More than 2,800 nurses served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps, as fully-enlisted officers in the specially-created all female rank of “Nursing Sister”, during World War I. Nicknamed “bluebirds” because of their blue uniforms and white veils, Canada’s nursing sisters saved many lives by caring for wounded and sick soldiers during this horrific conflict in France and Belgium during the Great War (1914-1919). Their valour and dedication to the war effort, however, is often overlooked. One of these Nursing Sisters has a unique connection to Medicine Hat and her story is one that should be told as part of another interesting chapter in the history of Medicine Hat.
Category Archives: Genealogical Research and Related Articles
The Florence Nightingale of Medicine Hat -The Life Story of Mary Minor Mills (1911-2006)
On June 16th, 1945 Major Mary Minor Mills, R.C.A.M.C was awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal by King George VI at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Major Mills has a unique and special connection to Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan and her story is a story worth telling as it forms another interesting chapter in the history of Medicine Hat.
The Medlicott Brothers Go To War
The Moral Tragedy of War: The Story of a Distinguished WWI Recipient of the Victoria Cross and the Discovery of a Lost Family Connection
A recent genealogical discovery is worthy of being documented as I found that a distant relative in WWI was awarded the rare Victoria Cross for gallantry and bravery. As we approach November 11th, and honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for love of country, his story is worth sharing as we discover one of the many “real” moral tragedies of war. LEST WE FORGET
A “Lasting” Memory: The Real Life Story of Ethel Last
This is the second of a series of articles in relation to the St Margaret’s Church “Living” Memorial Project. READ ON
A Genealogical “Cold” Case Originating from Medicine Hat -The Story of “Thomas Wallace” and Reuniting a Handsome “Medal” and Family Heirloom to its Rightful Owner
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As an amateur genealogist and historian, I have been recently involved in several interesting research projects. I have written extensively regarding my family history (Anhorn/Medlicott/McIvor) and in doing so, I have endeavored, whenever possible, to put the story in some … Continue reading
“Through the Looking Glass”-The Story of the Munro and Glass Families from Scotland And the Quest to Find the Antecedents of James Glass
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Following the research, writing and posting on my personal homepage an article on a local Medicine Hat “character” entitled, “Lost in the Shadows-The Untold Story Of Phoebe Munro of Medicine Hat”, I received a phone call from someone mentioned in … Continue reading
“Lost In the Shadows”- The Untold Story of Phoebe Munro of Medicine Hat
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A recent post on the Facebook page ”If you grew up in Medicine Hat you remember when” caught my attention. Quite interestingly, the photo and accompanying post garnered a great deal of interest from the Facebook followers of the site, … Continue reading
Fact or Fiction: The Relationship of the Scott Family of Medicine Hat to the Famous Explorer Captain James Cook
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Fact or Fiction: The Relationship of the Scott Family of Medicine Hat to the Famous Explorer Captain James Cook At the request of my good friend Gary Scott and consistent with my unabated enthusiasm for genealogical research, I began to … Continue reading
The Discovery of a Long Lost Relative-The Untold Story of Alfred Borth
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The Discovery of a Long Lost Relative-The Untold Story of Alfred Borth One of the fascinating aspects of being an amateur genealogist and one of things for which we all aspire is to find or locate a long lost relative … Continue reading