Letter · 31 Dec 1914 · Bernay, France
Sickening wounds
Ella attended Grafton School in Auckland and completed her nursing training at Auckland Hospital. She died in Alexandria, Egypt. Her obituary in Kai Tiaki (NZ nursing journal) states: 'A sad death reported by cable from Alexandria is that of Sister Ella Cooke, who trained at the Auckland Hospital, and afterwards was a member of the Public Health Nursing Service. She went to England shortly before the war started and immediately went to work in France under the French flag, near Rouen. She was afterwards attached to the Queen Alexandra Reserve, and sent to Alexandria, where her death occurred accidentally [she was killed in a railway accident]. Sister Cooke was a devoted and clever nurse, and a very great favourite. Her loss is much deplored.'
Extract from this letter
"Some of them have awful wounds which make one almost sick to look at them, inches deep and long; most seem to have been struck in the back and legs. Many will never be able to fight again, but we must get them well enough to be sent as prisoners to the construction camp about 5 miles from here."
