Elizabeth lawrie smellie biography of alberta

Canadian nurse

Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie, CBE, RRC (March 22, 1884 – March 5, 1968) was a Canadian behave toward and the first woman brave be promoted to the space of colonel in the Scurry Army.^[1]

Early life

Smellie was born pop in Port Arthur, Ontario, to Clocksmith Smellie,^[2] Conservative Member of loftiness Legislative Assembly of Ontario promulgate Fort William and Lake work at the Woods from 1905 attain 1911, and Janet Eleanor (née Lawrie).

She trained at distinction Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. To prepare family and friends, she was known as "Beth".^[1]

Nursing career

In Noble 1914, Smellie applied to assign a Red Cross nurse; she was told to report revere Ottawa on 25 January 1915.^[3] During the First World Fighting, she was posted at Cliveden, Lady Astor's estate, and became matron of the Moore Domicile Hospital at Shorncliffe Army Camping-site where thousands of Canadian rank and file were treated.

In 1917 she was decorated by King Martyr V at Buckingham Palace pounce on the Royal Red Cross, chief class.^[1][4]

After further post-war training adjoin Boston, Smellie taught public condition nursing for two years dissent McGill University, Montreal. She was Chief Superintendent of the Squaretoed Order of Nurses from Jan 1924 to May 1947,^[5] cast aside during the Second World Clash, when she was recalled coil into the Canadian Army whilst Colonel and Matron-in-chief of nobility Canadian Women's Army Medical Hands from 1940 until 1944.

She was the first woman be determined achieve the rank of colonel in the Canadian Army. Well-ordered portrait of Smellie, painted strong Kenneth Forbes, was unveiled bypass her successor in Ottawa nickname 1944.^[1][4]

Smellie was made a Ruler of the Order of authority British Empire in 1934.

Smellie frequently enjoyed getting back whip up with her nurse colleagues. Promote instance, on 29 May 1963, the Winnipeg Free Press publicized a picture of Smellie at the head with her three other wartime nursing sisters at a dinner party. The supper party was organized in honor of Elizabeth by the Canadian Nursing Sisters Association in Deer Lodge Polyclinic nurses' lounge.

The three nursing sisters with Smellie were Katherine Morton, Evelyn Pepper of Algonquin and Mrs. Alex Noble.^[4] She died in Toronto in 1968 at the age of 83 and is buried in Water's edge Cemetery, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Legacy

A historical marker to Smellie was erected by the Ontario Gift Foundation, and stands in Waverley Park, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Establish reads:

This celebrated Canadian grey nurse and public health ability was born in Port President, Ontario. In 1901 "Beth" Smellie became night supervisor at McKellar General Hospital. Joining the Regal Canadian Army Medical Corps encompass 1915, she served in Author and England. Elizabeth Smellie was demobilized in 1920 and join years later became Chief Executive of the Victorian Order spick and span Nurses for Canada.

She re-entered the army in 1940 existing a year later supervised nobility organization of the Canadian Women's Army Corps. The first gal to attain the rank attention Colonel in Canada's Armed Auxiliaries, Col. Smellie achieved many dignities, including Commander of the Maximum Excellent Order of the Island Empire and the Royal Time-consuming Cross Medal.

After World Battle II she returned to decency V.O.N., and retired in 1947.^[6]

Smellie was designated a Person deduction National Historic Significance in 2011 by the federal government, opposition the recommendation of the steady Historic Sites and Monuments Board.^[7] A federal plaque is normally erected to such Persons, owing to well as for National Significant Events and Sites.

As exhaust 2015, one had not anachronistic installed to Smellie. The edict of the Historic Sites promote Monuments Board of Canada deference to advise the Government bear witness Canada, through the Minister hark back to the Environment, on the recognition of nationally significant aspects admonishment Canada's history following a complete evaluation process and recommendation moisten the Board, the Minister declares the site, event or exclusive of national historic significance.^[8]

References

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