Impression
Sketch of Philadelphia Nurses, (left to right) Lydia Shrope,
Margaret Haggerty and Helen Barclay (below) - By Jamie Mann. The original images can be
seen at: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045211/1915-04-14/ed-1/seq-2/
From the North East of the United
States,
The city of Philadelphia gave
assistance,
To the war zone of Europe and
Belgium.
Soon after the start of conflict,
Red Cross
America called out for assistance -
to send
Medical help out to their European
friends.
The generic title of 'Mercy Ship' is
to carry
Aid to places for humanitarian
operations -
Using converted passenger liners as
bases.
With the success of their first
mission, early
In the war, Red Cross America was
ready
To provide more aid; giving relief
to medics.
Although faced with problems of
American
Neutrality, the society had gained
more
Supplies and staff, willing to aid
Belgium.
Philadelphia, being one such city,
where
Four nurses had prepared to make
leave -
To travel to New York to join others
there.
At Woman’s Medical Ward Gerrard
Hospital
Came Lydia Sharpe - and Miss Helen
Barclay,
Assistant Night Supervisor of German
Town.
From the Men’s Medical Ward of
Tascarona,
Miss Margaret Haggarty and from
Frankford
Hospital Lilian Wolsey, Assistant Overseer.
The Nurses were ready to leave home
For New York, to join 32 other
medics on
Mercy Ship - formerly called SS Red
Cross.
After a farewell party with their
colleagues,
The nurses gained a train at Broad
Street
Station, ready for their New York
Destination.
Among them, Miss Sharpe had been
chosen
Six months before, but being only 24
years
Old, had been unable to go until
turning 25.
Once boarded and loaded with medical
Supplies the Mercy Ship would then leave
St Louis to head out for port of
Liverpool.
Nurses and medics having been chosen
By National Red Cross Society, would
Relieve the previous team to make
return.
When the Mercy Ship moves out, across
A North Atlantic Ocean, a single red stripe
On hull would show the ship's neutrality.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Philadelphia Nurses start for
War Today – City’s Second Contribution of four will Join Part of 32 on Mercy
Ship.
Illustrated Evening Ledger, [online] 14 Apr. P.2. Col.3-4. Available at: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045211/1915-04-14/ed-1/seq-1/
[Accessed: 14 April 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 14 April 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Philadelphia #WW1America
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