Helen Cattanach
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Helen S. Cattanach, CB
, RRC
(21 June 1920 - 4 May 1994) was Director of British Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief of QARANC
. She received a number of awards and medals including the Royal Red Cross
and her portrait appears at the National Portrait Gallery.
in 1920, Helen Cattanach attended the Elgin Academy
before travelling to Aberdeen
to study nursing at Woodend Hospital
. Having completed her training as a State Registered Nurse, her military career began during the hostilities of World War II
when she joined the Civil Nursing Reserve. She became a regular Nursing Sister in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in 1946, having spent the period from June 1945 as a reserve in the corps.
From 1958 she was posted to the War Office, initially as a Staff Officer with the Army Medical Directorate, and then, in 1961, as the first officer from the Queen Alexandra's Corps to serve in the recruiting branch. After fulfilling the recruitment role "with great enthusiasm", she returned to nursing as a ward sister in Hong Kong.
In 1972, after being promoted to Matron at British Military Hospital in Münster
in 1968 and the Aldershot Military Hospital
in Hampshire
, in 1969, she was promoted to Brigadier and appointed as the Matron-in-Chief and Director of Army Nursing Services. This was the highest rank available to women in the British Army.
The National Portrait Gallery, London includes seven photographic portraits of Helen Cattanach taken by Bassano on 31 December 1976.
, Surrey
, where she was engaged in charity work.
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Helen S. Cattanach, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, RRC
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...
(21 June 1920 - 4 May 1994) was Director of British Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief of QARANC
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps is the nursing branch of the British Army and part of the Army Medical Services....
. She received a number of awards and medals including the 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...
and her portrait appears at the National Portrait Gallery.
Career
Born to Francis and Marjory (née Grant) Cattanach in Knockando, Morayshire, ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1920, Helen Cattanach attended the Elgin Academy
Elgin Academy, Scotland
Elgin Academy is a secondary school in the city of Elgin, Moray, Scotland.-Admissions:Pupils at Elgin Academy are in years S1 to S6. Most arrive in first year from one of the nearby primary schools, which include Bishopmill Primary, West End Primary, East End Primary, Seafield Primary and St...
before travelling to Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to study nursing at Woodend Hospital
Woodend Hospital
Woodend Hospital is a hospital in the Woodend/Summerhill area of Aberdeen, Scotland. Previously a general hospital, it now provides elective orthopaedic surgery, rehabilitation and care of the elderly in conjunction with the other hospitals in NHS Grampian....
. Having completed her training as a State Registered Nurse, her military career began during the hostilities of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when she joined the Civil Nursing Reserve. She became a regular Nursing Sister in the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in 1946, having spent the period from June 1945 as a reserve in the corps.
From 1958 she was posted to the War Office, initially as a Staff Officer with the Army Medical Directorate, and then, in 1961, as the first officer from the Queen Alexandra's Corps to serve in the recruiting branch. After fulfilling the recruitment role "with great enthusiasm", she returned to nursing as a ward sister in Hong Kong.
In 1972, after being promoted to Matron at British Military Hospital in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
in 1968 and the Aldershot Military Hospital
Aldershot Military Hospital
Aldershot Military Hospital is a name given to up to three hospitals in Aldershot, Hampshire, which served the various British army camps there....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, in 1969, she was promoted to Brigadier and appointed as the Matron-in-Chief and Director of Army Nursing Services. This was the highest rank available to women in the British Army.
The National Portrait Gallery, London includes seven photographic portraits of Helen Cattanach taken by Bassano on 31 December 1976.
Awards and honours
- Royal Red Cross MedalRoyal Red CrossThe 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...
, 1963 - Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint JohnVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, 1971; promoted to Commander, 1977 - Queen's Honorary Nursing Sister (QHNS), 1973
- Companion of the Order of the BathOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, January 1976 - Colonel CommandantColonel CommandantColonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
QARANC, June 1978 - QARANC Association, Chairman (Millbank Branch)
Retirement
Brigadier Cattanach retired to WokingWoking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where she was engaged in charity work.