The sinking of the RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915 claimed the life of Marie Depage, a Belgian nurse who had secured 100,000 dollars in funding for military medical relief. Her final acts involved assisting fellow passengers into lifeboats and treating the wounded on the deck of the vessel as it succumbed to torpedoes from a German submarine.
Early Life and Professional Foundations
Born Marie Pauline Picard in Ixelles in 1872, she was the daughter of engineer Désiré Émile Picard and Julie Marie Victorine Héger. Her family connections included her grandfather, Constantin Heger, and her uncle, Professor Paul Heger. In 1893, she married Dr. Antoine Depage, surgeon to King Albert of the Belgians and founder of the International Society of Surgery. During her early adult years, Marie applied her training in human anatomy to create illustrations for her husband’s surgical texts. In 1907, she supported the establishment of the Berkendael Medical Institute in Uccle, a non-denominational nursing school where she oversaw administrative operations while Edith Cavell served as head nurse. During this period, she also facilitated the introduction of the scouting movement to Belgium by translating works by Baden-Powell.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Wartime Medical Mobilization
Her medical involvement intensified during the First Balkan War in 1912, when she organized the deployment of four Belgian ambulances and traveled to Constantinople to assist in hospital operations. Following the 1914 outbreak of the First World War, she volunteered at the Red Cross hospital situated within the Royal Palace in Brussels. She subsequently assisted her husband in transforming the Grand Hôtel de l'Océan at De Panne into a dedicated medical facility for military casualties, managing the logistics of surgical units intended for the Yser Front.
Final Mission and Legacy
In January 1915, Depage traveled abroad to generate financial support for the L'Océan hospital. Following her successful fundraising efforts, she initiated her return to Belgium by booking passage on the RMS Lusitania. After the ship was struck by the German submarine SM U-20 on 7 May 1915, she drowned while trapped in rigging. Her remains were among the 289 recovered from the disaster and were interred near the hospital at De Panne in a ceremony attended by King Albert I and Queen Elizabeth. A 1920 memorial by sculptor Paul Du Bois in Uccle stands today to honor her service alongside that of Edith Cavell, marking the intersection of the streets named for both women.
Fast facts
- Born: 1872, Brussels metropolitan area
- Died: 7 May 1915, Atlantic Ocean
- Spouse: Dr. Antoine Depage
- Major Contribution: Administration of Berkendael Medical Institute
- War Service: Balkan War and First World War
- Final Voyage: RMS Lusitania
- Memorial Location: Uccle, Belgium
Questions readers ask
What was Marie Depage's role at the Berkendael Medical Institute?
She managed the administrative operations of the non-denominational nursing school founded by her husband in 1907.
How is Marie Depage commemorated?
She is remembered through a 1920 monument by Paul Du Bois in Uccle and the Institute Marie Depage, which was established near the L'Océan hospital.
