14 July 2018

The Story of Mother Seacole, the Other 'Angel of the Crimea.

I'm sure all my readers have heard of Florence Nightingale, brave nurse in the Crimean War, but how many have heard of Mary Jane Seacole OM (Jamaica), 1805 – 14 May 1881, proud Briton, successful business woman, nurse, and 'Mother' to the Tommy Atkins serving in the Crimea? She was the daughter of a Scotsman, a Lieutenant in the British Army and a black Jamaican 'doctress' and hotel owner.

After numerous adventures, she tried to volunteer for nursing duty during the Crimean War. Rejected both by the Army and Nightingale's organisation, she went to the Crimea on her own sixpence and founded the 'British Hotel' which she described as "a mess-table and comfortable quarters for sick and convalescent officers", and provided succour for wounded servicemen on the battlefield.

She was posthumously awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit in 1991. In 2004 she was voted the greatest black Briton. The story from the BBC.


We will remember them Lest we forget. Memory Eternal!


Here are two videos from Extra Credits YouTube channel telling her story.





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