She was the globe-trotting wartime ambulance driver from Brechin who left a legacy of helping others.
Marie Dargie’s life was shaped by the traumatic effects of two world wars.
Mrs Dargie (nee Fairweather) was born at Fern in Brechin in 1900 and served as an ambulance driver on blue light mercy missions during the First World War.
She worked as a doctor’s secretary after the war before marrying David Dargie in Brechin in 1937. The couple then lived for many years in Hawaii and the Philippines.
Mrs Dargie was working as a bookkeeper when her idyllic life changed forever.
Japan attacked the Philippines in December 1941 on the same day as its raid on Pearl Harbor and Mrs Dargie was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war from 1942 until 1945.
She was detained at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila, which housed more than 3,000 internees.
Conditions deteriorated during the war and by the time of its liberation by the US Army, many of the prisoners – 2,870 Americans and 915 British – were near death from lack of food.
Following the war, the Dargies moved back to Hawaii, before they eventually settled in Redwood City, California.
Mr Dargie died some years before Mrs Dargie passed away on Christmas Eve 1987 in San Mateo, California.
Although the story of her life is known, there were no surviving photographs of Mrs Dargie and it’s unknown if any actually exist.
Despite leaving the town at a relatively young age, Mrs Dargie never forgot her connection to Brechin.
Following her death, and, in accordance with her will, a proportion of her estate was set aside for the creation of a charitable trust.
The Mrs Marie Dargie Trust was founded on August 1988.
Its purpose is to provide “relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage”.
The beneficiaries as stipulated in Mrs Dargie’s will were to be “the senior citizens of pensionable age in Brechin”.
Kudzi Campbell from the Chamber Practice Solicitors said they want to complete the picture of this remarkable woman by finding any photographs of her.
She said: “The Trust would also like to appeal to members of the local community with specific regard to anyone who may have more information about the late Mrs Marie Dargie and photographs of her.
“The last known surviving photograph of Mrs Dargie has never been found.”
Trust to be relaunched 120 years after she was born
Since its inception, the trust has been involved in various projects to support and enhance the lives of the senior citizens of Brechin.
The trust is currently administered by the Chamber Practice Solicitors in Brechin and continues to provide grants to senior citizens under its television licence scheme.
Under this scheme grants are awarded to senior citizens towards the overall cost of their television licence.
To date the scheme has awarded grants to well over 1,000 local residents.
In response to upcoming changes to the TV licence where only some over 75s will get it for free, the Trust is currently reviewing its grant system with a view to amalgamating the grant and increasing the value.
The trustees will be hosting a free lunch on March 25 from noon to 3pm at the Northern Hotel in Brechin to help relaunch the Marie Dargie Trust.
Attendees are encouraged to contact the Chamber Practice Solicitors to reserve their free tickets.
It is also welcoming any organisations that would like to apply for a grant.
