These three nursing sisters have a memorial at Penhalonga in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe.
Penhalonga is a small mining town 18 km north of Mutare (formerly named Umtali, more correctly "new" Umtali because the town had earlier been moved from "old" Umtali), in the valley where the Sambi, Imbeza and Mutare Rivers meet. Umtali is the chief town of Manicaland, formerly one of the provinces of Southern Rhodesia, now of Zimbabwe. Mashonaland is another such province, adjacent to Manicaland, but in the early days the name Mashonaland was often used to describe all the territory that was subsequently named Rhodesia.
"Southern Rhodesia" was renamed "Rhodesia" when Northern Rhodesia, at independance, became Zambia. After Rhodesia itself formally gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1982, Rhodesia was renamed "Zimbabwe", the capital Salisbury became "Harare" and the town of "new" Umtali became "Mutare".
NURSES' GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE
A "Garden of Rememberance" was planted on Sabi Ophir Hill in Penhalonga, centred around a memorial seat and bronze plaque erected under the great fig tree where the three nurses stared their hospital in 1891. The seat was erected in 1941 by the Rezende mine of Umtali, to mark the 50th anniversary of the nurses' journey from Beira on the east african coast, and their arrival at Umtali to open the first hospital.
PIONEER NURSES MEMORIAL GARDEN
The old fig-tree on Sabi Ophir Hill beneath which the Nurses' first hut stood. This photograph was taken in 1941 on the occasion of the unveiling of the plaque to mark the 50th anniversary of their arrival. Standing (from L. to R.) are Pioneers Crawford, Palmer, Durban-Barry, Cockrell, Cripps (Sen.), Tulloch and Meikle.
(Photo: E. T. Brown)
this photo was added opposite p.144 for the facsimile reprint of "Adventures in Mashonaland",
pub. as Rhodesiana Reprint Library vol.8 by "Books of Rhodesia, Bulawayo 1969
THE RHODES MEMORIAL GATE
The Gate which gives entrance to the Nurses Memorial was erected in 1953 to commemorate the centenary of Rhodes' birth.
It will be noted that the renowned old fig-tree has been removed.
(Photo: Ministry of Information)
this photo was added opposite p.192 for the facsimile reprint of "Adventures in Mashonaland",
pub. as Rhodesiana Reprint Library vol.8 by "Books of Rhodesia, Bulawayo 1969
THE INSCRIPTION
NURSES MEMORIAL PLAQUE
A Rubbing, courtesy of Mr C.K.Cooke, Director of the Rhodesia Historical Monuments Commission, taken from a bronze plaque let into the memorial seat in the Nurses Garden of Remembrance (By Courtesy: The Historical Monuments Commission)
this illustration was added opposite p.145,
for the facsimile reprint of "Adventures in Mashonaland",
pub. as Rhodesiana Reprint Library vol.8 by "Books of Rhodesia, Bulawayo 1969
On this spot
BISHOP KNIGHT-BRUCE'S NURSING SISTERS
ROSE BLENNERHASSETT
LUCY SLEEMAN
BERYL WELBY
after an arduous up-country walk from the East Coast & within a
day of their arrival in Mashonaland opened a
CAMP HOSPITAL
and thereby inaugurated Nursing Services in the Colony
INSCRIPTIONS at Penhalonga, Manicaland, Zimbabwe
