Ms. Caroline McLenaghan
Ms. Caroline McLenaghan, Nursing Sister
Caroline Beull McLenaghan was born on Nov. 29, 1880 and worked as a professional nurse. She lived with her parents Charles and Mrs. Caroline McLenaghan at RR#1 Perth, ON and was single. She was the fourth of seven children including Bertha, Robert, James, Alfred, Mabel and Franklin. Her brother Alfred also served in the war. They lived near the Gilbert Ferguson and James Bell farms. Her neighbours, John McLaren and Frank McManus, also served in the war. Her religion was Methodist and belonged to the local militia as a nursing sister. She was 5’6” and 132 lbs with blue eyes. Her bank was the Bank of Montreal in Perth. She received a regular pay of $2 per day and $1 a day for Field of Action and a $1 per day for Messing. She was taken on strength Oct. 4, 1916, declared fit on Oct. 7, 1916 in Kingston and placed with the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
When Caroline first enlisted, she received her vaccinations on Oct. 9, 1916. After her service, she had a normal pulse of 78, good vision, good hearing, no varicose veins and a small scar on her left hand. Her general health was good. After about a year on Sept. 13, 1917, Caroline was granted one month leave for recurring migraines. She did continue to have 2 more attacks when she was on leave, but felt she could continue to serve. The Medical Board felt the attacks were a result of the strain of service. There is a reference to the fact she received dental attention in France, but no other information is available.
Caroline arrived in London on Oct. 24, 1916 and stationed at Moore Barracks Hospital on Nov. 3. She was then transferred to Duchess of Connaught Hospital at Faflow on Dec. 19. She was transferred again on Apr 27 to Westenhanger and on command at Kitchener War Hospital in Brighton. On June 8, 1917, she was sent to France to serve in the theatre of action at the 2nd General Station Hospital. On Aug. 6, she became sick and was diagnosed with Gastro Enteritis (vomiting) on Aug. 27 when she was sent back to England and Shorncliffe. After the one month leave, she was stationed with 14 Can General Hospital in Eastbourne on Oct. 17. On March 2, 1918, she was transferred to 2nd Canadian Station Hospital. She was given 2 weeks leave on July 6. On Aug. 14, she was stationed at the 4th CCCS. She was sick with the influenza on Dec. 6, but recovered. On March 1, 1919, she was granted 2 weeks leave and stationed at the 4th Canadian Casaulty Station. She was also at the CAMC Res. And Train Depot in Shorncliffe starting on April 8 and the #11 Can. Gen. Hospital on May 10. She left on the HMT Northland on May 13 and arrived in Halifax on May 23. Her service ended on May 26, 1919 and finally, on June 10, 1919, she was sent home on the MHQ Ottawa.
Caroline served as a nursing sister. While today we may think nurses have it easier than soldiers, it is clear they had it as rough as the soldiers. Caroline got four weeks off in almost three years of service. She was hospitalized after a short stint in France due to strain of service. Her work would have consisted of caring for injuries and disabilities which she had no training. She would have been stationed at hospitals in England and France. Hospitals were not immune from bombing attacks and would have lived with that fear. The earliest nursing sisters came from religious orders but by World War I, they tended to be professional nurses. They were called angels of mercy or bluebirds for their distinctive blue dresses, white aprons and white veils. There were over 3,000 single women who served as nursing sisters in WWI. Their primary task was to provide comfort to the wounded and try to ensure a safe journey home. In WWI, hospital ships were originally created and so nursing sisters would serve on them as well. As a result of their work, they were the first Canadian women to vote and considered to be just as important to the suffrage movement as Nellie McClung and the Famous Five.
Caroline Beull McLenaghan was born on Nov. 29, 1880 and worked as a professional nurse. She lived with her parents Charles and Mrs. Caroline McLenaghan at RR#1 Perth, ON and was single. She was the fourth of seven children including Bertha, Robert, James, Alfred, Mabel and Franklin. Her brother Alfred also served in the war. They lived near the Gilbert Ferguson and James Bell farms. Her neighbours, John McLaren and Frank McManus, also served in the war. Her religion was Methodist and belonged to the local militia as a nursing sister. She was 5’6” and 132 lbs with blue eyes. Her bank was the Bank of Montreal in Perth. She received a regular pay of $2 per day and $1 a day for Field of Action and a $1 per day for Messing. She was taken on strength Oct. 4, 1916, declared fit on Oct. 7, 1916 in Kingston and placed with the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
When Caroline first enlisted, she received her vaccinations on Oct. 9, 1916. After her service, she had a normal pulse of 78, good vision, good hearing, no varicose veins and a small scar on her left hand. Her general health was good. After about a year on Sept. 13, 1917, Caroline was granted one month leave for recurring migraines. She did continue to have 2 more attacks when she was on leave, but felt she could continue to serve. The Medical Board felt the attacks were a result of the strain of service. There is a reference to the fact she received dental attention in France, but no other information is available.
Caroline arrived in London on Oct. 24, 1916 and stationed at Moore Barracks Hospital on Nov. 3. She was then transferred to Duchess of Connaught Hospital at Faflow on Dec. 19. She was transferred again on Apr 27 to Westenhanger and on command at Kitchener War Hospital in Brighton. On June 8, 1917, she was sent to France to serve in the theatre of action at the 2nd General Station Hospital. On Aug. 6, she became sick and was diagnosed with Gastro Enteritis (vomiting) on Aug. 27 when she was sent back to England and Shorncliffe. After the one month leave, she was stationed with 14 Can General Hospital in Eastbourne on Oct. 17. On March 2, 1918, she was transferred to 2nd Canadian Station Hospital. She was given 2 weeks leave on July 6. On Aug. 14, she was stationed at the 4th CCCS. She was sick with the influenza on Dec. 6, but recovered. On March 1, 1919, she was granted 2 weeks leave and stationed at the 4th Canadian Casaulty Station. She was also at the CAMC Res. And Train Depot in Shorncliffe starting on April 8 and the #11 Can. Gen. Hospital on May 10. She left on the HMT Northland on May 13 and arrived in Halifax on May 23. Her service ended on May 26, 1919 and finally, on June 10, 1919, she was sent home on the MHQ Ottawa.
Caroline served as a nursing sister. While today we may think nurses have it easier than soldiers, it is clear they had it as rough as the soldiers. Caroline got four weeks off in almost three years of service. She was hospitalized after a short stint in France due to strain of service. Her work would have consisted of caring for injuries and disabilities which she had no training. She would have been stationed at hospitals in England and France. Hospitals were not immune from bombing attacks and would have lived with that fear. The earliest nursing sisters came from religious orders but by World War I, they tended to be professional nurses. They were called angels of mercy or bluebirds for their distinctive blue dresses, white aprons and white veils. There were over 3,000 single women who served as nursing sisters in WWI. Their primary task was to provide comfort to the wounded and try to ensure a safe journey home. In WWI, hospital ships were originally created and so nursing sisters would serve on them as well. As a result of their work, they were the first Canadian women to vote and considered to be just as important to the suffrage movement as Nellie McClung and the Famous Five.