Nursing Sister Matilda Ethel Green born 14 August 1886 in Listowel, Ontario, and later graduated at Medicine Hat General Hospital, Alberta.
Next of kin: Harold E. Green, brother, Harmsworth, Manitoba. Mother Mrs S S Green, father Mr James Green of Girdwood Farm, Manitoba.
Green enlisted 23 April 1917 in Calgary, Alberta, at this time, Matilda stood 5’5″ tall, 130 pounds, with good physical development. Matilda later arrived in Montreal on 30 April 1917, and embarked Canada on 20 May 1917, arriving in England on 30 May 1917.
![Ontario Military Hospital ward, [ca. 1916-1917] Ontario Military Hospital photographs, F 4386, Archives of Ontario, I0007454](https://i0.wp.com/cefrg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/I0007454.jpg?resize=468%2C368&ssl=1)
T.o.S. (Taken-on-Strength) on 10 June 1917 by the CAMC (Canadian Army Medical Corps), and later posted to Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington. Then, posted to No.16 Canadian General Hospital, Orpington, 8 October 1917.
No.16 Canadian General Hospital
No.16 Canadian General Hospital opened at Orpington in Kent as Ontario Military Hospital in February 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel David William McPherson, and later redesignated as No.16 Canadian General (Ontario Military) Hospital on 10 September 1917. Finally, closed 20 September 1919.
Nursing Sister Matilda Ethel Green S.o.S. (Struck-off-strength) on proceeding overseas, 7 June 1918, and later granted leave from 10 August to 27 August 1918.
Just prior to returning from leave, Green T.o.S. by the 7th Canadian General Hospital, 25 August 1918.
7th Canadian General Hospital (Queens University)
Organized at Kingston in March 1915 as No.5 Canadian Stationary Hospital and firstly commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Etherington. Left Montreal 6 May 1915 aboard METAGAMA, and later arrived in England 15 May 1915 with a strength of 19 officers, 47 nursing sisters, 86 other ranks.
St Martin’s Plain, Shorncliffe, June – August 1915, then arrived at Alexandria 12 August 1915. Cairo, August 1915 – April 1916, then redesignated as No.7 Canadian General Hospital on 26 January 1916. Arrived in France 21 April 1916, then at Le Tréport, April – October 1916, and Etaples, October 1916 – May 1919. Finally, closed 31 May 1919.
Influenza
Suddenly on 4 October 1918, Green admitted to hospital and later diagnosed with lobar pneumonia. Then, listed as dangerously ill, 7 October 1918.
Matilda Ethel Green, Canadian Army Medical Corps, died of pneumonia, following an attack of Influenza, at Villa Tino Hospital (No.24 General Hospital) 9 October 1918 – total service at the front amounted to 45 days.
Matilda commemorated on Page 419 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
In addition, the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund made its 129th donation of a defibrillator to It Takes A Village on 4 August 2021, in the memory of Listowel-born nursing sister Matilda Ethel Green.
Etaples Military Cemetery
During the Great War, the area around the small fishing port of Etaples the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. At first, remote from attack, except from aircraft. Accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields.
The railways, and the hospital, key targets during the Final German Offensive in 1918. By the end of the Great War, thousands of casualties buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.
Canadian Army Medical Corps
Finally, a total of 3,141 Nursing Sisters served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps – 2,504 served overseas in England, France and the Eastern Mediterranean at Gallipoli, Alexandria and Salonika. Furthermore, by the end of the Great War, 54 Nursing Sisters had given their lives, dying from enemy attacks including the bombing of hospitals, sinking of hospital ships, or from disease.