Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem "Dirge of the Dead Sisters" in 1902 to commemorate the nurses who died while serving in the Second Boer War in South Africa. The poem vividly describes the difficult conditions the nurses faced, including treating wounded soldiers amidst battle scenes and epidemics. Though the nurses sacrificed themselves to help others, Kipling notes that few remember their heroism and service. The poem serves to honor these forgotten women and ensure their legacy is not lost to time.