Matron Jessie Brown Jaggard

[ejwalshe]

https://cefrg.ca/blog/matron-jessie-brown-jaggard-in-the-great-war/

Jessie Brown Jaggard the second female casualty of the Canadian Army Medical Corps and CEF in the Great War. Jessie happened to be a cousin of Sir Robert Borden, Canada's Prime Minister during wartime.

Jessie Whidden Brown born on 28 May 1873, Wolfville, Kings County, Nova Scotia. Jessie the daughter of John Lothrop Brown and Elizabeth Whidden Brown, later of 161 Manor Road, Rockcliffe, Ottawa.

Jessie received her training at the Massachusetts General Hospital. On completion of her course, her ability well marked, she became Superintendent of the Morristown State Hospital, Philadelphia. Later, she filled the same post at the University Hospital, Philadelphia.

On 17 September 1900, Jessie Whidden Brown resigned to marry a prominent American, Herbert Jaggard, President of Pennsylvania Railroad railway. Herbert born 22 Jan 1865 in Altoona, Blair, PA. The Jaggard's parents of at least 3 sons (Herbert Jaggard 1902-1979, Armstrong Jaggar 1902-deceased, and John Lothrop Jaggar 1905-deceased).

Following the departure of the First Canadian Contingent, Mrs Jaggard volunteered her services to the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Her services promptly accepted and she received an appointment as Matron in the CAMC. Equivalent to a Captain among  servicemen of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On arrival in England in May, 1915, Matron Jessie Brown Jaggard posted to Shorncliffe, where a Canadian hospital established at Moore Barracks. Here she worked hard and earnestly, and succeeded in getting the hospital in good working order. On 1 August 1915 the unit of which Mrs. Jaggard was Matron ordered to the Gallipoli front.

Full of enthusiasm, with which Jaggard inspired her staff, they sailed for Lemnos with No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital (CSH). Alexandria reached on the 11th, and the unit sailed aboard HMHS DELTA for Mudros Harbor on 13 August 1915.

Lemnos

1st and 3rd CSH arrived in Lemnos on 16 August 1915. Because of its position, the island of Lemnos played an important part in the campaigns against Turkey during the Great War. Near this village is an ancient fountain known as Nero’s fountain.

 Lemnos occupied by a force of marines on 23 February 1915 in preparation for the military attack on Gallipoli. The 1st and 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospitals, the 3rd Australian General Hospital and also other medical units stationed on both sides of Mudros bay. And, a considerable Egyptian Labour Corps detachment employed.

Matron Jessie Jaggard one of about 70 Canadian nurses stationed at Lemnos, treating the wounded fighting at Gallipoli. Twenty six Sisters under her command with No 3 CSH. On top of helping the wounded, the medical staff had to deal with extreme heat, poor sanitary conditions, regular exposure to illness, poor diet, and water shortages. Dysentery became a great problem in the camp. Inevitably, the medical staff also fell ill.

Dysentery

In September 1915, Nursing Sister Mary Frances Munro and Matron Jessie Jaggard both succumbed to dysentery, and became the first women to die in wartime while serving in the CEF.

Conditions at Lemnos, at first found to be difficult and trying. Many of the Nursing Sisters fell ill, and in her endeavour to make everything as comfortable as possible for both nurses and patients, Matron Jaggard undermined her own strength. On 16 September 1915, she, herself became a patient, and died just over a week later. Matron Jaggard died (dysentery) 25 September 1915, age 44 years old.

Find the whole story with more images on cefrg.ca "Matron Jessie Brown Jaggard"

Edited 17 July , 2023 by ejwalshe

[Marilyne]

Thanks for posting this. I'm reading up a bit on the Canadian nurses, but Matron Jaggard is not (yet) part of my research focus, as she does not lie on the Western Front. 

But one day I'll find the time to make it to Lemnos, Malta, Salonika and to the Gallipoli beaches... 

M.

 

[ejwalshe]

Few NS under your radar, @Marilyne.   Good luck, will have to remain on my Bucket List of cemeteries to visit.

 

Edited 25 July , 2023 by ejwalshe