Daily Blog

Status Quo, Part ll

11/27/2017

Much has been written at this site about the little known British awarding of the Queen's Scarf during Boer War days.

Yesterday's blog informs that the status of the Scarf, according to history, is well below that of the Victoria Cross. But careful examination seems to suggest otherwise.

Those not seeing yesterday's introduction to this matter might want to read it before jumping into today's. For the rest, I pick up where I left off.

Princess Mary, later Queen Mary, and her husband, the Duke of Cornwall and York, were in Australia and met up with Du Frayer, one of the Scarf recipients. He was proudly wearing his Scarf at the time.

She had noticed that it's ends were getting frayed and learned that it was because of constant use. Turning to her husband she suggested they ask his father, HRH King George V to issue a GOLD STAR. This could be worn in lieu of, yet equal to the Scarf. It would prevent a lot of wear and tear and would see the Scarf actually only being worn on formal occasions.

This is an article from a Brisbane Australia newspaper in June 1901. It seems to be a public announcement that the King has agreed with the Princess and Du Frayer, per the article,... "is to have a Gold Star."

Less than 2 weeks later another Australian newspaper considerably expanded on this.

Here we see the status of the Queen's Scarf elevated beyond what the Status Quo has had the world believing for over 100 years!

The newspaper of July 6th 1901 noted that "the distinction is great" and that the Duke himself presented the Scarf in a formal parade. (If it were a lesser award, it could have been presented by one much lower in stature than a member of the Royal family.) The story adds that the King, through his son, the Duke, advises that the 4 recipients will get the GOLD STAR. (It would be fair to assume that the 2nd group of 4 would also get the Star.)

Du Frayer was also told that the Star will rank equal with the Scarf and that the Star was "EQUAL WITH THE VICTORIA CROSS," "and carry with it the same distinctions."

Continuing, the recipient was also told that the recipients of the Scarf or Star are to be saluted or receive the Present Arms when in formation, and entitled to use the affix Q.S. after their names. Further, each was to receive a letter bearing the King's signature that outlined the bravery performed, that the Scarf was awarded, and that such could be passed down through generations of the recipient's family.

The day before Christmas that same year yet another Australian newspaper published the above. It also notes that "gold decorations and documents bearing the King's signature" were forthcoming.

This August 1901 clipping from New Zealand tells the same story as Du Frayer's. In this one regarding Trooper Henry Coutts, the reader is told that there were only 4 Scarfs and that since HRH Queen Victoria has passed away (in Jan 1901) there can be no more Scarfs.

The paper however must not have known of the 2nd group of 4 already made and sent off to Her Majesty's Grandson for circulation to the four Sgt's of British regular army units serving in South Africa.

This undated article found on the net also gives brief details about Coutts and notes that at a later date he would to receive a GOLD STAR.

Above we see Henry Coutts and his scarf, and Leonard Chadwick's picture in 1901. One that seems to have escaped the net and family for possibly the last century plus. till published in my recent blog. Of the eight Scarfs his is the only one unaccounted for. It's location was known in the early 1900's but has since mysteriously faded from existence.

The Governor General is the Monarch's representative in Australia. Here back in 1902 he is noted suggesting that both the DuFrayer Scarf and a Victoria Cross be both displayed at once at a public library. The article notes the IMPORTANCE of the two, describing same as... " two of the most honourable awards made to the British Army..."

The article also says there are only 3 such Scarfs in existence. There were actually 8, and the whereabouts of each at that time, was known. But the choice of the word AWARDS is interesting. In later days the Scarfs would be referred to simply as gifts.

Of more note though, is the fact that the Scarf and VC are given such high regard, and no doubt the article was seen by His Excellency, and perhaps even the Royal family. Yet no follow up in these papers by Royalty that I can find to suggest that the Scarf was anything less than as described.

On Sunday I will bring the conclusion to this story with more details and an examination of the claims against... and for the Scarf being equal to the Victoria Cross.

See you then,

Bart

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A correction first, then a story about "status," that arguably ought to run out of its "quo!"

11/26/2017

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In last week's blog, among other things, it was mentioned that the Statue for famous Civil War General John Logan was located just blocks away from the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC.

A follower of the blog with a sharp eye, keen sense of history noted, and source of some of the background on some stories here has noted a flaw re the statue. I am reminded that it in fact is quite a few blocks away. What is in the place described, is related to Logan however, but is the memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic.

The Canadian Embassy in DC is on Pennsylvania Avenue and is shown with the orange icon, and pointed to with the center arrow above. The Logan Statue, is located at end of the upper arrow, while the GAR Memorial is two blocks to the right of the orange icon.

In crossing the Potomac, the end of the lower arrow takes you to Arlington National Cemetery where there are more Medal of Honor men buried than there are days in the year.

About a dozen being Canadians. Perhaps another dozen or more non MOH Canadians are also at rest there. These include nurse Lenah Higbee who's incredible story I hope you have read recently in this space.

There is an old saying that "the person who does not make mistakes, makes nothing." I try to make corrections as needed in these blogs, welcome feedback when errors are noted, and even kind words once in a while. I thank the reader for pointing out the above mix-up in locations of the memorial and statue.

Leaving the US now, we travel about a decade further back from the end days of the Civil War. It was in February of 1856 that the London Gazette told us about the British Monarch, and HRH Queen Victoria's creation of a medal bearing her name. A medal that would soon become the preeminant medal for valour in the British Commonwealth and over the years to become known world over, and called the Victoria Cross.

About 1,360 of these highly prized and sought after medals have been awarded to date. Seventy eight of these would be for heroism during the Boer War. Only about 15 since WW11.

The LG 15 paragraph order creating the VC outlined the criteria laid down by the crown, and noted that the medal would be awarded for merit and valour, highly prized and much sought after.

The actions must have been voluntary, and not simply the following orders, must have been be in the face of the enemy, and supported by witnessed accounts of the actions involved. Nominations must be supported by higher authorities. There must be a ..."signal act of valour, or devotion to their country." (My highlighting)

The LG also noted that in the last paragraph that while authority exists to cancel a recipient's award, such reversals could be made by the sole authority and judgment of the crown and no one else.

This sets up the position that whilst the crown created the award, it is the sole decider of facts, when it chooses to adjudicate on expulsions, reversals, and (presumably) anything else that touches on VC matters whatsoever.

Evidence of this is in the reversal of the expulsion rule by the crown of the day back in 1920, the removal of the blue ribbons for the navy VC's in 1918, and the reversal of the rule precluding posthumous VC awards very early in the medal's history.

Please remember this right of crown to make changes, as you read on.

HRH Queen Victoria was an avid knitter and crocheter for many years. Here she is busy creating who knows what. At left is one of the Queen's Scarfs, the subject of this blog.

During the Boer War her grandson was serving as a major in one of the units and would often write home to grama. It has been said that his constant notes of the bitterly cold nights in South Africa caused the Queen to crochet a scarf. Thoughts of the her troops would soon see 4 being made. The Royal Cypher VRI as you can see above, was added to each, near the end knots. (Pictured is the actual scarf awarded to Colour Sgt. William Colclough, who's family in later years attached a unit cap badge.)

Queen Victoria decided that the four scarfs should be sent off to soldiers fighting for the cause in South Africa. One of each was to go to a private soldier who fought in the Canadian continent, and also to the South African, New Zealand and Australian contingents.

But how to chose them! The answer is found in the portion of a 1902 London Gazette entry below.

Lord Roberts was the commander of all the British troops and those attached, that fought in the Boer War. While the above mentions four scarves, the Queen would later make another four and these would be sent to her grandson for similar distribution to two of the British regular army units fighting in the Boer. This would hopefully ensure the regular soldiers that they were not being forgotten in the issue of these precious items.

Roberts notes that the officers in charge made the selec tions. In fact, it was left to the men to vote who was the bravest of the bravest and send that name, or if a tie with a few, to send these few names along to the Individual commanders. They would then make a selection and later send these names to Lord Roberts, through the usual channels.

Note Roberts' reference to the "gifts of honour", .. "to those most distinguished", and for which "gallant conduct in the field was to be considered the primary qualification".

Please note further that the very mention of the four names above, is in itself, what is called a Mention in Dispatch, and that MID is, in itself, a medal of bravery.

Alfred Du Frayer, shown in above picture and wearing his scarf, was from the New South Wales Mounted Infantry. Richard Thompson, also above, was in the Royal Regiment of Canada. (Both incidentally were recommended for the Victoria Cross.)

Thompson's scarf is shown and is contained in the display at our wonderful War Museum at Ottawa. A rifle from the war is also in the display, but is believed not to have been the one issued to him.

An image of a roll of Boer era roll of quarters and nickels could not be found but this will serve just as well.

Followers of my blogs and others who have known me over the years well understand that I do not pay very much attention to the Status Quo. In fact one of my favourite lines is that Status is being too often applied when the Quo has long since left the room. You get my drift!

The very success of this blog, having identified 118 Medal of Honor recipients from Canada, or with connections to Canada when the start number about 2 decades ago was 54, is proof that challenging what the records say, is often most rewarding. Same goes for the so called official numbers of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients being at between 94 and 96. My numbers are now at 108.

So, back to the coins, I ask you to have a long look at the box on the left and that on the right.

Are they the same?

Some will say yes but clearly they may equal each other. but they are NOT the same. One is a roll of 40 coins, the other five rolls totaling 200 coins.

So let's apply this concept to the world of Victoria Crosses and Queen's Scarfs!

Here we have an early 1901 newspaper account of troops coming home and noting that a Queens Scarf was awarded to DuFrayer for conspicuous bravery. Many of the VC prerequisites had to have been met before this man was so noticed by his unit, and so respected by his fellow soldiers that he was one of the 8 chosen as the bravest of the brave.

Here we see another news account of the Du Frayer scarf in a June 1901 Australian newspaper. It quotes a notice in the Illustrated London News regarding the first 4 scarfs and describes Du Frayer being a man of "pre-eminest (sp) bravery." The articles also notes that another journal, not identified, claims the VC rather than the Scarf should have been awarded, and refers to the scarf as being "in lieu of the VC.

A statement that clearly equates the scarf to the VC.

Things are starting to stir...

Still with DuFrayer, we see that The Duchess, later Queen Marry, discovered at seeing the scarf he wore, had the ends starting to get damaged. Turning to her husband the Duke of Cornwall and York (and future King Edward V11) that they ought to ask his father, the serving King... George V, to provide what today is almost standard for medals. Either a smaller duplicate or pin that could be worn in lieu of the original, and on less formal occasions.

The recommendation was for the King to award a Gold Star that could be worn on less formal occasions and thus still represent the Scarf itself.

Since this blog is getting too long, I will bring you more on this story in the days to come.

In the mean time, Happy Birthday to one of the recipients of the scarf, Trooper Leonard Chadwick, born in Delaware USA, and of whom you have hopefully read much in the past in this space. He was born 2 days ago, on 24 November, but back in 1878. (Thanks to another blog supporter who reminded me of this.)

Back soon ...
Bart

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My metal detector batteries are still working!

11/19/2017

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For any with the habit you know how I feel when the detector starts buzzing!

Well, actually mine does not buzz but I'll tell you I sure get a buzz when I find what I am looking for... and just as happy when other things get trapped under that detector.

Regular followers of my rantings of course know that my "detector" is the internet. And 3 of my favorite toys on the net are the websites...Newspapers.com, Chronicling America.loc.gov and Fold 3.com. Over the years each has produced a treasure load of facts that have found their way into the blogs on this site.

And today's is no exception.

I have been sitting on a very exciting story for about a month but other matters had to be dealt with here first.

So here we go with today's...

I wanted to get some news on what was happening with a Texas auction story. I brought you this a few months back regarding a Queens Scarf and complete medal group coming up for auction. It seems it did not get sold and is now in London for another go at a sale. But I'll save that story for a later day.

But my detector found this headline, and two of topic stories. And a winner as well. Here's the first...

The headline tells us it is the front page of a Philadelphia newspaper's 9 April 1901 issue, and for a whopping one cent you got to take home 16 pages of news. I guess they did not have the home version on the net yet.

The image above is just one of the cover stories and enlarged for the blog.

It tells that a former Private from Civil War days would be unveiling a monument with descendants of famed CW General John A Logan in Washington DC, The Private doing the unveiling had enjoyed a few promotions over the years and in 1901 was none other than the President of the United States. His name was McKinley. (About 5 months later he would become the nation's 3rd president to be assassinated,)

The Logan memorial still stands today within a few blocks of our Canadian Embassy. I am proud to say I visited it numerous times during my DC research trip in 2013. It is also just a few blocks off in another direction, from the buildings of Congress.

Past blogs have brought you some of the Logan story including his work with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is well known as the creator of General Order #11, with the order that all GAR members MUST head out and place flowers at the graves of the CW veterans. An event that was to occur on what became known as Decoration Day, and today's Memorial Day. Next year will mark its 150th anniversary.

The cover page also carried another story that caught my eye.

Impossible to read, but the article tells of a company that wants legislation created to give it access to certain short roads, to have them paved and the entity would bring in coaches that would run ... "on electricity as it was just as efficient as steam." Them wanted certain routes laid out for them that would allow the company to charge 3 cents for short ride and would offer 8 tickets for 20 cents. Parcels could also be carried. Possibly at additional prices.

The coaches would run on big rubber tires. Whoda thought! They even wanted permission to control the road and charge others to drive their own monstrocities on the portion they controlled.

No mention if they planned to have the electric vehicles drive themselves... but that's ridiculous isn't it.

But the story I was most interested in was over on page 6.

I have often mentioned Delaware born Leonard Chadwick, his Spanish American War Medal of Honor, while serving with several Canadians also so awarded during the Cable cutting incident. Past articles also brought you details of the Queens Scarf he was awarded for actions during the Boer War. But there is something special about the above article that I will come back to shortly.

Several times during 1901 Chadwick, his MOH and QS got newspaper coverage. Here is another short clip...

.This gives some of the brief details about both war actions and notes that he his accomplishments were very remarkable for such a young age. It states there were 4 scarfs, but actually there were 8, four to privates and 4 to Sergeants. (Maybe I'll write the editor. Nah, probably too late.)

Chadwick's ship, the USS Marblehead, is shown above and stripped down to do battle during the Spanish American War in Cuba of 1898. The center photo is just after the three month war. Note the ladies on deck. It is obviously some sort of a celebration of successful battles.

The bottom shows one of the working launches, staged for the cameras, and showing some of the crew who did the cable cutting. Chadwick has been said to be the third from stern and appearing to have a hacksaw in his hand.( Left of flag.)

Not long ago I noted that family had contacted me and provided me with several photos. One of these was of his actual Medal of Honor. Here again is that great keepsake.

Engraved on the back of the medal are his name, the battle and date and ship served on.

Regular readers will have seen this image before. It is one of the 8 scarfs made by HRH Queen Victoria when 82 years of age, and just before her passing was mourned the world over. This is not Chadwick's scarf, which has been missing for decades.

If you are new to the site, use the search engine in upper right of this blog and search for stories about this hero and the seven others, including Canada's Richard Thompson.

Many years ago distant family emerged in the Delaware area and like the old Delaware Medal of Honor Society, were all searching for an image of Leonard. Some claim the above is all that is out there. Others say that from South Africa around 1900 emerged this image....

I am not aware of any confirmations that this is indeed Leonard Chadwick. But I do have a wonderful Christmas present for the old Delaware men, the family of years ago searching, the MOH world, my readers, and especially another branch of the family that contacted me most recently.

The 1901 article my medal detector found for me, and above noted, actually only shows the first few paragraphs and the last few.

What came between them is this Christmas present for all.

Enjoy!

This is a 1901 newspaper story identifying Leonard and showing him in his sailor's uniform, complete with cap that has the USS barely readable..the..."Marblehead" would be further along the banner.

Next Sunday I will be bringing you a story that will probably rock the Victoria Cross world. If you know anyone who had any interest whatsoever in these men and their medals... you ought to invite them to have a peek.

till then,

Bart

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Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, Part lll

11/12/2017

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Like many of the readers of this blog, I too attended Remembrance Day services here in the Greater Victoria area yesterday.

It began by attending the short service at Royal Oak Burial Park and Crematorium in Saanich where quite a few veterans are at rest with family and fellow veterans. Comm ander Roland Bourke, VC, DSO is also there as readers will know. As our thousands of other deceased members of our communities and beyond.

This year members of the local naval reserves, HMCS Malahat, and Bourke family gathered for a quick service before the service men and women headed off to the larger and more formal events at Sidney.

These reservists have been attending at Royal Oak pre Sydney duties for several years. And it is most worthy of note that each year there are more men and women on parade than the year past. It seems that their pride and respect for the late Rowland Bourke also increases each year.

About 250 men and women in uniform from several branches of the services, our Mounties, border patrol and various cadets corps marched on parade. As many and more children, parents grandparents and veterans, and guest speakers stood in the on and off slight drizzle and cold to participate and pay respects.

A duty we owe to those who serve today, and those who have done so in our nation's past. Thousands having giving up their tomorrow's so that we could have ours. And many more who brought home the scars that would never heal, be they physical or otherwise.

Watching some on parade reminded me of my days as a Sergeant Major and drill instructor. Oh.. to have the uniform and pace stick again...

As we gave remembrance across the country yesterday, our men and women around the world did the same. Canadians also did this just outside of the District of Washington yesterday, and on the 10th.

In this area there is some high ground that houses the Saint Elizabeths Hospital Cemetery. On another part of that real estate and perhaps less than a mile away is the site of the US Homeland Security Complex which also houses the US Coast Guard Head Quarters. That facility is named in honour of Vancouver BC born Douglas Munro, a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient from WW11.

At the cemetery lies the remains of Nova Scotia born MOH recipient Joseph Noil, who has been oft noted in this space. And yesterday many of the military and civilian staff at our DC Embassy arrived, a busload I am told, to again this year perform a service of remembrance and lay a wreath at the base of his grave marker, one we had unveiled just a few years ago.

It is my understanding that since learning about the Noil grave at Saint Elizabeths, and playing such a prominent roll in the unveiling ceremonies for a new marker, the embassy has committed to visit this grave annually during Remem-brance Week on the 11th or as close as possible.

When I checked my emails Sunday morning before heading off, I was surprised to already have several photos sent re the Noil visit. The photographer was a former staffer at the hospital, and is now no doubt a most valued volunteer on site.

She played a critical roll in the work leading up to and also the arranging of the unveiling for the marker that finally corrected errors lasting over 130 years on the hero's grave marker.

The pictures were taken on a cell phone so are a bit blurry but I wanted to share them with you anyway...

The wreath had just been placed and the Rear Admiral and his wife are saluting, as are others in the procession.

Moving along, I recently shared with the embassy the story about Lenah Higbee, the Chatham New Brunswick born nurse who moved off to the US and ultimately became the first of only 4 naval nurses to ever be awarded the US Navy Cross. I mentioned that she was buried at Arlington and was told that as a result of the information, her grave would also be added to a growing list of MOH recipients and other Canadians buried at that famous cemetery. Yesterday I also received two pictures from the Embassy

So here, thanks to the Canadian Embassy at DC is the
picture I requested of her grave marker.

She rose in nursing ranks to become the Superintendent of Nurses, and thus the SUPR on the marker. I find it odd that while being the first ever Navy Cross recipient, that the post nominals... NC... are not listed on her marker.

Returning now to the Beatrice MacDonald story, in the first two parts of her story appearing here, I had mentioned briefly her NY training as a nurse. By 1915 she was off to the Great War and serving temporarily with the American Ambulance of Paris. She had then returned to the US, worked as a nurse and then manager of a NY surgeon's offices. When the US joined the Great War she was off again to do her bit.

According to "New York Army Cards' Beatrice joined the US Army on 13 May 1917 and was being immediately sent off to a hospital field unit in Europe. But according to the manifest for the USS St Louis she and hundreds of medical staff and other members of the military shipped out the day before... on the 12th.

This is a 1918 picture of the USS St Louis.

Not a good copy, but the date is clear, as is her name. Some of the other names have been obviously cut out.

The first blogs told of her hospital lines being bombed, her getting a head and face wound, and thought so severally injured that she may not live. She was sent to another facility for treatment, survived but lost an eye. Ordered back to the US, she pleaded and won her case to continue to care for the wounded.

General Haig gave her a Mention in Dispatches (MID,) the British Awarded her a Military Medal and the Americans awarded her the Distinguished Service Cross. In fact the first ever awarded to anyone in the US military. Some claim that her injury may well have been the first for the US military, in the face of the enemy, since they entered the Great War.

Now promoted to Chief Nurse, Beatrice MacDonald would go on to receive other impressive and prestigious awards.

A letter I've located says that the French Government had awarded MacDonald with the Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star Star for bravery, in early October of 1919. It is possible the medal was sent a few months earlier. The Silver Star is awarded if the recipient had earlier been mentioned in dispatches, as she had been. An example of the medal and star is below.

By this time Beatrice MacDonald had already been released from the military and back in New York. She had stayed performing her duties until after the armistice and returned to the US with the military until released near the end of April 1919 as her services to the government were no longer needed.

While it is difficult to say when she also received the British decoration called the Royal Red Cross, a clue just came in days ago that that Beatrice possibly received it before the DSC noted in past blogs.

Regardless of dates, there are 1st and 2nd class of awards, her's being of the 2nd class.

The first class is gold in colour while the 2nd class is silver. Members of the first class in the Order are allowed to use the post nominals ... RRC while those of the 2nd class are Associates and permitted the initials ARRC.

In 1930 She is listed in the NY census and therein is the note...Trained Nurse.. suggesting that she may have been still working in that occupation at the time.

A decade later general MacArthur and others started a movement to have a very old medal of distinction brought back into use. It was started back in the days of another General named Washington, and the Badge he created was called the Badge of Merit. It was introduced for bravery and called a Badge of Merit. Three were known to be awarded, though a handful of other documents suggest, that at least in writing, some others were awarded in those early days, including at least one to a Canadian.(Search for that story on this site.)

Regardless, in 1932, MacArthur wanted to re-establish the badge, but in the form of a medal with different criteria for its awarding. By 1936 the first ever was awarded and it went to a woman who had heard about the medal being introduced and wrote to inform the authorities of her service. And thus she became the first in US history since the mid 1930's to be so awarded the famous Purple Heart of today.

And her name was Beatrice MacDonald. The same Beatrice noted in the last few blogs.

And she was born near Summerside Prince Edward Island. Canada.

Little is known about her life after WWl and more work is being done. Stay tuned for updates on this wonderful hero and the great role model she has become for men and women alike, regardless of which side of our Canada/US border we all live on.

Here's the Badge of Merit of days long gone, and today's Purple Heart.

See you next week.

Bart

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Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, part ll

11/7/2017

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A few days ago I started to tell the incredible story of Beatrice MacDonald an American nurse in the Great War. Like so many other nurses of the day, before and since, she was often at the front lines or very close, and performing her duties so heroically that she would also become under enemy fire.

Having already served a period in 1915/16 in the war, she would return to the US and join the US Army Nursing services. Soon she would be among the 65 nurses, 29 officers, 6 Red Cross clerks, 1 Master Sergeant, 7 sergeants, and 145 Privates all from the medical services and aboard the SS St Louis when it sailed out of the New York harbour on 12 May 1917 and into harms way.

Oh, I forgot, there was also one private... a cook, who no doubt was going to be a very busy fellow. A cook that may very well have been the soldier of the same profession, destined to never see the shores of America again.

Just three months after leaving the US, Beatrice was almost killed while at her hospital work station.

As a result of the German deliberate bombing of a near front line hospital, and further stiffing with Machine Gun fire as the unarmed patients scattered for cover, she was wounded severally in the face. Thought to be dead, she would recover but not before losing the sight in her right eye. Despite the horrible set-back she continued to serve at the same facility and several others throughout the war and remain in the theater till after the Armistice was signed.

As previously noted, the British Expeditionary Forces comm ander of the Western front, actually made mention of her heroism in a dispatch. Britain soon followed up by awarded her that country's Military Medal.

Back at home in the US, in July 1918 the Congress created an award they called... the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) It was just one medal of bravery below the Medal of Honor, and was created with the new pyramid of medals. A structure that in itself, came about as a result of the horrible purge of Medals of Honor a year earlier and of which much space in this place has been dedicated in the past.

The DSC was a medal for the army. The navy has a medal equal in ranking, and created also as a result of the purge, and called the Navy Cross. Recent blogs in this space told you of the first NC ever awarded to a woman.. Lehna Higbee, a Canadian nurse working with the US Navy, and born at Chatham NB.

Beatrice MacDonald, in the army, and also a nurse, would also become a first. She would be awarded the DSC.. and be the first ever in the history of the award to be do honoured. Over 6,300 would be awarded in WW1, and Beatrice's was the first.

Newspapers across the US brought readers the news of her deeds, past recognition and now getting the DSC. Here are a few of a massive amount of newspaper stories.

This image is very poor. But the last two lines are very historic for women. The certificate is for another woman but no doubt typical of what would have been provided to Beatrice. But in the above case there was a problem.

Though unreadable, the last two lines make reference to a soldier earning the award and being referred to as "HE" did the deeds resulting in the award. Apparently matters had to be taken back to congress to have the wording changed, and thus, while not readable, the above document in those last 2 lines has the word "HE" crossed out and "HER" inserted.

Here is the original wording of the law creating the medal...

Note the 2nd last word in the 2nd line.

By now a Chief Nurse, Beatrice is wearing the wound stripe on her right sleeve, a mark of distinguished service in itself. Though you cannot see it would she would also be wearing at least the first and possible the 2nd of 3 service stripes on her lower left sleeve as well.

When the medal was created, the government had a problem on its hands. It had to get some medals made in a hurry an get them off to France. While about 100 were rushed into service, there were many who in fact simply purchased their own French version, which is slightly different than the US version, and it is unknown yet to this blog, which version was presented to MacDonald.

The "French or, as sometimes called..First..version had oak leaves on the four arms and the eagle mounted of a Diamond background, whilst the US later version removed these and changed the motto from reading..."E. Pluribus Unum" to "For Valor."

Here are images of both, with the US version on the right ...

That's enough for today. On Sunday I will bring you more on Chief Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, clearly a woman for all to follow.

Bart

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Finally Sharing Belated Women's History Month Story of Another Important Female War Hero!

11/5/2017

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Recent blogs brought you stories about October being Women's History Month, about the famous Persons Case and Persons Awards.

Going back over recent stories here, you will also find covered the heroism of Canada's own Lehna Higbee, Chatham New Brunswick born, a nurse and administrator who went on to do incredible deeds in WWl with the US Navy. So incredible that she became the first woman ever to be awarded the US Navy Cross. She even had a ship named in her honor, and another to be built and to be commissioned a few years down the road.

Today's story is about Beatrice MacDonald who was born in 1881. After high school she escaped what was no doubt a full household with 9 other siblings, and headed off to New York's Hospital School of Nursing. (below)

Beatrice MacDonald is in the following picture of the graduation class, but it is not known where.

Beatrice was working as a nurse when WWl started, though America was years away from entry. Like many others, she wanted to join the war effort by volunteering with the American Ambulance Services and was sent off to the American Hospital of Paris for a period of time.

She then returned to the New York area and became a nurse and manager in the offices of surgeon George E Brewer.

In 1917 Beatrice MacDonald, (at left) joined the US Army Nursing Service and along with Doctor Brewer, five other doctors and about 65 nurses headed off to France. Soon they would be dispatched to the No 61 British Casualty Clearing Station just about 3 miles from the front lines and near a place called Poporihghe Belgium. (Shown with orange icon below.)

The clearing station was really a series of many tents and because of all the muck and grime on the ground a series of walkways permitted movement between each. As MacDonald would later describe, a fall could easily have you standing up to your waste in the mess. Reports say some 2,400 casualties were being treated at the facility. Be they minor or the more serious. The lucky ones made it to recovery tents.

The nurses were well known for their bravery at the time. They nevertheless felt more comfortable knowing that all the tents were clearly marked with large red crosses and one in front of the camp standing some 40 ft. high and 30 ft. wide. While lighting was obviously kept at a minimal, the crosses were given enough light to show the planes overhead that the area was clearly a hospital setup.

But that was not enough. It was during the 3rd Battle of Ypres when the German planes started circling overhead, and soon started to swoop down of the hospital tents. Several bombs were dropped and there is even a report existing that said that an enemy plane swooped across the area and was using a machine gun to shoot down any casualties trying to seek cover, some even naked, and of course the medical staff trying to get them back under cover.

It was 17 August 1917, and on that date. the tent that many of the nurses were sleeping in that MacDonald had to leap to grab her helmet... but it was too late. She was hit in the head by shrapnel, and while treated on sight, was shipped off to another facility but not expected to live. A night cook was standing just 20 ft away from her and was..."blown to pieces."

Here's some news coverage back at her home of NY City...

Here is a more detailed newspaper accounting about a week later...

Doctors operated on MacDonald but found the damage too bad to repair her right eye, and so it had to be removed. . But Beatrice pushed on even when order to return to the United States. She pleaded with her Colonel and eventually was allowed to return back to her duties caring for the wounded.

Months later, in January of 1918 Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, Commander of all of the British Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front, gave Beatrice a special mention in his dispatches. Most do not realize this but a MID is in fact a medal for bravery.

The British Government then went on to award Nurse Beutrice MacDonald another medal according to America's commander of the Expeditionary forces of the USA at the Western Front.

Here we see General Pershing telling MacDonald that her Commander in Chief.. ie.. the President of the United States, has approved the acceptance of Britain's Military Medal.

And here we see the press telling the world of this nurse's bravery, and an act so brave another country is awarding her a medal for her actions.

Here is what that medal looked like at the time...

There is more to come!

On Monday or Tuesday I will bring a follow up to make up for the lost blog of last week.

see you then,
Bart

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Status Quo, Part ll

A correction first, then a story about "status," that arguably ought to run out of its "quo!"

My metal detector batteries are still working!

Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, Part lll

Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, part ll

Finally Sharing Belated Women's History Month Story of Another Important Female War Hero!

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

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Status Quo, Part ll

A correction first, then a story about "status," that arguably ought to run out of its "quo!"

My metal detector batteries are still working!

Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, Part lll

Nurse Beatrice MacDonald, part ll

Finally Sharing Belated Women's History Month Story of Another Important Female War Hero!

Author;Bart Armstrong, C.D., Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Archives

Categories

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers