Saturday 30 December 2017

The loss of HMS "Osmanieh" - 31st December 1917

Remembering the following nurses who died when the British Naval Auxiliary Fleet ship HMS “Osmanieh” was sunk by a mine from German submarine UC 34 off the coast of Egypt on 31st December 1917.   The Steam Ship “Osmanieh” was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson in Newcastle and launched in 1906.  She was requisitioned by the British Navy during WW1 and was en route from service in Gallipoli carrying troops and medical personnel to Alexandria when she was mined.   The Captain of the ship, 167 troops and 8 nurses lost their lives when the ship sank.
They are buried in ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt

The nurses were:

Nursing Sister CATHERINE BALL of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Drowned off Alexandria on 31st December 1917. Age 28. Daughter of John King Ball and Catherine Ball, of 25, Trent Bridge Footway, Nottingham. Grave Reference: B. 45.

Nursing Sister WINIFRED MAUD BROWN of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Drowned in loss of H.M.S. "Osmanieh" off Alexandria, 31st December 1917. Age 30. Daughter of Arthur Brown, M.Inst. C.E., and Caroline Brown, of "Glenthorne," 3, Lucknow Avenue, Nottingham. Grave  

Nurse GERTRUDE BYTHEWAY. Voluntary Aid Detachment. Drowned in loss of H.M.S. "Osmanieh" off Alexandria, 31st December 1917. Age 37. Daughter of George and Lottie Bytheway, of Walsall, Staffs. Grave Reference: B. 42.

Nurse UNA MARGUERITE DUNCANSON of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. 31st December 1917. Age 25. Daughter of Mrs. H. F. Duncanson, of Pumps Court, Tovil, Maidstone. Grave Reference: B. 41.

Probationer Nurse (Special), NELLIE HAWLEY, 83/11/1057 of The Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, attached to H.M.S. "Osmanieh" . Drowned in loss of H.M.S. "Osmanieh" off Alexandria, 31 December 1917. Age 29. Daughter of Alfred Arthur and Stella Hawley, of 29, Kingshall Rd., Beckenham, Kent. Grave Reference: B. 46. Nellie’s name is also on the War Memorial in the Grounds of Holy Trinity Church Beckenham, Kent, UK. Her name also appeared on the memorial at Malvern House School, Lewisham Park, which was destroyed in an air raid during the Second World War.

Nurse LILIAN MIDWOOD of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Drowned in loss of H.M.S. "Osmanieh" off Alexandria, 31 December 1917. Age 32. Daughter of Mrs. E. G. Midwood, of London. Grave Reference: B. 43.

Staff Nurse M D. ROBERTS R/853. Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, attd. H.M.S. "Osmanieh". Drowned in loss of H.M.S. "Osmanieh" (mine explosion) off Alexandria, 31 December 1917. Grave Reference: B. 44.

Nurse HERMIONE ANGELA ROGERS of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Drowned, 31st December 1917. Age 22. Daughter of Francis Edward Newman Rogers and Louisa Annie Rogers, of Rainscombe, Marlborough, Wilts. Grave Reference: B. 39.

I wonder if anyone visits those graves?