Great War Stories 3 - The Marquette

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

There were rumours of torpedoes, of course, and we had lifebelt drill for two days, which we really took hardly seriously I am afraid.

– Nurse Edith Popplewell, a survivor of The Marquette sinking

It was nine hours before the survivors were rescued. 167 people drowned, including 10 New Zealand nurses.

– Narrator Hilary Barry

She proved herelf to be a woman of remarkable ability, strength, courage and endurance.

– Actor Antonia Prebble on playing nurse Hilda Steele in TV series Anzac Girls