Janet MacFarlane DAVIDSON

Janet Macfarlane DAVIDSON. S.R.N., R.F.N. Sister D/234420 QAIMNR.

Born 1913 to Andrew and Helen Davidson, of Law Junction, Lanarkshire.

Qualifications S.R.N. State Registered Nurse. R.F.N. Registered Fever Nurse.

Died at sea from wounds received as a result of the sinking of troopship HMT. S.S. Strathallan, off Oran, Algeria 21 December 1942 aged 29 on which she was travelling. The ship was carrying 4,600 troops and 270 nurses on board, and a crew of 430. Five nurses were lost.

At rest in Le Petit Lac Cemetery, Algeria.

Carluke and Lanark Gazette - Friday 23 April 1943 -
Nursing Sister died from wounds received as a result as a result of enemy action on the ship she was travelling.
In January we reported that Mr Andrew Davidson of 60 Station Road, Lay had received notification that his daughter, Sister Janet M’F. Davidson had been reported missing at sea. Her body was later recovered and identified. She had died from wounds received as a result of enemy action on the ship she was travelling. Mr Davidson has now received a letter from a Flight Lieutenant in North Africa giving him details of his daughter’s burial.

Extracts from the letter:-
Before you received this letter you have been informed by the War Office of the very sad loss of your daughter.
Your daughter’s funeral took place near my station, her body being interred in the local Christian cemetery alongside that of a British merchant-man. As an officer, full military honours were accorded and in the absence of a priest, I conducted the service, using the form prescribed by the Royal Air Force. My other two officers acted as wreath-bearers and four of my sergeants as pall bearers. In addition there was a firing party of six men and the cortege was followed by 33 other ranks under the supervision on my Flight Sergeant. The local regiment provided a guard of honour at the cemetery gates. It seemed particularly appropriate that one of the wreaths, all of which were wild flowers, should be made from heather, which grows profusely in this part of the world. A local lady whose husband owns the land upon which we are stationed, made a small Union Jack from a Tricolour and this was placed upon the enshrouded body. After the ceremony I removed this flag and am enclosing it herewith since it was felt that you might like to keep it. “ I may say that the whole affair has had a most profound effect on the local population and indeed, on my whole crew. The men have themselves adopted the grave, a cross has been made and inscribed and you may rest assured that your daughter’s last resting place will be most tenderly cared for”

Sister Davidson was a member of the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service. Trained as a nurse at Roadmeetings Hospital, she afterwards at Motherwell County Hospital, Stirling Royal Infirmary and was latterly a sister at Law Hospital.