Bluebirds of Mapleton: Lieutenant nursing sisters of First World War
MAPLETON – The November meeting of the Mapleton Historical Society presented a salute to some unsung heroines of the First World War: the Lieutenant/Nursing Sisters of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, the first female commissioned officers in modern history.
In that pre-antibiotic and vaccine era, Nursing Sisters relied for the most part on their own diligence and common cleaning supplies – soap, hot water, alcohol, iodine and bleach.
Yet, 93% of the men who reached nursing care, no matter how grievously wounded, survived.
Fondly known as “Bluebirds” for their distinctive blue uniforms, 2,504 Nursing Sisters, a little more than half of one percent of our Canadian soldiers, served overseas with a further 341 remaining in Canada to care for the most severely wounded.
A later search of regimental records revealed an estimated 761,635 admissions to Canada’s overseas hospitals.
While the enlistment of young men was celebrated, the Bluebirds left Canada with little fanfare and returned just as quietly so their enormous contribution to the success of the war effort soon faded from public memory.
Eight of those women had roots in Mapleton Township: Myrtle Burt, Janet Groshow, Clarice McCrea, Bessie McDowell, Edith Robb, Irene Robertson, Bertha Smith and Annie Starr.
An audience of 30 came out to the Maryborough Community Centre in Moorefield on Nov. 4 to hear their stories.
