PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT
Date1908
Dimensions39 x 33 x 2 cm (15 3/8 x 13 x 13/16 in.)
Object numberHF.2022.8.1
DescriptionA dark wooden, oval frame with glass. A Canadian Medical corps medallion is at the top of the frame with maple leaves and a snake wrapping around a scepter. Behind the glass is a black and white graduation photo of a women from the neck up, looking to one side. A white matt is inside the glass with thin brown edging along the inner edge. At the bottom of the photo is a small signature. Narrative
Born in Souris, PEI, Rena "Bird" McLean was the daughter of a businessman and conservative politician, John McLean and Matilda Jane Jury. McLean attended Mount Allison University and Halifax Ladies College before completing her studies in nursing at Newport Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1908, which this graduation photo commemorates. Upon graduating, McLean worked Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital in Gardener, Massachusetts, where she became head nurse.
Upon the outbreak of World War I, McLean enlisted and was appointed to the Canadian Army Medical Corps. She was the first nurse from PEI to reach England after the outbreak of WWI, arriving with 32,000 troops in the first Canadian contingent. She was among the first Canadians in France as part of the No. Stationary Hospital in Boulogne-sure-Mer, Departement de Pas-de-Calais. During her time overseas she worked underneath fellow Islander Georgina Pope at the Canadian General Hospital at Orpington, Kent, England.
McLean tragically drowned in March 1918 when the "Llandovery Castle", a hospital ship sailing from Halifax to England was torpedoed by an enemy U-boat off the coast of Ireland. She was awarded the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, The Royal Red Cross 2nd Class, The Victory Medal, and the British War Medal. McLean was the only Island woman to lose her life overseas during World War I.
Upon the outbreak of World War I, McLean enlisted and was appointed to the Canadian Army Medical Corps. She was the first nurse from PEI to reach England after the outbreak of WWI, arriving with 32,000 troops in the first Canadian contingent. She was among the first Canadians in France as part of the No. Stationary Hospital in Boulogne-sure-Mer, Departement de Pas-de-Calais. During her time overseas she worked underneath fellow Islander Georgina Pope at the Canadian General Hospital at Orpington, Kent, England.
McLean tragically drowned in March 1918 when the "Llandovery Castle", a hospital ship sailing from Halifax to England was torpedoed by an enemy U-boat off the coast of Ireland. She was awarded the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, The Royal Red Cross 2nd Class, The Victory Medal, and the British War Medal. McLean was the only Island woman to lose her life overseas during World War I.
1944 APR
Canadian
