If Florence's memory was assured because she founded the Nursing Profession, Mary's fame was ephemeral in that as often happens with wars, it lasted only for the lifetime of the generation directly affected by it. I do feel that this is an injustice and that Mary deserves to be remembered permanently, but not just because she was Black - although Jamaica has every reason to be proud of her daughter - or that Flo is remembered and she isn't. For me Russell holds the key in the words included in his preface to the first edition of her autobiography: "She is the first who has redeemed the name of 'sutler' from the suspicion of worthlessness, mercenary baseness, and plunder; and I trust that England will not forget one who nursed her sick, who sought out her wounded to aid and succour them and who performed the last offices for some of her illustrious dead."
Mary was indeed a mother to her sons and she demonstrated to the army single handedly how morale could be vastly improved by the provision of basic services close to the front. The British Hotel paved the way for NAAFI Clubs, British Legion and Salvation Army Canteens. Her mobile stalls were echoed in later wars by the W(R)VS mobile canteens. The value of her battlefield advanced first aid support, similar to presentday paramedical services, is reflected in the establishment of integral specialised paramedical personnel at field unit level. The War Graves Commission was eventually set up to tend soldiers' graves. Mary's specialised herbal medicine surgeries were perhaps a one off, reliant on her unique experience, but at least today's medics recognise the value of homeopathic treatments for certain illnesses and diseases.
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