Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie 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.
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
, U.S.. 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 in Shorncliffe
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 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
.
RRC
RRC may stand for the following:* Radio Resource Control, a concept and a protocol name for a set of control messages exchanged between user equipment and the Radio Network Controller in the UMTS standard* Railroad Commission of Texas...
(March 22, 1884 – March 5, 1968) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
nurse, and the first woman to be promoted to the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Canadian army.
She was born at Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
, to Dr. Thomas Stuart Traill Smellie
Thomas Stuart Traill Smellie
Thomas Stuart Traill Smellie was an Ontario physician, merchant and political figure. He represented Fort William in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1905 to 1911 as a Conservative member....
, Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
for Fort William and Lake of the Woods from 1905-1911, and Janet Eleanor Lawrie. She trained at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is part of the Johns Hopkins University located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established in 1889, it is one of the nation’s oldest and pre-eminent schools for nursing education ranking first in the nation; it is also among the top recipients of...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, U.S.. To her family and friends, she was known as "Beth".
During World War I, she was posted at Cliveden
Cliveden
Cliveden is an Italianate mansion and estate at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England. Set on banks above the River Thames, its grounds slope down to the river. The site has been home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor....
, Lady Astor's estate, and became matron of the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe
Shorncliffe
Shorncliffe can refer to:* Shorncliffe, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane in Australia** Shorncliffe railway line, to the suburb** Shorncliffe railway station, Brisbane, in the suburb...
where thousands of Canadian soldiers were treated. In 1917 she was decorated by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
with the first class Royal Red Cross
Royal Red Cross
The Royal Red Cross is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing.The award was established on 27 April 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class of Member...
.
After further post-war training in Boston, she taught public health nursing for two years at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal. She was Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
of the Victorian Order of Nurses
Victorian Order of Nurses
The Victorian Order of Nurses is a non-profit charitable organization founded in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 29, 1897 created as a gift for Queen Victoria for the purposes of home care and social services. It is registered as a charity the Canada Revenue Agency, charity number...
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
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Canadian army.
A portrait of Colonel Smellie, painted by Kenneth Forbes
Kenneth Forbes
Kenneth Keith Forbes was a Canadian landscape and portrait painter.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Forbes was the son of John Colin Forbes also an artist. The younger Forbes had obtained a scholarship at the Hospital Field Art School, Arbroath, Scotland...
, was unveiled by her successor in Ottawa in 1944.
Elizabeth Smellie was made a Commander 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
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.