cashed or something; so we did not get it, but will in Alexandria. Also our equipment will I expect be replaced; so pleased don't waste any sympathy on my destitute condition, will you. As I have said before, that matters least.
There was an inquiry on the H.M.S. "Talbot"; another Sister and I had to go. It was very trying; but when over the Commander insisted on us staying for lunch. The Commander of the battleship H.M.S. "Albion" was also present. Never have I met two such charming English gentlemen. They were so good and kind, and made us laugh, and petted and flattered us as though we were queens instead of two very draggled-looking nurses in shrunken dresses and no hats, and black eyes. And when they couldn't show their sympathy any more, and we were leaving, the Commander called for three cheers for the New Zealand Nurses from his blue-jackets; and I wish you could have heard those three British cheers - it made one thrill.
To-day, Monday, we shall be in Alexandria. Such a sad coming back. We are experienced soldiers quite, aren't we, and should I daresay feel proud. I believe some do; but I'm only a tin soldier. Strange that we should have had All Saints Day services yesterday. It helped to comfort so for those who have gone, and of course it is all right.
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