Belt, made of leather with brass fittings; one end is folded over and stitched to a pad of leather that fits behind the buckle to protect clothing; buckle consists of two halves: one has a circular shape with a rectangular hole; fitting is decorated with brass oak leaves and acorns; buckle is decor…
Belt, made of leather with brass fittings; one end is folded over and stitched to a pad of leather that fits behind the buckle to protect clothing; buckle consists of two halves: one has a circular shape with a rectangular hole; fitting is decorated with brass oak leaves and acorns; buckle is decorated with another wreath of leaves; other half of buckle has a smaller circle decorated with lion and crown; this piece attaches to the belt with a fitting of folded over leather that allows adjustment for length.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned and used by Lieutenant (Nursing Sister) Miriam Hartrick during World War II.
Stamped into the underside of the buckle: "SCULLY, LTD. // MONTREAL"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-C7-11
Temporary Location
To exhibit: "For Service to Humanity", Nursing Gallery: Showcase West, Museum of Health Care, 13 Nov. 2008.
Length
85.0 cm
Width
3.5 cm
Depth
0.5 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Length 85.0 cm x Width 3.5 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
Condition Remarks
The belt shows some stiffening from age and disuse; heavy deposits of corrosion where brass and leather meet
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Book
Museum
Reference Comments
Doug Hildebrand, Curator, Military Communications & Electronics Museum; "War Dress Regulations," Canadian Army, 1943
“Nursing Sister’s apron, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC),” Museum of Health Care. http://artefact.museumofhealthcare.ca/?p=79
Research Facts
Leather was being eliminated from Allied Forces kits during early World War II.
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.
Exhibit History
On loan for exhibit, "Uni-Forming . . . Wearing the Uniform" at the Musee Beaulne, Coaticook, Quebec, Jan. 2008-30 Oct. 2008.