Annie G. Fox: The Nurse Who Stayed Calm Under Fire at Pearl Harbor

Annie G. Fox: The Nurse Who Stayed Calm Under Fire at Pearl Harbor

I have been learning about some of the remarkable people who served during the world wars and recently I have focused on some incredible US nurses. Today I want to find out about Annie G. Fox.

She was born on the 4th of August 1893 in East Pubnico, Nova Scotia. She later became an American citizen. She joined the United States Army Nurse Corps and steadily built a career.

By the 7th of December 1941, she was serving as chief nurse at Hickam Field in Hawaii. When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, she remained at her post and continued to care for the wounded. She administered anaesthetics, organised treatment, and guided both trained staff and civilian volunteers.

She was awarded the Purple Heart in 1942, becoming the first woman to receive it. At that time, the award could be given for outstanding service, not just for being wounded. Later, when the rules changed, her Purple Heart was replaced with the Bronze Star in 1944.

She passed away on the 20th of January 1987 at the age of 93.

William Brailey: The Titanic Pianist Who Played Through Fear and Chaos

William Brailey: The Titanic Pianist Who Played Through Fear and Chaos

I have been finding out  about some of the people who were on board Titanic. And the past few days I have focused on the  musicians. Today I want to tell you about William Brailey. He was born on the 25th of October 1887 in Walthamstow. His father was very involved in spiritualism.

He trained as a pianist and began performing at local venues. In 1902, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as a musician, travelling as far as Barbados. He left the army early in 1907 and returned to England to continue his musical interest.

By 1911, he was working on board ships, where he met fellow musician Roger Bricoux. In April 1912, he boarded the Titanic. Only days later, as the ship was sinking, he and the other musicians continued to play. He may have been afraid, but he chose to bring an element of calm with music.

He was only 24 when he tragically died and his body was sadly never recovered.

Do you think acts courage like his are sometimes the most powerful?

Sobek: The Nile God Who Embodied Both Life and Danger

Sobek: The Nile God Who Embodied Both Life and Danger

I have been learning a little about some of the many ancient Egyptian gods.  So lets find out a little about Sobek.

At the start Sobek was linked to the Nile, which was the lifeblood of Egypt. The river brought fertility and survival. But it could be dangerous and unforgiving. It was the home of crocodiles. And Sobek took on this form.  

Sobek went on to become associated not just with the Nile’s fertility but with its strength and its protection. In some areas, he was even linked to the pharaoh. He represented power and military might.

Sobek was especially worshipped in places like Crocodilopolis. There crocodiles were seen as sacred. They were even adorned. It must have been a complex relationship.

Over time, Sobek became connected with creation myths and even linked to other gods. This shows us that like many of the other gods he continued to evolve. But his core identity remained the same. He was still tied to the Nile and still embodied both life and danger. That dual nature makes him very interesting. It perfectly illustrates the idea that as in life, not everything  is easily defined as good or bad.

Do you think that worshipping a god like Sobek helped people to feel more in control of the dangers around them?

 

Elsie Seetoo’s Extraordinary Journey Through War and Service

Elsie Seetoo’s Extraordinary Journey Through War and Service

I have been learning about some of the remarkable people who served during the wars, and today I want to share a little about Elsie Chin Yuen Seetoo.

She was born on the 14th of September 1918 in Stockton, California. His parents were Chinese immigrants. During the Great Depression, her family returned to Guangdong in China, where she continued her education. She began her nurses training in Hong Kong in 1938.

Everything changed in December 1941 with the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific. As Hong Kong came under attack, she worked caring for the wounded and qualifying as a nurse in the midst of all chaos. When the city fell, she made her escape. She disguised herself and travelling over 700 miles to reach Free China.

She then joined the Chinese Red Cross, working in hospitals and training medical staff, before eventually enlisting in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in 1944. Becoming the first Chinese-American to serve in the Corps. She worked all across China and then in the United States until 1946.

She married Joseph Yuen in 1946, and they had four children, and then later married Ben Seetoo after she had been widowed.

After the war, she continued her work in medicine and her education, using her abilities as a translator and writer to bridge the gap between cultures. Her service was recognised with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2020.

Wallace Hartley: The Music That Carried Courage Into Titanic’s Final Moments

Wallace Hartley: The Music That Carried Courage Into Titanic’s Final Moments

I have been learning more about the people who on board the RMS Titanic, and over the past few days I found out a little about the musicians. Today I want to tell a little bit about  Wallace Hartley, he was the man who led the band in those final moments.

He was born on the 2nd of June 1878 in Colne, Lancashire. His family were both musical and religious. His father was a choirmaster, so music would have been around him from a very young age. Although he started his working life in a bank, he eventually started working with orchestras and then on ocean liners.

By 1909, he was playing on major ships when he was offered the role of bandleader for Titanic’s maiden voyage in April 1912. He initially hesitated as he had recently gotten engaged to Maria Robinson, and leaving her must have been difficult.

On the night of the 14th of April 1912. After the iceberg hit, Hartley and the other musicians began to play. It is often said they continued to play until the very end. He must have felt fear but music was his way of bringing calm.

Hartley tragically did not survive, his body was later returned home. Thousands came to pay their respects. His violin which was a gift from the woman he loved, has since become a symbol of that night.

 

Do you think you would have found strength in music, if you had been there that night?

Amun: The Hidden God Who Rose to Power in Ancient Egypt

Amun: The Hidden God Who Rose to Power in Ancient Egypt

As some of you may know, I have been learning a little bit about some of the many ancient Egyptian gods. So, I wanted to talk about Amun.

In the earliest periods, Amun was not one of the more dominant gods. He started as a local deity in Thebes. Thebes was one of the most important cities in ancient Egypt. Amun was known as a god of the air or of the unseen. His name is often understood to mean “the hidden one.” Unlike gods who revealed themselves through strength or a visible force, Amun’s presence was something that could not be seen but felt.

During the Middle and New Kingdoms, Amun’s importance grew further. Thebes rose to power, and with it, so did its god. Amun then became associated with creation and kings and eventually he merged with the sun god Ra to become Amun-Ra. It is as if a once local presence stretched into something much more universal, connecting what is unseen with the clear and visible power of the sun.

He became closely connected to the pharaoh, who was believed to rule with Amun’s support. Temples were built in his honour, especially at Karnak, and his influence spread across Egypt. There is something that feels quite mysterious about Amun.

Do you think that people found comfort from a god like Amun, whose power was felt rather than seen?

The Quiet Courage of Colonel Ruby Bradley

The Quiet Courage of Colonel Ruby Bradley

I have been learning about some of the remarkable individuals who served during the world wars, and today I want to talk about Ruby Bradley.

She was born on the 19th of December 1907 in Spencer, West Virginia. She entered the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1934 as a surgical nurse.

During the Second World War she was stationed in the Philippines. Just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, she was captured by the Japanese. She was eventually held at Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila. Her time there was harsh. She suffered hunger and illness. But, she continued to care for others. She helped in hundreds of operations and assisted in bringing new life into the world. She risked punishment by smuggling food and medical supplies.

By the time the camp was finally liberated in February 1945, she was dangerously underweight, but she returned home and even continued her service. During the Korean War, she refused evacuation until every wounded soldier had been safely loaded onto a plane. She only just escaped, moments before the danger closed in.

She rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel before she retired in 1963. Even then, she continued to work as a nurse for many years.

Ruby Bradley died on the 28th of May 2002 at the age of 94.