Somes Prisoners

Quarantine Burials on Somes Island

Most of the following names appear on a large memorial monument adjoining the Somes Island Cemetery and the road from the wharf to the top of the island. It seems likely that more quarantine burials occurred than are known about, and that only by searching the records of each ship quarantined there that most burials will ever be known.

Originally many of the graves had their own headstones or markers. However, around 1970 the Dept. of Agriculture decided to gather up the what was left of the scattered headstones and replace them with a single large monument. One headstone, that of the signalman of the HMS Geranium, was subsequently reinstalled by the War Graves Commission. Another, that of Mary Rudman, is still in its original place.

The monument lists the names shown below and is headed with the inscription: "This Memorial was erected in 1971 in honour of those who died on Somes Island. They are interred in the burial ground in which this monument stands or elsewhere on the Island."

After thirty years stored in the bull pen/stable, four inscribed headstones and two others that have lost their inscriptions (a wooden cross and a concrete slab) were laid within the wooden picket fence surrounding the monument in late January 2000. These were then rededicated.  

In late Winter, many clumps of jonquils appear and flower around the area covered by the old cemetery.

There are no internees buried on Somes Island. This is because most died off the island (i.e. in hospital) or, as in the case of the only WWI death on the island, his body had to be taken to Wellington for an autopsy. They are buried at Karori Cemetery.

Headstone Inscriptions

The following headstones survive, along with two others that have lost their inscriptions

To the Memory of MARY ELIZABETH MAUDE RUDMAN, died 26 July 1872, aged 2 years, 2 months.

Sacred to the Memory of CATHERINA. The beloved daughter of Sampson and Eliza CRABB, who fell asleep in Jesus, August 26th 1883, aged 25 years. "Farewell Father and Mother dear, Brothers and sisters too. I am not dead but in heaven, Waiting and watching for you."

Sacred to the Memory of JEMIMA ROBERTSON WALDIE, the beloved wife of Rev. J.W. Waldie, who fell asleep in Jesus, 19th July 1889, aged 39 years.

In Loving Memory of JOHN SULLIVAN who departed this life May 8 1919, aged 35 years. "Sweet heart of Jesus, have mercy on his soul" R.I.P.

In Loving Memory of JAMES MCGINLEY died May 9 1919 aged 32 years. R.I.P. "My Jesus Mercy" Erected by his loving wife Catherine McGinley.

Sacred to the Memory of GEORGE STANLEY (signalman of H.M.S. Geranium) who died June 30th 1919 aged 26 years. He has answered the signal.