Elizabeth lawrie smellie biography

Elizabeth Lawrie SmellieRRC (March 22, 1884 – March 5, 1968) was a Canadian nurse, and the first woman to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the Canadian army.

She was born at Port Arthur, Ontario, to Dr. Thomas Stuart Traill Smellie, Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Fort William and Lake of the Woods from 1905-1911, and Janet Eleanor Lawrie. She trained at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. To her family and friends, she was known as "Beth".

During World War I, she was posted at Cliveden, Lady Astor's estate, and became matron of the Moore Barracks Hospital at Shorncliffe Army Camp where thousands of Canadian soldiers were treated. In 1917 she was decorated by King George V at Buckingham Palace with the first class Royal Red Cross.

After further post-war training in Boston, she taught public health nursing for two years at McGill University, Montreal. She was Chief Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses from 1924 to May 1947, except during World War II, when she was called back into the Canadian army as Colonel and Matron-in-chief of the Canadian Women's Army Medical Corps from 1940 until 1944. She was the first woman to achieve the rank of colonel in the Canadian army.

A portrait of Colonel Smellie, painted by Kenneth Forbes, was unveiled by her successor in Ottawa in 1944.

Elizabeth Smellie was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1934 again from the hands of King George V.

She died in Toronto in 1968 age 83 and is buried in Riverside cemetery, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Plaque[]

"This celebrated Canadian army nurse and public health authority was born in Port Arthur, Ontario. In 1901 "Beth" Smellie became night supervisor at McKellar General Hospital. Joining the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1915, she served in France and England. Elizabeth Smellie was demobilized in 1920 and three years later became Chief Superintendent of the Victori

Canadian nurse. Born Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie, Mar 22, 1884, in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada; died Mar 5, 1968, in Toronto; dau. of Janet Eleanor Lawrie Smellie and Dr. Thomas Stewart Traill Smellie; graduate of Johns Hopkins Training School for Nurses, 1909.

During WWI, served as a nursing sister with Canadian Army Medical Corps and as matron of Moore Barracks Hospital in England (1915–18); served as assistant matron-in-chief with Canadian Nursing Service (1918–20); was director's assistant at McGill School of Graduate Nursing (1921–24); served as chief superintendent of Victorian Order of Nurses (VON, 1924–47); was vice president of American Public Health Association (1939); during WWII, was matron-in-chief and lieutenant colonel, then appointed the 1st Canadian woman colonel in Royal Canadian Army (1944). Received Canadian Nurses Association's Mary Snively Memorial Medal (1938).

Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie, “Beth”, was born on March 22, 1884 in Port Arthur, near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. A member of a progressive family, Smellie’s father was Thomas Stuart Traill Smellie, a prominent physician, businessman, newspaperman, and politician in the Thunder Bay area. Perhaps following in the direction of her father’s steps, she took up a medical career in nursing.

Smellie a Nursing Sister in WWI

Attending the Johns Hopkins Training School for Nurses in Baltimore, Maryland, on graduation, Elizabeth worked at the McKellar General Hospital in Port Arthur. She must have been adept at her

profession – she earned the post of night supervisor in 1901 at age 17. When World War One erupted, the experienced nurse signed up as a Nursing Sister with the Royal Canadian Medical Corps in 1915. She put her valuable skills to use in England and France. Recognized for her efforts, she was mentioned in dispatches in 1916 and received the Royal Red Cross, First Class, Award in 1917.

Canadian Army Nursing Service Matron

Returning to her home soil, Elizabeth was initially on transport duty, then appointed Assistant to the Matron in Chief of the Canadian Army Nursing Service, a military position she held until discharged from duty in 1920. Expanding her medical knowledge, Elizabeth attended Simmons College in the Public Health Nursing course, along with taking post-graduate studies at McGill University in Montreal. She joined the Victorian Order of Nurses in January of 1924 and was appointed Chief Superintendent shortly after.

Smellie the Chief Superintendent of VON

A mention in the Public Health Nurse circular praised Elizabeth’s work with the VON. “It is interesting to note that the Order has promoted one of its own nurses, especially one of su

Canadian nurse

Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie, CBE, RRC (March 22, 1884 – March 5, 1968) was a Canadian nurse and the first woman to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the Canadian Army.

Early life

Smellie was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, to Thomas Smellie, Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Fort William and Lake of the Woods from 1905 to 1911, and Janet Eleanor (née Lawrie). She trained at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. To her family and friends, she was known as "Beth".

Nursing career

In August 1914, Smellie applied to be a Red Cross nurse; she was told to report to Ottawa on 25 January 1915. During the First World War, she was posted at Cliveden, Lady Astor's estate, and became matron of the Moore Barracks Hospital at Shorncliffe Army Camp where thousands of Canadian soldiers were treated. In 1917 she was decorated by King George V at Buckingham Palace with the Royal Red Cross, first class.

After further post-war training in Boston, Smellie taught public health nursing for two years at McGill University, Montreal. She was Chief Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses from January 1924 to May 1947, except during the Second World War, when she was recalled up into the Canadian Army as Colonel and Matron-in-chief of the Canadian Women's Army Medical Corps from 1940 until 1944. She was the first woman to achieve the rank of colonel in the Canadian Army. A portrait of Smellie, painted by Kenneth Forbes, was unveiled by her successor in Ottawa in 1944.

Smellie was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1934.

Smellie frequently enjoyed getting back together with her nurse colleagues. For instance, on 29 May 1963, the Winnipeg Free Press published a picture of Smellie along with her three other wartime nursing sisters at a supp