Nursing Sister Edith Campbell R.R.C., M.M., M.I.D.
Matron Edith Campbell awarded the Military Medal for actions during an air raid. Also twice Mentioned in Despatches (June 1915 and December 1917). Edith Campbell of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, one of only eight Canadian Nursing Sisters awarded the Military Medal in the Great War. Edith’s nephew James Campbell Clouston saved thousands of lives at Dunkirk in 1940, acting as pier master. Commander Clouston has never received a medal for his gallantry.
Edith’s grandfather Francis Wayland Campbell dean of the Medical Faculty of Bishop’s College. In addition, her father and uncle both physicians. In 1907 she graduated from the school of nursing at New York’s Presbyterian Hospital and subsequently worked in Manhattan and Montreal. Edith born 12 December 1871 in Montreal to Alexander James (1812-1894) and Isabella Stewart (1833-1889) Campbell. Older brothers Stewart (1853-1902), Robert Douglas (1861-1921), older sister Marianne Jane (1866-1954), and finally younger sister Evelyn Stewart (Clouston) Campbell (1873-1952).
Attestation of Nursing Sister Edith Campbell
Next of kin sister Mrs E S Clouston, Edith would continue to send $35 of her monthly pay to her sister during the war. Attested 24 September 1914 at 42 years of age in Quebec and stood 5′ 7″ tall, 130 pounds with fair complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. Perfect vision, excellent teeth, no fillings, extractions nor crowns – Dental Officer Captain E J Kelly, CAMC.
Nursing Sister Edith Campbell arrived in the United Kingdom on 24 October 1914, aboard HMT FRANCONIA.
The British Journal of Nursing, published October 24, 1914, page 325: “The following contingent of nurses have arrived in England from Canada by HMT Franconia for service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and are at present the guests of St Thomas’ Hospital.” NURSING SISTERS NO 1 GENERAL HOSPITAL, Sister Edith Campbell.
Duchess of Connaught, Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Taplow
Nursing Sister Edith Campbell initially assisted in the establishment of the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital, a field hospital in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.
Lt Col Charles Wilson Farran Gorrell
On 27 January 1915 LCol Gorrell initially appointed to command the Duchess of Connaught’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow, west of London. Gorrell later promoted lieutenant-colonel on 2 February 1915, and named temporary colonel on 8 August 1916. At the hospital, a non-commissioned officer convicted in 1916 of accepting bribes from tradesmen to favour their wares over those of competitors. Gorrell under no suspicion himself, but he took his responsibility as commanding officer to be such that criticism should involve him.
On 25 January 1917, Lt Col Gorrell found dead at a house in the Maida Vale district of London. A druggist stated at the coroner’s inquest that he had sold the doctor some hydrocyanic or prussic acid a short time before. The verdict suicide due to temporary insanity, cause of death, prussic acid poisoning.
1914 Star
Campbell served in No 7 Stationary Hospital Imperial Forces in France, 7 November 1914. Edith Campbell becomes one of very few Canadians later awarded with the 1914 Star, having been overseas before 1 January 1915. She must have been in Belgium or France between 5 August and 22 November 1914 in order to merit the award, though her service record does not reveal such.
Edith one of 160 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital members who served with the British Expeditionary Force beginning 6 November 1914 and awarded the 1914 Star. A few Canadians attached to British Units also received the medal, including Lt Col John McCrae.
To be Matron
Nursing Sister Edith Campbell to be Matron, 10 February 1915. Mentioned in Despatches ‘A’ List, date of citation 22 June 1915, London Gazette, 17 July 1915, p.150.
Royal Red Cross
Matron Edith Campbell MM Royal Red Cross date of citation 23 June 1915, London Gazette, 17 July, 1915, p.151. Awarded the Royal Red Cross, London Gazette No 29202, 22 June 1915. Matron Campbell posted to Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Buxton later on 19 October 1916.
Matron Campbell posted to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 11 February 1917. Granted 14 days leave, 22 October 1917.
Nursing Sister Edith Campbell Mentioned in Despatches ‘A’ List, date of citation of 28 December 1917, posted later in London Gazette 26 January 1919, p 2499, awarded the 1914 Star in accordance with Army Order 350 of 1917.
Military Medal Action
Late on the night of 31 May 1918 and air raid over the Etaples area completely wrecked the St John Ambulance Brigade Hospital and also caused heavy damage to No 1 Canadian General Hospital. Bombs hit three of the femur wards, killing one patient and wounding many others.
This raid was much harder to bear than the others, with much greater strain on the nursing sisters and officers on duty.
Matron Edith Campbell
The conspicuous bravery of the Matron, as well as three of her staff, Nursing Sisters Lenora Harrington, Lottie Urquhart and Janet Mary Williamson, brought each the award of the Military Medal. NS Williamson of Grenville, Quebec displayed exceptional coolness in a badly damaged ward, sustaining the patients and ensuring their evacuation. In addition, only four other Military Medals earned by Canadian Nursing Sisters in the Great War.
Matron Edith Campbell granted 14 days leave, 16 June 1918. Edith returned from leave, but admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Home, Etretat on 13 July 1918. Following a prolonged rest, later discharged from hospital on 3 September 1918.
Matron Campbell attached for temporary duty to No 9 Canadian General Hospital, 14 September 1918.
Military Medal
Date of citation, 24 September 1918, London Gazette, Canadian Gazette 9 November 1918, p. 1607.
For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. Regardless of personal danger she attended to the wounded sisters and by her personal example inspired the sisters under her charge.
Awarded the Military Medal, London Gazette No 30917, 24 September 1918.
Campbell awarded the Military Medal, London Gazette No 30917, 24 September 1918.
Matron Edith Campbell ceases to be attached to No 9 CGH on 3 October 1918, and later attached for temporary duty to No 3 Canadian General Hospital, 5 October 1918.
Visit to the Ruins of Ypres
Matron Edith Campbell granted 7 days leave, Boulogne on 25 January 1919, and later rejoined unit from leave, 9 February 1919. During this period, Edith likely joined the contingent of CAMC personnel visiting the ruins of Ypres. Afterwards, Edith posted to CAMC Casualty Company on 25 February 1919.
Matron Edith Campbell MM sailed to Canada per SS OLYMPIC 14 April 1919, and later demobilized on 23 April 1919 in Ottawa. Following the Great War, Edith superintendent of the Toronto Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses on 281 Sherborne Street.
Edith Campbell retired in 1934 and died in 1951. Later buried at Cimetiere Mont-Royal, Outremont, Quebec, Section F 1263. The funeral stone of a marble type that can be restored.
Edith Campbell’s medals and also a number of her personal items held by the Canadian War Museum.
Evelyn Stewart Clouston
Edith’s sister Evelyn living at 17 Weirdale Park in Westmount following the war. Evelyn Stewart Clouston mother of Lieutenant John Douglas Clouston and Commander James Campbell Clouston, who died while serving with the Royal Navy on 2 or 3 June 1940.
Lieutenant John Douglas Clouston
Lt John Douglas Clouston a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police held a commission in the Canadian Grenadier Guards which he later resigned to join the RCNVR at the outbreak of the Second World War. Lt Clouston served on the corvettes HMCS WETASKIWIN and HMS LOOSESTRIFE. He lost his life during a heavy storm on 14 March 1942 aboard the latter ship.
James Campbell Clouston – Pier master at Dunkirk
James Campbell Clouston, naval officer (born 31 August 1900 in Pointe-Claire, Québec; died 2 or 3 June 1940 at sea, in the English Channel near Gravelines, France). Born and raised in Montréal, Campbell Clouston joined the British Royal Navy in 1918 and later served on ships in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
During the Second World War, Clouston acted as pier master during the Allied evacuation at Dunkirk, overseeing the evacuation of nearly 200,000 servicemen between 27 May and 2 June 1940. He died at sea after his boat sunk by German aircraft, during the battle, 3 June 1940. His body later recovered by the Germans and buried in Becklingen War Cemetery. Finally, in September 2017, a commemorative plaque dedicated to him in Montréal.
Dunkirk (2017 film)
“Commander Clouston was an essential character in the Dunkirk evacuation, but because he died before the operation ended, his role is poorly documented,” says Jeffrey Street, an Ottawa-based war historian writing a book about Clouston.
(Clouston) has an incredible story we could not do justice to in the film. I am hopeful it will inspire people who are interested to look into the stories of the real people who were actually there.
Director Christopher Nolan
Selwyn House
James Campbell Clouston, born in Pointe-Claire, attended Selwyn House sometime shortly after the school’s founding in 1908. A large group of dignitaries, military personnel and community members gathered beside the Lachine Canada later on 21 September 2017 to honour the Selwyn House Old Boy – one of Canada’s greatest, and least known, war heroes. Of course, James also the nephew of Matron Edith Campbell R.R.C., M.M., M.I.D.
Campbell Clouston’s grandson Milo came all the way from Sydney, Australia to also take part in the dedication.
Actor Christopher Plummer, a cousin of the Cloustons, also sent along a written message later read to the crowd.
Christopher Plummer
Matron Edith Campbell MM also the great-aunt of actor Christopher Plummer. Finally, Edith’s older sister Mary Ann Campbell happened to marry Arthur Abbott, son of Canadian Prime Minister John J C Abbott.
Daisy Campbell features often in the correspondence of her friend, Elsie (Mrs. R.W.) Reford. They traversed the Gaspé Peninsula together on horseback in 1910. Elsie Reford was the volunteer president of the VON in the 1930s and 1940s.
Alexander Reford