WW1: Women in the War
This page is dedicated to that group of people whose contribution and importance is so often overlooked in the story of the Great War.
The years of the Great War saw a remarkable spread, in Canada as well as in other parts of the world, of female suffrage or women’s rights. The demands of the war for huge quantities of fighting men and material provided women with an opportunity to prove themselves like none before. Women found themselves filling many positions that had previously been reserved for men, as well as continuing to maintain more traditional (but no less important) roles such as nursing.
Over 1000 women were employed by the Royal Air Force in Canada on a wide range of duties, such as motor transport work; and many went over seas as ambulance drivers or on other war work. The number of women employed in Munition Factories exceeded 30,000. Between 5,000 and 6,000 were employed in the civil service and untold thousands more in banks, offices, factories and farms. 1
The Great War was the first modern industrial war and it could not have been fought as such without the direct participation of women. Over 2000 women enlisted as nursing sisters in the Canadian Expeditionary Force betwen 1914-1918. 2 The folowing is a partial list of nurses with the Canadian Expeditionary Force taken from two photographs dated 1914. 3
Photo Album
This Photo Archive consists of a small autograph album (6.5″ by 5.25″) kept by Constance (Connie) Philips as a memento of her time serving as a nurse during World War One.
There are 184 photos, postcards, and letters, the majority from 1915, when she served as a nurse in France and Britain.
The album and all photographs, postcards, and other ephemera contained in the album belong to Karin Armstrong and may not be copied or republished without her written permission. The images are published on Olive Tree Genealogy with her permission.
Each image has been designated an “R” for Recto or a “V” for Verso plus a number. Recto is the right-hand side page of a bound book while Verso is the left-hand side page.
CEF Database for Service Files
The full military service records for these Nursing Sisters can be obtained online at the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) database using the References given below each name.
MACLEOD , Margaret Christine
- Rank: NS
- Box: 7089 – 17
JAMIESON , Mabelle Clara
- Rank: NS
- Box: 4784 – 43
MILLS , Margaret M
There are three M.M. Mills on the CEF database. I suspect the records are for one individual. The box numbers are 6218-1, 6218-2 and 6218-3
- Rank: NS
- Box: 6218 – 3
NESBITT , Violet Claire
- Rank: NS
- Box: 7276 – 3
MCCULLOUGH , Georgianna Beach
- Rank: NS
- Box: 6677 – 1
WINTER , Dorothy Elizabeth
- Rank: NS
- Box: 10500 – 15
LAMBKIN , Kathleen
- Rank: NS
- Box: 5341 – 58
MACALISTER , Charlotte
- Rank: NS
- Box: 6565 – 9
SMITH , Lydia Vernon
- Rank: NS
- Box: 9085 – 43
MUIR M. M.
There are two M. M. Muirs found in the CEF database.
- MUIR , Marie Middleton
- Rank: NS
- Box: 6462 – 7
- MUIR , Mary McBride
- Rank: NS
- Box: 6462 – 8
BINNING , Daisy Medd
This is probably the E.M. Binning indicated in the photograph but her attestation papers would have to be obtained to be certain.
- Rank: NS
- Box: 738 – 31
FOLLETTE , Minnie A
- Rank: NS
- Box: 3172 – 18
DENMARK , Ida
- Rank: NS
- Box: 2439 – 47
PELLETIER , Juliette
- Rank: NS
- Box: 7708 – 82
GALT , Cecily
- Rank: NS
- Box: 3388 – 13
PUGH , Murney May
- Rank: NS
- Box: 8016 – 51
GOODEVE , Myra Moffatt
- Rank: NS
- Box: 3626 – 6
GRATTON , Rose Anna Myrtle
- Rank: NS
- Box: 3742 – 63
GRAHAM, Harriet
- Rank: NS
- Box: 3702 – 35
HINCHEY, Annie Reaby
- Rank: NS
- Box: 376 – 37
MABE, Lily Maude
- Rank: NS
- Box: 5824 – 26
ATTRILL , Alfreda Jean
- Rank:NS
- Box: 294 – 2
BURPEE , Eleanor Bell
can be found also as
WICKHAM , Eleanor Bell
- Rank: NS
- Box: 1310 – 30
PONTING, Elizabeth Anne
- Rank: NS
- Box: 7896 – 3
PENSE, Emma Pense
- Rank: NS
- Box: 7724 – 29
Bios of Other Nursing Sisters
Ann Doctor Allan Ann was born in Perth Scotland in 1882. She was a graduate nurse at the Military Hosptial in Halifax Nova Scotia when she joined the CEF in September 1914.
Sarah Ann Archard Sarah was born in 1883 in Halifax Nova Scotia to Alfred Archer. She signed up as a Nursing Sister in October 1915.
Mary Ann Buchanan Mary Ann was born in 1888 in Hensall, Ontario, the daughter of Alexander Buchanan. She signed up as a Nursing Sister in Toronto Ontario in November 1915.
Sarah Ann Cannon Sarah Ann was born in 1879 in Toronto Ontario to Thomas E. Cannon. She had spent one year with the French Flag Nursing Corps before signing up with the CEF in July 1917.
Bertha Mary Cromwell Mary Bertha was born 24 Nov. 1890 in Quebec. She joined the CEF on 28 Sept. 1914 in Quebec. Her attestation papers give her next of kin as Leonard A. Cromwell, at the Royal Bank in Quebec. Mary Bertha was a nurse at the Quebec Military Hospital when she joined the CEF, having been found fit for duty.
Mabel Clint Mabel’s next of kin at her enlistment was her mother, Caroline Clinch. Mabel gave her place of birth as Quebec and her address as 131 Metcalfe St., Montreal. She was in the Army Medical Corps at the time of enlistment on 23 Sept. 1913. Mabel filled out an Officer’s Attestation form as well as a regular one 5 days later on 28 Sept. She was with the Royal Canadian Dragoons before enlistment
Footnotes:
1 Canada In the Great War. W. S. Wallace. J. L. Nichols Co. Limited, Toronto. 1919
2 ibid
3 The War Pictorial: The Leading Pictorial Souvenir of the Great War; Depicting Especially the Part Played by Canada and Canadians….. Volume One. Edited by Leslie G. Barnard. Dodd-Simpson Press Limited. Montreal. 1914
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