Anna Mela-Papadopoulou

Anna Mela-Papadopoulou (born September 3, 1871, in Marseilles – died March 12, 1938, in Athens) was a Greek volunteer nurse who became known by the name "The Soldier's Mother" for her activity by the side of the Greek Army during the wars of the decade 1912– 1922. The honorary title "The Soldier's Mother" was also attributed, in later years, to other distinguished nurses of the Greek Red Cross as a medallion, to commemorate her. Biography Anna Mela-Papadopoulou was a daughter of Michail Melas. Her father was an ardent patriot, proud of his descent from Epirus, that was still under the Turkish rule. He loved the arts and encouraged her talent in painting. One of her brothers was Pavlos Melas. His death and the tragic – for the family – circumstances under which it occurred, deeply affected his sister and influenced her life. She left her 2 teenage children to her husband's care and the village in Euboea, where he was the local landlord and where she had always devoted herself to welfare activities and she returned to Athens to work in larger charity schemes. Firstly, she organised a First Aid Polyclinic in Omonia Square and secondly a shop, called "The Progress", where women could sell their handicrafts and earn an income.