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: Medicine Hat and Area History
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.
Ross Creek and the Lost River Ranch and the Story of a Celebrated Pioneer Family from Southern Alberta-A Historical Vignette
Ross Creek is a name very familiar to those who live in Medicine Hat. It is named after a well-known pioneer family whose patriarch was Walter Inkerman Ross, who established a huge ranch south of the Cypress Hills and west towards Lethbridge which in time, through three generations of ranchers, developed a rather unusual name given its location. It was called the “Lost River Ranch” and its story and the story of the Ross family and their unique connection to Medicine Hat is a story worth telling.
“Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor”: The Life and Times of A Famous Medicine Hat Remittance Man-Horatio Hamilton Ross
The history of Medicine Hat is full of interesting characters but none were as colourful and had more “swashbuckling” adventures than that of Captain Horatio Hamilton Ross, who graced his presence in Medicine Hat at the turn of the century.
For anyone interested in the history of Medicine Hat, his story and his unique connection to Medicine Hat is a story, which for many reasons, ought to be told. READ ON
The “Sin Bin”-A Nostalgic Look Back at the History of the Assiniboia Hotel (Medicine Hat)
For anyone who grew up in Medicine Hat in the 60’s and 70’s, there was no more iconic symbol of the “Hat”, than the large neon sign that advertised the location of the Assiniboia Inn located at the corner of 3rd Street and South Railway.
No examination of the history of Medicine Hat would be complete without exploring the history of the Assiniboia Hotel, and those who had the foresight and imagination to build this “classic” hotel, and create an enduring sign or symbol of prosperity which became in its time a recognizable landmark and a symbol of success for the place I still call home… Medicine Hat. READ ON
“The Many Shades of Gray”: The Story of Two Medicine Hat Airmen from WWII Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Love of Country.
Here is another interesting chapter in the history of Medicine Hat
Memories Are Forever- The Life and Times of Americus “Mack” Alexander Higdon and his daughter, Ethel
“Over the Moon”-The Case of Edmund Joseph “Moon” Marcino vs. The Estate of Victoria Kolewaski
“A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words”-So They Say!
Historians and genealogists are often intrigued by the simplest of “things”. Often, an off-handed comment or a simple photograph will cause them to “go down” a genealogical or historical “rabbit hole”, with some interesting results. READ ON