The following article is reproduced from the web site 'Britain’s Small Wars' - www.britains-smallwars.com.

Richard Woolley wrote and prepared the article for that website, but was helped by Tony Tolan who did most of the background research, plus John Dodd and John Marrs who also had some input. Cyril Blackburn, mentioned in the article below, supplied the photo of Sister Anthony’s grave and gave us her original name.

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To all the veterans who served in the Suez Canal Zone in the crisis years of 1951 to 1954, the name of Sister Anthony is one we all remember even though the events of her tragic death took place over 50 years ago. In the early years of the troubles, before the service dependants were evacuated, she taught the children of servicemen. Not only did she administer to the needs of the Christian fraternity, but also to other creeds. She was loved by the children and respected by all who came in contact with her.

The grief that was felt by her death echoed around the Zone and this was reflected in the manner of her funeral, which was attended by so many people of different denominations and race. She was given a Military funeral, which we believe was the first time it has been accorded to a non-Military person, or if not so, certainly an extremely rare occurrence.

The story of Sister Anthony is not generally known, so during the last four months we have been researching for more information of her, all we had were two old newspaper cuttings printed soon after her death, one was headed: 'Sister Anthony died as children sang', the other: 'Children of the British Army honour her memory'. It was Suez Veteran Cyril Blackburn who was able to furnish us with her identity, Order, a photo of her grave and photos of the old Convent as it is today. With this knowledge we were able to widen our enquiries.

The Order to which she belonged was the 'Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul' and our request to them resulted in him receiving copies of letters, written in French, which have been kept in their archives. We have now managed to piece together something of this remarkable lady who loved to help others, including those who in the end took her life.

Born in 1900 in New York, USA, to an Irish mother and Canadian father, she was christened Bridget Anne and had the family name of Timbers. Sadly she was orphaned whilst still very young and was raised in California by an Aunt who later sent her to finish her education in Belgium. Some time later she went to England where she trained as a teacher. The first teaching post Bridget held was at the Sisters of Charity School for Deaf Children in Tollcross, Glasgow, where her work was very much appreciated both by the Sisters and the children. Whilst there she felt drawn towards a religious life, she applied and was accepted to train at Saint Vincent's, Mill Hill, London.

In 1926 Bridget received the Habit and then returned to the school at Tollcross where she spent the next four years. Having volunteered at some earlier point for work with Foreign Missions, she went to Ismailia in 1930 where she taught children from the British Military Garrison at Moascar who attended the Convent school in Ismailia. Sadly she developed health problems and after one year had to return to England. Sister Anthony then taught at schools in London and Liverpool after which she returned to the mother house of St Vincent de Paul at Mill Hill in London and it was there she remained throughout the war years inspiring all with her courage during the dark years of the Blitz.

Sister Anthony had a longing to return to her work with the Missions and in 1947 went again to St Vincent's College in Ismailia where she lived and taught until her tragic death at the hands of terrorists. We can now relate some of the events of the day she died, and shortly afterwards, from accounts given by sister Nuns who served with her. Sister Cherest wrote to the Convent from the hospital in Ismailia, - "I fear you will have heard the news of the terrible death of our dear Sister Anthony on the wireless. As Sister Morin and I are cut off, I do not know if she will be able to send any news." Another report from the Convent reads, - "Yesterday a bomb was thrown on the Marine.

The English retorted immediately and the surrounding zone was then invaded by many persons. The gardens of St. Vincent's College were part of this zone. Sister Morin at last persuaded the men to leave the house, Sister Anthony insisted on this and was killed outright. There was a deadly struggle from two o'clock until six in the evening. Everything is now calm again, but blockaded.

All means of communication is cut off and the telephone only works occasionally. Even when we went to Sister Calviac's funeral, stones were thrown at us for going to the cemetery." A telegram from Sister Lavallee and another from the United States Ambassador confirmed this sad news. On the 24th and 25th of January Sister Morin was able to give a few more details. - "For the last three months there has been so much skirmishing on both sides that the death of our Sister Anthony has proved to be the drop of water that has caused the vase to overflow.