Nursing Sister Matron's regulation nursing uniform leather belt with gold metal buckle composed of two circular parts which fit into each other; outer buckle circle has leaves moulded into it and inner circle has a Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps crest moulded into it; extra belt folded to the le…
Nursing Sister Matron's regulation nursing uniform leather belt with gold metal buckle composed of two circular parts which fit into each other; outer buckle circle has leaves moulded into it and inner circle has a Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps crest moulded into it; extra belt folded to the left of the buckle and held in place by two pieces of leather and a piece of metal all three of which wrap around belt.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned by Viola Allan as a Nursing Matron (Captain) in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps.
Shows wear; buckle shows wear; slightly dull metal has slight corrosion on reverse of brass buckle; no missing parts or brokens areas
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Newspaper
Person
Museum
Reference Comments
Newspaper: Brockville: "The Recorder & Times"; Nov 13, 1976
Dr. John Anderson
“Nursing Sister’s apron, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC),” Museum of Health Care. http://artefact.museumofhealthcare.ca/?p=79
Research Facts
Viola Allen Abrum (June 9, 1911 - Nov 2007) was trained at the Brockville General Hospital Training School for Nurses and graduated in 1933. Before joining the Canadian Army, she worked as a private duty nurse. During 1941 - 5, Nursing Sister Matron Allen (rank of Captain) was stationed with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Britain, France and Belguim, including the No. 9 Unit in Horsham, England to look after Canadian prisoners of war. Returning to Canada in April, 1946 she worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ottawa until 1962 as a nurse and administrator. Moving on to a position as Regional Administrator for three homes for the elderly: Carleton Lodge, West End Ottawa, Brantford House, Island Lodge on Porter's Island for the Rideau Health Centre. After her retirement, the 260 bed Island Lodge was renamed Allan House in her honour. Known for her innovative efforts to modernize the living standards and operations in seniors housing. Retired from nursing in 1976.
More than 4000 women served as military nurses during the Second World War playing a vital role in the care and comfort of wounded soldiers, sailors, and airmen. As commissioned officers known by rank and title as Nursing Sisters, they served as fully-integrated members of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Most of them worked overseas in military hospitals and casualty clearing stations. After the lean years of the 1930s when there were few available positions for graduate nurses, even with the dangers of warfare, military nursing offered a job with a good salary, benefits, status, and a chance to travel.