Winifred Maud Brown

Was lost when the hospital ship SS Osmanieh was sunk by enemy submarine near Alexandria. Buried Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria (grave ref B.40)The ship's captain, 21 members of the crew, one army officer, 166 other ranks and eight nurses lost their lives.

Article from the Nottingham Evening Post dated 23rd January 1918 reads :- “NOTTINGHAM V.A.D. HEROINES. “MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST. PETER'S. “In memory of two Nottingham V.A.D. workers. Miss Winifred Maud Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Brown, Glenthorne, Lucknow-avenue, and Catharine Ball, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Ball, 25, Trent Bridge-footway, both of whom were drowned at sea off Alexandria, on December 31st while on the way to a military hospital in Egypt, a service was held this afternoon [23rd January 1918] in St. Peter's Church, Nottingham. “The officiating clergy were the Rev. A. W. Dewick, rector of St. Peter's, and the Rev. E. J. Bardsley, vicar of St. Andrew's. Among the hymns sung were “How bright those glorious spirits shine" and “Jesus Lives." There was a large congregation, including numerous contingents of V.A.D. workers, members of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, and special constables, together with many wounded men, and the service was of a most impressive character throughout.” Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918Family headstone, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'In proud and loving memory of Winifred Maud Brown (VAD 32nd Notts) younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Arthur Brown, who was drowned on the 31st Dec 1917 (through the sinking of SS Osmanieh near Alexandria by enemy submarine) when going to a military hospital in Egypt. She was buried in the Hadra military cemetery, Alexandria. Duty impelled you, and you never faltered. There was no need for her to whisper twice. The end you saw not – no nor would have altered. You took the cross and made the sacrifice.'