CWGC - East Africa Memorial - Sister Ann Wolseley-Lewis, EDCC/363 East African Military Nursing Service. Lost in SS Khedive Ismail (London). 12th February 1944. Age 30. Daughter of Christopher and Agnes Stirke, of Bedale, Yorkshire; wife of Arthur Wolseley-Lewis, of G/1911, Kenya. Column 75.

Wolseley-Lewis - Ann Stirke was a nurse at the hospital who seemed to like me and we fell in love. Whenever I had any time off, we spent it together. It was after one of the weekend dances at the hotel, I was taking her back to the hospital when she made it obvious that she did not want it to end when I left Eldoret. So I said, "OK I'll marry you!" Rather surprised at my way of proposing she said "OK" and that was that. It was some little time before we could marry but we saw each other as much as possible. A little later when I had some leave and had become an officer we went to the District Commissioner in Nairobi and were married in the Registry Office. Anne was the daughter of a Yorkshire farmer, who was also the local vet. He had a 350 acre farm between Thirsk and Richmond. She had a nice soft Yorkshire accent, which my snobbish mother said "did not sound very nice". I think they must have been descended from the Danes who raided those parts far back in history……….

She was a very highly qualified nurse, a midwife and theatre sister. She was really dedicated and sympathetic and everyone loved her. She was a great help to Aunt Molly when Henry had a stroke and, from then on, was accepted as one of the family. She was 4 years younger than me. ………. Madagascar ……. Packenham-Walsh [sic] had come back from leave and had to tell me that Anne had had a miscarriage and lost a boy foetus. When we married I had said that we should not have children during the war, I did not think it was the right time to bring a child into the world. However these things happen in the best organised families, and we were both very upset when she lost this first child. ……..

Anne died on SS Khedive Ismail ………. It did embitter me, maybe forever, because it had to happen to Anne, who was such a super person, loved by everyone who knew her. I blamed myself again, because of the agreement we had made not to have children. If she had not lost the baby she would not have been on that ship. She was a wonderful nurse and had so much to give, but she gave her all for the Empire.

Notes in FindaGrave Ann was the daughter of Christopher Baines Stirke and Agnes Stirke nee Clarke, of Bedale, Yorkshire; wife of Arthur Wolseley-Lewis, of G/1911, Kenya. (Birth was registered as Annie Stirke). Parents: Christopher - Born June 1873 Leyburn, North Yorkshire - Died 22.3.1929 Yorkshire. Married in 1903 Wisbech to Agnes Emma - Born 1878 March, Cambridgeshire - Died 22.4.1937 Yorkshire. Siblings: Elizabeth- Born 21.3.1905 Finghall, Yorkshire - Died 1992 Northallerton (Married in 1937 to Harry R Shepherd); Edward Christopher - Born 12.7.1906 Finghall, Yorkshire - Died 26.9.1989 Willows Bedale (Married on 2.10.1929 to Annie Vivian Thompson); Helen Agnes - Born 4.2.1908 Finghall, Yorkshire - Died 9.12.1980 Marske by The Sea Redcar; Francis Purchas - Born 1910 Leyburn, Yorkshire North Riding - Died 11.1.1933 Yorkshire; Ernest Noel - Born 1911 Leyburn, Yorkshire North Riding - Died 10.7.1939 Yorkshire; Mary Lucie Anna - Born September 1913 Leyburn (Married Arthur Irwin); Harold - Born 23.8.1917 Leyburn.

A Sister with the East African Military Nursing Service. Service Number: EDCC/363. Country of Service United Kingdom. Casualty of War: Ann was onboard "SS Khedive Ismail (London) on 12.2.1944.
In the early afternoon of Saturday 12 February 1944, a Japanese submarine sank the Khedive Ismail with two torpedoes. No fewer than 1,297 people, including 77 women, lost their lives in the two minutes it took for the Khedive Ismail to sink. Only 208 men and 6 women survived. The sinking was the third worst Allied shipping disaster of World War II and the single worst loss of female service personnel in the history of the Commonwealth of Nations. Cause of Death: Presumed drowned at sea due to enemy action. Her remains were unable to be recovered. Her service to her country is remembered on the East Africa Memorial. Ann left her estate to Mary Lucia Anna Irwin (wife of Arthur Irwin) and H arold Stirke, Farmer. Inscription: EAST AFRICAN MILITARY NURSING SERVICE SISTER WOLSELEY-LEWIS A. Gravesite Details EDCC/363