ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY-THE STORY OF TWO BRAVE NURSES
On 7th August 1944,Sister Mollie Evershed(27) and Sister Dorothy Field(30) were looking after wounded soldiers on SS Amsterdam,a troop carrier converted into a hospital ship,transporting the wounded back to the UK.The ship was on it's third round trip loaded with casualties,when it struck a mine off Juno beach.It sank within 8 minutes with the loss of 106 lives,Dorothy and Mollie being amongst them.Before the ship went down,they saved 75 lives,the last man being a patient who had just had a leg amputated on the operating table as the ship hit the mine.
Of the 22,442 people under British command who died in the 12 week Battle of Normandy,just 2 were women. Dorothy and Mollie are the only two women included on the British Normandy Memorial.
Both nurses were given posthumous commendation for their actions.
They are commemorated as part of the "For Your Tomorrow" installation at Stowe Gardens.
A fascinating but tragic story. It's good that women's contributions are being acknowledged though.
I like your use of sepia, very apt for the period and it gives them a spectral appearance which is atmospheric.
A great capture, Carol. I like your use of sepia for this! And this is an amazing piece of history! It's good that these women (and others) are being recognized for their brave work. Fav
Ian
I like your use of sepia, very apt for the period and it gives them a spectral appearance which is atmospheric.
Lest we forget.