Islander Recognized for Military Service with Memorial in Ottawa
Senator Percy Downe Praises Recognition of
Georgina Fane Pope
A P.E.I. native recently recognized on a memorial in downtown Ottawa is a person all Islanders should be proud of, says P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe.
Speaking recently in the Senate, Downe praised the recognition of Georgina Pope.
Pope was one of 14 Canadians, the only Prince Edward Islander, to be honoured in the November 5 unveiling of the National Valiants Memorial at Confederation Square in downtown Ottawa.
A bronze bust of Pope was erected as part of the new national memorial that was established to honour individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada's military history.
In his speech in the Senate, Downe said Georgina Fane Pope is remembered as the first permanent member of the Canadian Army Nursing Service and has greatly contributed to Canadian military service.
Downe said the inscription on the wall below the monuments in Confederation Square captures the spirit of the new memorial - 'No day shall ever erase you from the memory of time.'
"All Canadians, and especially Prince Edward Islanders, can be proud of the dedication and service given to Canada by Georgina Pope," Downe said.
Georgina Pope, daughter of William Pope, a Father of Confederation, was born in Charlottetown in 1862. Downe said Pope could have easily settled into the expected lifestyle of the times, however, she had far greater aspirations.
Her journey began at the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York where she received her medical training. She remained in the United States until 1899 when she volunteered for nursing service in the Boer War.
Pope, as senior nurse, and three others, were members of Canada's first contingent to South Africa where they served north of Cape Town. After five months, Pope and another nurse headed further north, where they took control of a military hospital ravaged by disease.
After a year in South Africa, Pope returned to Canada. She returned to South Africa in 1902, this time as head of a group of eight Canadian nurses, which was known as the official Canadian Army Nursing Services part of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Pope and her colleagues remained until the end of the war.
In 1903, she was recognized for her service when she was the first Canadian awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria.
In 1906, she was appointed to the permanent forces in Halifax, as part of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. In 1908, she became the first Matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Pope returned overseas during the First World War to work in Canadian military hospitals in England and France until the end of 1918.
She returned to Charlottetown where she died in 1938.
Georgina Fane Pope
Daughter of William Pope, Father of Confederation, born in Charlottetown in 1862.
She received her medical training at the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York.
She remained in the United States until 1899 when she volunteered for nursing service in the Boer War.
A member of Canada's first contingent to South Africa, where they served north of Cape Town, she and another nurses headed north to take control of a military hospital ravaged by disease.
After a year, Pope returned to Canada, and then went back to South Africa in 1902, heading the Canadian Army Nursing Services. She stayed until the end of the war.
In 1903, Pope was the first Canadian awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria.
in 1906, she was appointed to the permanent forces in Halifax as part the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
In 1908, she became the first Matron of the Army Medical Corps.
After returning overseas to assist in the efforts of the First World War, she came home to Charlottetown, where she died in 1938.
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