The Marquette
When British troopship The Marquette sank in the Aegean Sea, killing 32 New Zealanders in World War One, it caused outrage in Aotearoa. Their deaths — mainly nurses and medical orderlies — could have been avoided if they’d been on a hospital ship, which gave more protection from attack. Instead, 167 people died on 23 October 1915 when a German torpedo slammed into their vessel.
My Wife’s (Vicki) maternal Grandfather Percy Smith, joined the NZ Medical Corps in the Field Ambulance unit as a driver/bearer Regimental No 3/867. Served with the NZ Expeditionary Force as a Private from 14 April 1915 to 6 August 1918. On 19 October 1915, No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital left Egypt aboard the troopship Marquette along with British Army units. The ship was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea. Of the 167 lost, 32 were NZers. He served in Egypt 1915, Salonika 1915 and in Western Europe 1916-18. Discharged from active service as no longer fit due to Chronic Otitis Media – inflammation of the middle ear caused by extended exposure to explosions resulting in hearing loss.