Nursing Sister and Matron Jessie B Jaggard served in the Canadian Army Corps during WW1. She is entitled to the 1914-14 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. She is one of the few women who died while serving her country at war in the Canadian army. Her family received the Memorial Plaque, the Memorial Scroll and according to her file two memorial Crosses were issued, one to her mother and one to her husband.
At the time the Memorial Cross was given only to the “wife” of the deceased contrary to today’s rule that state that the Cross is given to the “spouse” of the deceased. Yes the choice of word is important here. Technically her husband should have not received the Memorial Cross but I guess that the person in charge of issuing the Cross at the Canadian Government found the rule discriminatory and issued a Cross to her husband. Nursing Sister Gertrude Donaldson (her story can be found by clicking here) was the only other Canadian whose husband also received the Memorial Cross.
But the rule was not applied equally; Nursing Sister Jean Olgivie Alport also died during her WW1 but her husband did not receive her Memorial Cross. I think the strict rule was applied in her case and they were more “opened” in the case of Nursing Sister Donaldson and Jaggard.
Born on May 28th, 1873 in Kings, Nova-Scotia.
Height : 5’ 3″ Weight : 120 lbs.
Enlisted on May 11th, 1915 in Ottawa, Ontario.
She had previous service in the Qualifying course military Hospital in Quebec
Sent to the Island of Lemnos on July 27th, with the 3rd Canadian Stationnary Hospital,
August 16th : Reached the Port of Mudros on the Greek Island of Lemnos.
August 22nd : The 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital became operational on the island and they received their first patient at 10:00 am.
The hospital was part of a relief effort sent to help overcrowded Anzac medical services which could not take the large influx of wounded soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign. The Canadian Hospital was hastily sent to the island and they were not prepared to served under these conditions. It needed two nurses to change a patient wound dressing, one to change the dressing and one to fan out the flies of the wound (no joke here). Excessive heat and poor sanitary conditions were the contributing factors at spreading disease. Many of its members felt hill to disentry, some even died on the island.
Reported conditions critical on September 17th.
Died on September 25th, 1915 from dysentery at the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Mudros at the age of 42.
She is buried cemetery near Greek Church in the village of Portianos west Mudros V. D. 176.
Picture of the grave of one Canadian Nursing Sister in Mudros. Although I am not sure if it’s the grave of Matron Jaggard.
click on the image to enlarge
Her medals (1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory medal), Memorial Plaque and Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to her husband, Herbert A. Jaggard, 306 W. Gray Street Elmira New-York, United States of America
Memorial Cross was sent to her mother Mrs John Lathrop Brown 161 Manor road Rockliffe, Ottawa
If you know more information on this lady, please leave me message so I can add it to her small biography
