Mary CLOUGH

CLOUGH Mary. Staff Nurse, 2 Reserve, C/1037, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service. She died in Sick Sisters Hospital, Floriana, Malta 12th October 1916, aged 28 years. She was born 21st January 1888 the daughter of Samuel and Annie Clough, of The Coppice, Bispham Road, Blackpool.

At rest in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.Plot XXIX Grave 2

Blackpool Gazette & Herald - Friday 03 November 1916
Impressive Military Funeral at Malta.
Her many friends will much regret to hear of the death of Staff Nurse Mary Clough, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve). Staff Nurse Clough who was the daughter of Mr S Clough of the Coppice, Bispham Road, Blackpool, passed away on the morning of October 12th at the Sick Sisters Hospital, Floriana, following a short illness. Death was due to dysentery. She was in her 28th year and had been for about twelve months engaged at St David’s Hospital. Miss Clough gained her early nursing experiences at the Victoria Hospital, Blackpool under Miss Peel. She was there for four years and later was a private nurse under Dr. Milloy for two years. Subsequently, she took an appointment at a hospital in London, where her sister is now also engaged in similar work.
When the war broke out, Nurse Mary Clough offered her services for Belgium, but was not accepted and in May of last year she proceeded to Gibraltar. After spending nine months there, she was sent to Malta where she laboured with unceasing energy with the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve). She was a great favourite with the staff and also with the patients. She was taken ill whilst working at St David’s Hospital and was removed from there to the Sick Sisters Hospital in Floriana. The funeral took place at Pieta Cemetery the day following her death and was of a deeply impressive character, a fitting memorial to a heroine who died in the service of the Empire. The funeral was accorded full military honours. The cortege left the mortuary Porte Dec Bombes, to which the remains had been transported, in the following order. Firing party, under the command of Lieut Burnett, a military band and drums, the coffin, covered with the Union Jack and borne on a gun carriage, party bearing wreaths, party of N.C. officers and men R.A.M.C. from different hospitals and camps on the island, officers of the garrison, amongst whom the R.A.M.C. was numerously represented. Director of Medical Services and Headquarters’ Staff and Staff Officers. At the close of the service three volleys were fired and the buglers sounded the Last Post.
There were many handsome wreaths bearing touching inscriptions, one of them being form His Excellency the Governor “In memory of Miss Clough, whose good work at St Davids Hospital will long be remembered.