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Mairi Chisholm and Elsie Knocker - Madonnas of Pervyse
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Mairi Chisholm and Elsie Knocker - Madonnas of Pervyse
Mairi Lambert Gooden-Chisholm of Chisholm, better known as Mairi Chisholm (1895-1981), Scottish nurse and ambulance driver during World War I, pictured right with, on the left, Elsie Knocker (known here as Baroness de T Serclaes after her second marriage to a Belgian in 1916), also a nurse and ambulance driver. Both were awarded the Military Medal for their bravery and work with the wounded on the Western Front in Belgium. The pair initially joined the Voluntary Emergency Corps but then later set up their own first aid dressing station just 100 yards from the trenches at Pervyse, north of Ypres. Elsie concentrated on providing medical attention while Mairi transported injured soldiers to the base hospital fifteen miles away, often in highly dangerous conditions. Their bravery attracted journalists and photographers and the became some of the most photographed women of the war. Pictured in The Bystander after they had been invalided back to England after suffering a gas attack. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14131975
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Ambulance Brave Bravery Chisholm Driver Elsie Knocker Medal Nurse Nurses Nursing Madonnas Mairi Pervyse
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this poignant photograph, two extraordinary women, Mairi Chisholm and Elsie Knocker, are captured in a moment of respite from the horrors of the Western Front during World War I. Mairi Chisholm, known as Mairi Lambert Gooden-Chisholm before her marriage, is seen on the right, with Elsie Knocker, later Baroness de T Serclaes, on the left. Both women served as nurses and ambulance drivers, their bravery and dedication to helping the wounded earning them the Military Medal. Initially, they served with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), but their commitment to saving lives led them to establish their own first aid dressing station at Pervyse, just 100 yards from the trenches north of Ypres. Elsie focused on providing medical attention, while Mairi bravely transported injured soldiers to the base hospital fifteen miles away, often under dangerous conditions. Their selfless actions and unwavering courage attracted widespread attention, making them two of the most photographed women of the war. This image was published in The Bystander after they had been invalided back to England due to a gas attack. Mairi Chisholm, born in Scotland in 1895, and Elsie Knocker, an Englishwoman, defied societal norms and expectations by serving on the front lines during a time when women's roles were limited. Their courage and determination continue to inspire us today, serving as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
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