This post is dedicated to all those nurses who served with QAIMNS and whose names are engraved on Columns 113-114 of the Singapore Memorial (Kranji War Cemetery)...Salud! QA World War Two Nursing Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps - Wikipedia Results note: The CWGC database lists 24 names on the Singapore Memorial but I count 25 names (Sister Mary Cooper is the additional name).The only reference I can find to a Sister Mary Cooper (QAIMNS) is in Jakarta War Cemetery (I have an image of her grave) and as such, am confused as to why her name is on the Singapore Memorial? LEST WE FORGET Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com
is it possible she was listed on the memorial (assumed missing no body) and then the grave was found? assume name left on till next time panel gets replaced CWGC would possibly confirm I have sent email to them The list they have put together for the SS Kuala has this entry for Sister Mary Cooper: COOPER – Miss M. Cooper, QAIMNSR, Alexander Hospital, Singapore “… seen on island by members of QAIMNSR. Evacuated on “TP” .Not since heard of…” (Evans); Sister Mary Cooper, QAINMS , later survived the sinking of the “TP” after getting on a raft, but died in an internment camp in Muntok (Wingate); she is also mentioned in Phyllis Brigg’s dairy as having joined then in captivity “The only other QA with us was an Irish Girl, Mary Cooper, whose hands were badly lacerated from sliding down the ship’s rope into the sea before getting onto a raft (not clear whether this means the “Kuala’ or the “TP", also Mary Cooper died in June 1945 after ill-treatment after being put in Gaol whilst an internee (PBD); survived sinking of “TP’ but interned at Palembang and died of typhoid in 1945 (IWMDM) Royal College of Nursing Historical Journals (see previous section Sources 3: Royal College of Nursing historical journals) A search of the RCN Historical Journal found this entry for Sister Mary Cooper (BJN, 1945: p.143): " We very sincerely regret to announce the death of Sister M. Cooper Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., previously reported missing, now known to have died from Beri-Beri and Malaria on June 25th, 1945, whilst in captivity in Sumatra. Sister Cooper trained at the Adelaide Hospital, Dublin, from 1935 to 1939, and was enrolled as a Sister in Q.A.I.M.N.S.R., November 20th, 1939. She embarked for services in the Far East September 28th, 1941." Sources 4: The Singapore ships: Researching British Army Nurses
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Mary Cooper Given Initials: M Rank: Sister Death Date: 26 Jun 1945 Number: 206892 Birth Place: Eire Residence: Eire Regiment at Enlistment: Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Branch at Enlistment: Women's Services Theatre of War: Malaya Regiment at Death: Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Branch at Death: Women's Services From a family tree: Marys bright fire was extinguished three years later when she died of beri-beri in a Japanese internment camp. Mary Cooper 1916–1945 BIRTH DEC 1916 • Carrickmacross, Monaghan, Ireland DEATH 26 JUN 1945 • Muntok, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia Employment 1935 to 1939 • Adelaide Hospital, Peter Street, Dublin 8 Trained as a nurse here Nov 1939 • England Joined the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) 28 Sep 1941 • Singapore Sent to the Alexandra Military Hospital 26 Jun 1945 • Muntok, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia Died of beri-beri in a Japanese Internement Camp UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Name: Mary Cooper Age: 27 Birth Date: abt 1918 Death Date: 26 Jun 1945 Cemetery: Djakarta War Cemetery Indo 2 Burial Country: Indonesia Father: Patrick William Cooper Mother: Ethel May Cooper Regimental Number: 206892 Region or Memorial: Indonesia (Slight difference in birth years) TD
Thanks Clive. Have just uploaded an image of her grave marker in Jakarta War Cemetery - d.o.d. 26th June 1945 age 27. She originally came from the Republic Of Ireland. Yes; possible that name is on memorial because grave location unknown at that time. Her grave marker indicates QAIMNS but your various reports indicate QAIMNSR (R=Reserve?) Appreciate you informing CWGC as anyone reading the Singapore Memorial may come away believing that she does not have a grave! Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com
According to the book, Quiet Heroines by Brenda McBryde: On an official visit to Alexandra Hospital on Singapore Island, the wife of the Minister of State, Lady Diana Cooper was refused entry to a ward. Do you know who I am? she asked the young Irish QA. I am Lady Diana Cooper! And I am Sister Mary Cooper, came the swift retort, and you still can't come in, the men are too ill. Sadly, Mary Cooper's bright fire was extinguished there years later, when she died of beri-beri in a Japanese internment camp.
Received reply from CWGC Thank you for your email regarding Mary Cooper. I have attached a link taken from our website with gives all the information we hold in our records. As you can see from looking at our documents you will find that Sister Cooper was previously buried in Palembang Dutch War Cemetery and reburied in Jakarta War Cemetery. I can find no link to the Singapore Memorial. Casualty
Thanks for that Clive. One assumes that, sometime in the future, the CWGC will erase her name on the Singapore Memorial, lest it makes people believe that she has no-known-grave! Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com
Hello Tony just got this back from CWGC Good afternoon Clive How interesting and intriguing. As you say perhaps her name was engraved on the memorial before we knew her grave details were found and we could erect a CWGC marker for her on her grave. I will make a note on her entry to remove her name when the panel is next replaced. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Kind regards Maria