Teresa Cowley
Teresa Cowly, RRC, born Jane Cowley (1852 or 1857 – 28 November 1914) was an Irish Sister of Mercy, Boer war nurse, and educator. Biography Mother Teresa was born Jane Cowley in Dunshaughlin, County Meath in 1852 or 1857. She was the daughter of John and Margaret Cowley (née Loughran). On 2 February 1877 she entered the Convent of Mercy, Strabane, County Tyrone. She made her first vows on 8 January 1880, taking the religious name ''Mary Teresa]]. She became superior of the Strabane convent in 1894. Cowley led a group of five sisters in October 1897 from Strabane to South Africa as superior in response to an appeal from the bishop of Mahikeng, Anthony Gaughran. They arrived in February 1898 and opened their first school. The Second Boer War broke out in October 1899, and Mahikeng was besieged. The convent was requisitioned to serve as a military hospital, with the sisters nursing the wounded. For seven months, the sisters lived in a bomb-proof shelter. Cowley was awarded the Royal Red Cross from King Edward VII on 1 October 1901 in recognition of her service during the war. She also received the South African War Medal. After the war they