Linen-backed paper military commision certificate with ornate black typeface and formal decorative calligraphy; upper corner has faded embossed seal; it is a commission certificate from King George VI to Viola Allan, appointing her to the rank of Lieutenant (Nursing Sister) in the Royal Canadian Ar…
Linen-backed paper military commision certificate with ornate black typeface and formal decorative calligraphy; upper corner has faded embossed seal; it is a commission certificate from King George VI to Viola Allan, appointing her to the rank of Lieutenant (Nursing Sister) in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned by Viola Allan, donated by nephew, Dr. John Anderson.
Printed: "82394 // George the Sixth // Viola Allan // Appoint you an Officer in our // Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps of our Dominion of Canada from the // Twenty First day of January 1942 // Rank of Lieut (Nursing Sister) // in the City of Ottawa // this Fifth day of November in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand // Nine Hundred and Forty Three and in the Seventh // Year of our Reign // H. Desrosier // Deputy Minister of National Defence"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 2005
2005-1-5 Box 25
Length
34.4 cm
Width
39.3 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Length 34.4 cm x Width 39.3 cm
Condition Remarks
Rolled condition.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Person
Reference Comments
Newspaper: Brockville: "The Recorder & Times"; Nov 13, 1976; Dr. John Anderson
Research Facts
Viola Allan was a Nursing Matron (Captain) in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC).
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 - 1945, Nursing Sister Matron Allen (rank of Captain) was stationed with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Britain, France and Belgium, 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.