Great War Stories 3 - 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. This Great War Stories episode interviews Antonia Prebble about her role in Australian TV series Anzac Girls, playing Marquette survivor, nurse Hilda Steele. 

We were going along quite smoothly and contented, when we were electrified into action by a terrific explosion, and the ship tremored like a first class New Zealand earthquake.

– Kiwi soldier Bernard Bell on the sinking of The Marquette, The Evening Post, 13 December 1915

Key Cast & Crew

Antonia Prebble

As: Hilda Steele, Subject

Tim Spite

As: Voice of Bernard Bell

Anna Cottrell

Director, Writer, Producer

Peter Metcalf

Editor

Hilary Barry

Presenter, Narrator

Keith Slater

Executive Producer