Daughter of Christina and George Campbell.
Two daughters, sisters, Christina Campbell (22/311) and Margaret Campbell (22/316) served in WW1.
Newspaper cutting 13 May 1927 "Sad Death of Nurse. Three Years War Service Mentioned in Despatches" . The body of Miss Margaret Weir Campbell, aged 44, a nurse, residing at 19A Hackett Street, Ponsonby, was found on St Mary's Beach below high water mark about 7.30 am yesterday. Miss Campbell went to bed as usual on Wednesday evening. Her sister Miss Christina Campbell, who slept in the same room, heard her breathing, as if asleep, about two o'clock yesterday morning. When Miss Christina Campbell awoke again about six o'clock her sister was missing. She searched the beaches nearby without result and then communicated with the police. Sergeant Waterman discovered the body sometime later. The late Miss Campbell had a distinguished record of service in the Great War. She was trained at Waihi Public Hospital, serving there for four years. In January, 1916, she sailed on the hospital ship "Maheno" to begin a period of war service, which continued for three years. With her sister, Miss Christina Campbell, she served for eighteen months in front-line dressing stations in France and on November 8, 1918, was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshall , Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished war services. Early in 1919 she returned to New Zealand and went to Waihi Hospital as ward sister. After a year in this position, Miss Campbell took a course of Plunket training and was engaged in district work in Auckland for two years. About 18 months ago she retired owing to ill health. Miss Campbell was of a very bright and unselfish disposition. She is survived by her mother, one brother and three sisters, resident in Auckland.
An inquest was opened yesterday and was adjourned after identification had been given."
From the Inquest: Margaret Weir Campbell (excerpts from the sworn statement by Margaret Campbell's sister Christina). "About 18 months ago my late sister had a blood pressure seizure and she had a blood pressure seizure, and she had another and more severe one about seven months ago, during the latter remaining unconscious for some time. During the whole of that period she has had bad health, been up and down at times and has been subject to severe depressions. She has said on occasions that she longed to die but she has not shown definite indications that she may take her own life." "I went to sleep and woke about 11pm . My sister was awake, I asked if she had been asleep and she said that she had not, and there was not anything in her manner at that time to cause me alarm concerning her."
"I woke again at 6am and saw her bed unoccupied. I searched about but could not find her, the indications being she had left the house in her night attire. I then called my other sister (Elsie) and she and I at once made a search along the waterfront in the vicinity but could not find any trace of her."
"Her body was brought into the house in a casket later in the day but I did not see her again."
From The Evening Post 12 May 1927 "War Nurse Drowned" (by telegraph).(Special to "The Evening Post')
Nurse Margaret Campbell disappeared from her home in Hackett Street, Ponsonby, last night and her body was found by a search party at St Mary's Beach, at 7 o'clock this morning. Miss Campbell served for three years with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service and was mentioned in despatches. As a result of her war work in France Miss Campbell had been in ill health for a long time and was unable to follow her profession.
Suicide by drowning AWMM