HistoryPoints News

Dec 24, 2023

Monmouth nurse's Christmas party tragedy


Nurse Caroline Maud Edwards wasted no time joining the Royal Naval Nursing Service when the First World War began. Her parents had settled in Monmouth after returning to Wales from the USA. On 30 December 1915 she attended Christmas ...

entertainments hosted by the captain of HMS Natal, which was anchored near her hospital ship in Scotland. The warship exploded that afternoon, killing 422 people - including Caroline, two other nurses and local children who had come aboard for the festivities. For more on Caroline's story, click here or use your smartphone to scan the HistoryPoints QR codes beside Monmouth war memorial, then click on the soldier icon beside her entry in the First World War list (where you'll see summaries of almost all of the town's war dead).