The remarkable story of a young Tipperary nurse to be told 85 years on

The remarkable story of a young Tipperary nurse, whose rescue of her patients from a burning hospital before it collapsed in the German Blitz of London in 1940 during the Second World War, will be told on Wednesday, November 19, at 8pm in Ayle National School.

The illustrated talk by John Coman titled: "Mary 'Molly' Fleming GM, George Medal Awardee: From Clonganhue, Cappawhite to Buckingham Palace and back" is based on his article on Nurse Fleming in the Tipperary Historical Society Journal 2025.

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This is a remarkable story of a young Tipperary nurse, whose rescue of her patients from a burning hospital before it collapsed in the German Blitz of London in 1940 during the Second World War, earned her the George Medal award for civilians from King George the Sixth for her "quickness, coolness and courage".

Mary had left a small farm in Clonganhue, Cappawhite, as a teenager in 1935 to train as a nurse in London.

After World War II broke out, Mary was working in Grove Park TB hospital in south-east London when it was hit by a German high-explosive bomb on November 19, 1940.

Standing safely outside the hospital, Nurse Fleming heard the bed-ridden patients crying out from inside the burning hospital.

Along with Senior Assistant Nurse Aileen Turner, they charged up the fire escape, crawled across the floor which was giving way beneath them as they did so and managed to get the 17 trapped patients out to safety through a burning building filled with smoke and escaping hot steam before the building collapsed.

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Nurses Fleming and Turner were awarded the George Medal for civilian bravery by King George the Sixth in Buckingham Palace on September 26, 1941, and their actions were widely reported in the newspapers in England and Ireland.

Mary continued her nursing career in London until the late 1950's when she returned to the family farm in Cappawhite to care for her parents and work the farm, until she passed away on November 14, 1985 at the age 68.

Mary's story has been recorded in a play, in radio programmes, and in many articles and books including in the book "Tipperary People of Great Note" by Martin Quinn in 2020.

The talk takes place 85 years to the day since the brave rescue and it is being kindly hosted by Ayle National School.

All are welcome to this free event and tea and refreshments will be served afterwards.

A reminder of the time and date, Wednesday November 19th at 8pm, and for those unsure of the location, the Eircode is E34 FF90.