Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1915

Anne Shepphard, Class of 1915

Anne (Annie) Beatrice Shepphard was born on November 23, 1892 in Regina, Saskatchewan. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915. In 1917, she accepted the position as Assistant Matron of the Soldier’s Convalescent Home in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

In 1918, Annie enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) and served in England at No. 15 Canadian General Hospital, Taplow; and No. 12 Canadian General Hospital, Bramshott. Nursing sister Shepphard returned to Canada in July 1919 and began nursing in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Charlotte Hardcastle, Class of 1915

Charlotte Hardcastle graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915. In 1916, she accepted a position in the operating room at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. She is listed on the Winnipeg General Hospital Nurses Alumnae Honour Roll as serving during World War I as a nursing sister, although it is unknown where she served or with what organization.

After the war, Charlotte returned to Winnipeg and engaged in private duty nursing. She married Ian Coltart and they settled in California. She passed away on November 30, 1970.

Constance Bell, Class of 1915

Constance Bell graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915. According to the Nurses’ Alumnae Journal, she went overseas during the war to serve as a nursing sister, however she did not serve with the Canadian Army Medical Corps.

In 1919, she returned to Canada and nursed at No. 10 Manitoba Military Hospital (Tuxedo Park).

Eleanor Rivington, Class of 1915

Eleanor Rivington was born on January 15, 1884 in Ottawa, Ontario.

She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and moved to Saskatchewan where she accepted a position at Canora Hospital. She resigned in late 1915 and returned to Winnipeg where she accepted a position on staff at the Children’s Hospital. Eleanor worked at Children’s Hospital until enlisting with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in October 1917.

Nursing sister Rivington served in England and France and was posted at No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington; No. 12 Canadian Special Hospital, Bramshott; and No. 7 Canadian General Hospital before returning to Canada in July 1919.

Like her fellow nursing sister, Jean Houston (Class of 1915), Eleanor took course at Henry Street Settlement, a housing complex that offered nursing services for immigrants in 1920. She married George Downs and lived in Ontario until her death on July 30, 1970.

Ellie Love, Class of 1915

Ellie Elizabeth Love was born on March 2, 1884 in Seaforth, Ontario. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915.

Ellie joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps in May 1918. She served in Canada at the No. 10 Manitoba Military Hospital (Deer Lodge Convalescent Hospital) and was discharged in August 1919. After the war, she moved to Saskatchewan where she worked at the Saskatchewan Sanatorium at Fort Qu’Appelle. Ellie Love died in Ariss, Ontario on May 30, 1963 after a lengthy illness.

Elsie Wilson, Class of 1915

Elsie Jean Wilson was born on [August 10, 1916] in Toronto, Ontario, the daughter of Elizabeth and Robert Wilson. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and accepted a position on E Flat at Winnipeg General Hospital (WGH).

In 1916, she resigned from WGH and went to nurse at the Camp Sewell Military Hospital – also known as Camp Hughes, a military training camp near Carberry, Manitoba. She enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in November 1916 and served in England and France.

After the war, Nursing sister Wilson returned to Winnipeg; she was appointed a Public Health Nurse by the Manitoba Provincial Board of Health in 1920. In 1935, Wilson was the President of the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses and that same year became the Supervisor of the tuberculosis section of the Public Health Nursing Division of the Manitoba Government.

Ethel Stewart, Class of 1915

Ethel Isobel Stewart was born on March 15, 1890 in Almonte, Ontario. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and accepted a position with Winnipeg General Hospital (WGH).

Ethel resigned from WGH in 1916 and went to nurse at the Camp Sewell Military Hospital – also known as Camp Hughes, a military training camp near Carberry, Manitoba. After five months, she joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) where she served for one year before enlisting with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in November 1917.

Nursing sister Stewart served in England and was posted to the No. 15 Canadian General Hospital, Taplow and to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital before returning to Canada in November 1918. Ethel’s sister, Christina (Tena) Stewart (Class of 1916) also served with the CAMC as a nursing sister during WWI.

After the war, Ethel Stewart married Dr. W. Morley and they moved to British Columbia, and later settled in Washington.

Florence Bloy, Class of 1915

Florence Bloy was born on May 12, 1884 in East Dereham, England. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing 1915 and accepted a nursing position at Weyburn Hospital in Saskatchewan. She enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in April 1916 and travelled overseas with the Saskatchewan Nurses Unit.

Nursing sister Bloy served in England for two years and was posted to Moore Barracks Hospital; Shorncliffe Military Hospital; No 8 Canadian Stationary Hospital; and No. 2 Canadian General Hospital until she was permitted to resign her position in October 1918. She returned to Canada and moved to Toronto; she graduated in 1932 from the University of Toronto, Department of Public Health.

Hilda Beeston, Class of 1915

Hilda Tumaine Beeston graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915. She joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service Reserve as a staff nurse in 1917 and served until 1919.

After the war, Hilda married Richard Scott, a Major in the British (Imperial) Indian Army. They married in Mosul, Mesopotamia on February 17, 1920 and lived in India, where he was posted.

Irene Louise Sharpe, Class of 1915

Irene Louise Sharpe was born on June 14, 1890 in Orono, Ontario.

She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and joined the operating room staff at Winnipeg General Hospital. In 1916, she resigned from her position and enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps; she was posted to the Camp Sewell Military Hospital – also known as Camp Hughes, a military training camp near Carberry, Manitoba.

In late 1916, she joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) and served in Malta for one year before re-enlisting with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in November 1917.

While serving with the CAMC, nursing sister Sharpe was posted to the No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Brighton; and No. 7 Canadian General Hospital and No. 6 Canadian General Hospital in France.

Irene returned to Winnipeg in May 1919 and began working at the Children’s Hospital, eventually as Charge Nurse of the Operating Room.

In 1924, she resigned from Children’s Hospital and accepted the position of Assistant Superintendent at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. She passed away on May 25, 1952.

Ivy Griffiths, Class of 1915

Ivy Griffiths was born on March 3, 1891 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and accepted a position on staff at the hospital. From 1916-1917, Ivy Griffiths was Lady Superintendent of the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Kenora, Ontario before enlisting with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in April 1918.

Nursing sister Griffiths served in England at No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, Basingstoke for one year before returning to Canada in July 1919. After the war, she returned to Winnipeg and married Phillip Randall in May 1920.

She passed away on June 4, 1963 in Vernon, British Columbia.

Jean Cowan, Class of 1915

Jean Cowan was born on August 7, 1891 in Guelph, Ontario. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and joined the staff of Winnipeg General Hospital. Jean enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in April 1916 and travelled overseas with the Saskatchewan Unit of Nurses.

Nursing sister Cowan served in England and France and was posted to the Moore Barracks Hospital; Shorncliffe Military Hospital; No. 8 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Hastings and No. 6 Canadian General Hospital in France. She returned to Canada in March 1919 after suffering from poor health due to extreme fatigue and a bout with the mumps.

After the war, she moved to Toronto and spent her career working for the Department of Soldier’s Civil Re-Establishment – later known as Department of Veterans Affairs. She returned to Saskatchewan in the early 1960s and passed away on April 1, 1971.

Jean Houston, Class of 1915

Jean Houston was born on December 23, 1884 in Glasgow, Scotland. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and accepted a position as staff nurse in the operating room of Children’s Hospital.

Jean enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in March 1917 and served in England from 1917 to 1919; nursing sister Houston was posted to the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington and No. 16 Canadian General Hospital.

After the war, she moved to New York City to take a course in public health nursing at the Henry Street Settlement, a housing complex that offered nursing services for immigrants. Upon completion of her course at the Henry Street Settlement, she enrolled in a post graduate course at the Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

In 1927, she was on staff at Ninette Sanatorium and retired in 1943 as the Superintendent. She moved to British Columbia and passed away in March 1959.

Mary Shaw, Class of 1915

Mary Shaw was born on December 8, 1887 in Motherwell, Scotland. She immigrated to Canada in 1910 and enrolled in the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1915.

After graduation, Mary accepted a position at the Kenora General Hospital before joining the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS). She served with the QAIMNS for one year at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, Hampshire, England.

In October 1917, she enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC). Nursing sister Shaw served in both England and France – she was posted to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington; and No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in France before returning to Canada in March 1919.

She passed away on May 8, 1965 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Winnifred Simpson, Class of 1915

Winnifred Marion Simpson was born on July 9, 1891 in Selkirk, Manitoba. She graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in 1915 and enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) in November 1916.

Nursing sister Simpson served in England and France and was posted to Moore Barracks Hospital, Shorncliffe; No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospital; and No. 1 and No. 2 Canadian General Hospital in France before returning to Canada in May 1919.

After the war, Simpson engaged in private duty nursing in Selkirk, Manitoba. She married Ben Lewis and they settled in California. She passed away on October 1, 1976.


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