Ellen died off Mauritus on SS Hoihow11 torpedoed on 2nd July 1943. She was 44 years old. How do I discover where Ellen trained, where she was before the war and perhaps most importantly why she was on SS Hoihow with 3 other nurses (plus other passengers) heading for Madagascar?
Any assistance most gratefully received.

Hi Karen

According to probate - at the time of death her home address was 38 Braithwell Rd, Maltby, Rotherham. She died a spinster and left her estate (£1131 8s 7d) to Reverend Herbert Joseph quin, Clerk.

Denise

Nottingham Journal, Tuesday 28 March 1944
“Believed Lost At Sea. Sister Ellen Winifred Quin, of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Services, sister of the Rev. Fr. Herbert Quin, parish priest of St Mary’s, Hyson Green, Nottingham, is missing believed drowned at sea. Early in the war, in company with another sister from Westminster Hospital, Miss Quin went to Mauritius to establish a military hospital there. She applied for a transfer to a more active theatre of operations and last summer sailed for Africa. After leaving Mauritius communication with the vessel on which she had sailed ceased, and nothing has been heard of the ship or its passengers since. Sister Quin has now been given up for lost and prayers on her behalf were requested in Nottingham Catholic Churches on Sunday.”

Heths

Hi Karen et al,
This is a complicated one. I am not sure whether Ellen Winifred Quin took Holy Orders like her brother or whether the reference to 'sister' is purely the hospital terminology. From my discoveries she did travel quite a lot, suggesting a missionary lifestyle where nursing experience would be very useful.

Ellen Winifred Quin GRO birth Reg: 1899 Sept.qtr. Worksop District, mothers maiden name LAUGHTON.

Elizabeth Laughton married MICHAEL QUIN(N) Dec.qtr. 1884 in Chesterfield Dist. This couple had at least eight children, ELLEN W. was next to the youngest child and for the most part lived in the Clowne area.
Her parents died in 1920(Elizabeth born Whitwell.Dbys.) & 1925 Michael,(born Sheffield.Yks.).
Then we see Ellen, now abt.26years old, from 1925-1928 at Westminster Hospital where it says she achieved her training by examination, so I would assume this is where she trained.
On Jan.19th/1934 (now age abt.35) she sailed on board the SS.Chitral., she gave her residence as 102 Morrell St, Maltby.Rotherham Dist. Yks. Sailing from London bound for Yokohama, Japan, also mentioned Shanghai & China.
There is also another sailing from BRISBANE.AUSTRALIA on board SS.Largs Bay..arriving SOUTHAMPTON 14th July/1938. Last residence given..CHINA contact address given.. her brother Fr.Herbert Joseph Quin of St.Mary's,Belton Street, Nottingham.

So for the last approx. ten years of her life (with travels in between) her residence was given as Maltby (Morrell Street and Braithwell Road).
Your question why Madagascar..this is an island close to the island of Mauritius, both are in the Indian Ocean off the SE coast of Africa. Maybe Ellen was making a hospital call or maybe establishing another military hospital, when the SS Holhow (or Hoihow) was torpedoed.
There is an honorary tribute which list her name amongst others at BROOKWOOD CEM. Woking, Surrey(panel 22,column 2)
Refernces for the above: mostly Ancestry.com/Family Search/BMD and Sheffield Indexers.
HAPPY HUNTING:sleuth_or_spy: