"Help Us, Serve England": First World War Military Nursing and National Identities

Area of Science:

• Military History
• Nursing History
• Social History

Background:

• The First World War is often seen as a catalyst for Canadian national identity.
• Historical research on women's wartime experiences, particularly military nurses, remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the professional relationships of Nursing Sister Emeline Robinson.
• To analyze her experiences within the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve and Canadian Army Medical Corps.
• To understand the development of national identity through a nurse's perspective.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Nursing Sister Emeline Robinson's personal diary.
• Examination of her interactions with British nurses, VAD volunteers, orderlies, and medical officers.
• Chronological review of her enlistment, resignation, and re-enlistment.

Main Results:

• The diary provides a detailed account of Robinson's working relationships and professional challenges.
• Her experiences reveal nuanced interactions within a hierarchical military medical setting.
• The study offers a unique perspective on Canadian identity formation during WWI.

Conclusions:

• Emeline Robinson's diary offers valuable insights into the experiences of military nurses.
• Wartime service contributed to a distinct Canadian identity, even within imperial structures.
• Further research into personal accounts is crucial for understanding women's roles in military history.