Mary Gantry- Dartford's Blitz Heroine

Sister Mary Violet Gantry SRN was a maternity nurse from Dartford. She was working at Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup during World War 2 which was heavily damaged in bombings. Mary was lowered head-first into the wreckage to care for and rescue the elderly ladies on one of the affected wards. Despite her bravery sadly many still lost their lives.

According to this newspaper article 'She crawled in and out of the wreckage with a bowl of hypodermic syringes, giving injections of morphia to the trapped women to relieve their pain. She was twice lowered into the wreckage head first.' It is further reported that when daybreak came she refused to go to bed, and returned to her normal duties.

Source: Bexley Archives- Facebook Post

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Wat Tyler

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My Secret Dartford

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