Wife of William Charles Deller married 1920.

The following is a summary of Sister Mildred Jackson's service aboard HS Maheno: embarkations from Port Chalmers, New Zealand:

19 January 1917 - 3rd Charter

20 October 1917 - 4th Charter

28 February 1918 - 4th Charter, 2nd Sailing

Disembarkations at Port Chalmers, New Zealand:

22 September 1917 - 3rd Charter

31 January 1918 - 4th Charter

17 June 1918 - 4th Charter, 2nd Sailing

A short biography written by Lois Harvey (née Deller) her daughter on 27 July 2003: "The hospital ship Maheno played such an important and significant role in my Mother's life after having served as an Army Staff Nurse during three of the ship's voyages during World War I, that when she married my Father, William Charles Deller in Auckland in August 1920 and set up house in Carterton, they called their home Maheno. That is where I was born in 1923 and my Brother Bill in 1926.

My Father had a small herd of pedigree Milking Shorthorns, and they too, were known as the Maheno Stud. Probably about 1929 I remember very clearly going down to a Wellington wharf with my Mother especially to see the Maheno when she was in port. There up on the deck my Mother spotted a Steward who immediately recognised her, and we were invited to go on board. That was a very special encounter. They chatted happily and reminisced about their war experiences for quite some time, which gave my Mother a great deal of pleasure. Sadly that would have been the last time she saw her beloved ship.

Although I was not yet eight years old when my Mother died, I also remember some of her stories about the years she spent nursing – the long hours they worked, including scrubbing the floors in the wards at night, and the rolling of yards and yards of bandages etc.

I also know that Mother was at the Trentham Military Camp for a time, (probably after her time at sea), because my Father once showed me the hotel where he would take her for a meal when he was able to get down to see her, and The Tin Hat was the venue for meetings at Tauherenikau while my Mother was at the Featherston Military Camp. Incidentally, she was there during the terrible influenza epidemic in 1918 when so many lost their lives.

After she was married she enjoyed nursing and helping friends and neighbours when they were ill. I remember some of these instances. Her untimely death on 27th November 1930 was a tragic blow to family and friends alike."

The following is a transcription (with corrections added by the family) of an obituary that appeared in the Wairarapa Daily News[?] on 27 November 1930: "The sad news reached [Carterton] this morning of the death in the Masterton Hospital of Mildred Doris Deller, wife of Mr W.C. Deller, of Carterton, in her 41st year. Deceased lady [Mrs Deller] was born at Wadestown, Wellington, and with her parents the late Mr and Mrs G. Jackson, came to live in the Wairarapa in her early girlhood.

The family took up their residence in Greytown, Mr Jackson, who had been on the Government Printer's staff at Wellington, being employed at the "Wairarapa Standard" office, which was then owned by Mr W.F. Roydhouse.

Later deceased lady [Mrs Deller] entered the nursing profession, and prior to the outbreak of war, occupied the position of Home Sister at the Auckland Hospital.[In a letter written to the Auckland Museum in October 2003, Lois Harvey notes that her mother became a Registered Nurse on 1 December 1915, well after war was declared in 1914.]

When war was declared against Germany, she enlisted with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, making two [three] trips in the Maheno, and afterwards taking up duty at the Military Camps at Trentham and Tauherenikau, being at the latter camp during the terrible time of the influenza epidemic in 1918.

She married in 1920, and came to reside in Carterton, where her happy disposition and energy in all good works speedily won her a place in the affectionate esteem of many friends, who will sincerely mourn her death.

She had only been ill less than a month, and serious complications arose only in the past two days. She was admitted to the Masterton Hospital on Tuesday, but sank and passed peacefully away at 1.30 o'clock [1.30 a.m.] this morning.

She leaves a widower and two young children, Lois and Will [Bill], to whom the sympathy of a very wide circle of friends from all parts of the Wairarapa will be extended.

Listed at Archives New Zealand as JACKSON, Mildred Doris - [a.k.a. DELLER, Mildred Doris] - WW1 22/406 - Army AWMM