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The Canadian Nursing Sisters of WW2

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II.

Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.(scroll to the end to see Quick about facts about Canada’s HUGE part during D-Day).

Over the years on my blog, I have documented the contributions of Women during WW2, specifically Canadian Women as a way to continue to keep their stories alive. I am thrilled to add another piece to my collection, highlighting the remarkable Canadian Nurses or “Nursing Sisters” through a captivating combination of vintage photographs, magazine illustrations, and engaging stories. Join me for a brief yet powerful historical overview of these brave women who deserve to have their stories kept alive.

1940s vintage magazine cover from August 23rd 1941 from the Toronto Star Weekly showcasing an illustration of a Canadian Nurse with a wounded soldier during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

The First World War Canadian Nurses

Canadian women’s first military contributions were as nurses who tended to the sick and wounded in times of conflict. They were called “Nursing Sisters” because they were originally drawn from the ranks of religious orders. More than 2,800 Canadian Nursing Sisters served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War, often close to the front lines of Europe and within range of enemy attack. With their blue dresses and white veils, they were nicknamed the “bluebirds” and were greatly respected because of their compassion and courage. Canadian women were not permitted to serve in other military roles during the First World War (Source).

Left to right: Nursing Sisters, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride.

Vintage Photo of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW1, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride in their Nursing uniforms.

Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-007350 (modified from the original). Provided by The Vimy Foundation.

The Second World War

The Second World War would see Canadian women returning to serve again as nursing sisters but this time the nursing service went beyond the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. It was expanded to both the Royal Canadian Air Force Medical Branch and the Royal Canadian Naval Medical Service. By the end of the war, 4,480 Canadian Nursing Sisters served in the military, with 3,656 in the army, 481 with the air force, and 343 with the navy. Also aside from regular nurses, therapists, dietitians, laboratory technicians, and physiotherapists were employed by the army as well (Source). More than two-thirds of them serving overseas.

Second World War nursing sisters wore a military uniform with a traditional white veil. These young women were commissioned officers and were respectfully addressed as “Sister” or “Ma’am.” In fact, Canada’s military nurses were the first in any Allied country to have officer status. Canadian women would also serve in other military roles during the war, however, and some 50,000 eventually enlisted in the air force, army and navy (Source).

Further Reading from ‘the Canadian Encyclopedia’ on the Nursing Sisters (Lots more info on these women).

1940s vintage Photo from May 1942 of a group of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW2.

Photo: May 1942. Source: mcmaster.ca

Canadian Nursing Sisters as Seen thru Photos, Illustrations & Stories

Toronto Star Weekly from November 23rd, 1940 showcasing on the cover a Canadian Overseas Nurse.

1940s vintage magazine cover from November 23rd 1940 from the Toronto Star Weekly showing a Canadian overseas nurse in uniform during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Here is a coloured photo of a 1940s Canadian nurse.

1940s Vintage Photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister in uniform in front of an Ambulance during WW2

From ‘Historica Canada‘:

Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day. Visit her profile from The Memory Project Archive to hear her full testimony HERE.

Canadian Women at War during WW2: Learn all about Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day by clicking the link.

July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day

Source: Library & Archives Canada

The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940 (Source).

1940s vintage photo: The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940

Source: Alamy.com

Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Andria, Italy, February 1944 (source).

Important Facts: After three years in England, Nursing Sisters were sent into action on the continent.  Donning battle dress, steel helmets and backpacks, Canadian General Hospital, No. 1 arrived in Sicily, the first women to land in the Eighth Army area.  Almost all hospital units deployed to the continent were initially set up under canvas.  Later, they were moved into abandoned or bombed-out buildings (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: Canadian Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Andria, Italy, February 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Agnes Wilkie was a passenger on the ferry SS Caribou when it was sunk by a German torpedo in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland. Despite the efforts of her companion, Nursing Sister Margaret Brooke, she died in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. For her heroism, Brooke was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), the first Canadian nursing sister so recognized (Source).

Further Reading: CBC Article-Only nurse killed by enemy action in WW II remembered as a ‘warm, gentle’ hero in Misericordia exhibit

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Source: cwgc.org

Unidentified nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Unidentified Canadian nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse (source).

Description: “Give! … to relieve human suffering. $9,000,000 Needed Now. Canadian Red Cross”

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: McMaster University Library

One more Canadian Red Cross Propaganda poster. “The Need Grows As Victory Nears”.

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: eBay

Nursing Sister Healed the Wounds of War(read their story & see the fantastic photos by clicking on the text link or the image below).

Blog Post from Elinor Florence-Wartime Wednesday (a treasure trove of Canadian Wartime stories from those men & women who served).

Photo Description: Three young Canadian nurses from the story above. Jessie on the left with friends Mary Dowie and Queenie Rutherford.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young Canadian Nurses posing together in their nurses uniforms during WW2. Image from Elinor Florence.

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943.

Source: Silverhawkauthor.com via Library and Archives Canada

Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944.

Source: Legionmagazine.com

A video interview with Nora Cook, a Canadian WWII nurse who enlisted in the medical corps in 1943, and served in a field hospital in Normandy (video link).

Read Nora’s full story HERE:

Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Early on the morning of June 19, 1944, Molly (Dorothy Irene Mulholland) and another nursing sister, Winnifred “Pit” Pitkethly, became the first Canadian women to land as part of the Normandy offensive. Here is Dorothy’s Story (pictured below).

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Nurses posing with poppies during WW2

Source: Junobeach.org

Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters at his Bob Hope Show Tour (source).

The other man in the photo is Jerry Colonna, American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist (thank you to a reader for the name).

1940s vintage photo: July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters (and a man from his show) at his Bob Hope Show Tour.

Source: Library & Archives Canada


Quick Facts about Canada on D-Day

  • D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was one of the most significant chapters in Canada’s military history.  
  • More than 450 members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped inland before dawn on 6 June 1944. They were the first Canadians to engage the enemy on D-Day.
  • On 6 June 1944, some 14,000 Canadian troops from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade stormed the beaches of Normandy. 
  • More than 90,000 Canadian soldiers who had volunteered to serve Canada during the Second World War saw action in the Normandy Campaign. 
  • The Battle of Normandy lasted for 11 weeks. Fighting through the dust and heat of the French summer, more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers were killed and another 13,000 wounded before the campaign officially came to a close in late August, 1944. 
  • The Canadians who fought on D‑Day and throughout the Battle of Normandy were among the more than one million men and women from our country who served in uniform during the Second World War (SOURCE).

Thank you for dropping by and spending some time learning about these outstanding Canadian Women. I very much enjoyed putting this post together for all of you as I learned so much along the way.

Dear readers, please share any thoughts you may have on this topic in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

If you live or are visiting Ottawa , Ontario Canada please make sure you visit the The Canadian War Museum. Currently as of June 6th, 2024 they have a special exhibit called “OUTSIDE THE LINES – WOMEN ARTISTS AND WAR“.

Liz

1950s Photos of Everyday Women’s Hairstyles

I love vintage photos of everyday women’s hairstyles. They are real, attainable and not movie star quality. I think it’s just so wonderful to see that not everything was perfect but still looked lovely.

For those of us who like to do vintage hairstyles, I think it’s easy to get caught up in thinking you have to have a perfect style, but these women are proof that perfection was not always attainable (and they still look great).

I have also decided to do this post because I have been noticing that lots of people are searching for ‘1950s women’s hairstyles’ and coming to my website. I don’t have loads of content on this specific era and this is because I absolutely love 1940s hairstyles. So today’s post is a bevy of wonderful 1950s photos of women and their 1950s hairstyles.

Enjoy!

1950s vintage photo of a young woman posing in a photo booth with a 1950s hairstyle, red lips, 1950s accessories.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.


1950s Photos of Everyday Women’s Hairstyles

“A smile and a squint”, May 1955. What a super example of curled hairstyle pulled back with a curl left in the front. Our young lady looks adorable.

1950s vintage photo of a young woman with a 1950s hairstyles and pearl necklace smiling at the camera. Super 1950s vintage hairstyle inspiration

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

1950s vintage photo of a beautiful young women named Dorothy Wallace. She is wearing a short 1950s hairstyle (very popular during the 50s).

1950s vintage photo of a beautiful young Black Women named Dorothy Wallace. She is wearing a cute short 1950s hairstyle. Fantastic vintage hair inspiration.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

Cute short pageboy 50s hairstyle in this image of a young woman with the BEST glasses on! This feels like a yearbook photo to me.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Women who wear Eyeglasses

1950s vintage photo of a young woman with red lips, short 1950s hairstyle and 1950s eyeglasses on with pearls around her neck

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

Photo booth images are a super resource for vintage hairstyle inspiration. You can usually see the style really well, like on our serious faced young women (Rose Morrison) with the plaid vest and a bobbed curl hairstyle.

1950s vintage photo of a pretty young Black Women in a photobooth with a 1950s hairstyle and plaid vest

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

Two women in Japan in 1950s fashions and short 1950s hairstyles smile for the camera.

1950s vintage photo of two Japanese women in 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles in Japan

Girls night! Pick your fav hairstyle from this group of young ladies having a great time together.

1950s vintage photo of a group of girls in 1950s hairstyles and 1950s fashion posing for the camera at a girls night

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

HAZARD! Ada has something she is thinking about in this photo booth image. Maybe it’s about her fantastic hair? HA!

1950s vintage photo of a Black woman with a 1950s hairstyle and plaid dress on posing in front of a sign that says hazard

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

A head full of curls and some doggy time on the porch swing.

1950s vintage photo of a young woman with a 1950s hairstyle holding a dog on her porch swing.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

November 1955-This photo makes me happy, and it’s because of the big smile on our adorable woman in the big chair. Her hair is perfectly curled and she has a great 1950s outfit on.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Wallpaper Designs in Mid Century Homes

1950s vintage photo (November 1955) of an older woman in a 1950s dress sitting in chair in her living room with a 1950s hairstyle. Love the big smile on her face.

Source: Etsy-AlaskaVintage

“The Dixie Cups”. 4 women with short hairstyles posing together at a party.

1950s vintage photo of 4 Black Women drinking out of dixie cups posing together in 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

Teenage girls in a 1950s fashion show. Another group photo with lots of 50s hairstyle inspirations.

1950s vintage photo of Teenage girls at a fashion show. They are all wearing 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles.

Source: eBay

My last photo of this post, is of Ruth Shoemake who has let her natural curls just do their own thing (the cut is still very 50s though). Another great photo for inspiration.

1950s vintage photo of a young woman wearing a 1950s hairstyle and a parl necklace. No makeup.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

I hope you enjoyed the photos I chose for this post, even if your not a vintage hairstyle fan. I will be doing a more detailed post later on down the line, so stay tuned for that.

Question time: Do you like 1950s hairstyles? What was your favourite photo from above?

Further Reading: