Nursing Sister Edna Mabel Auger

Survivor of WW1

Date of Death:

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General Information

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW1 Nursing Sister Canadian Army Medical Corps Army Canadian Army Medical Corps

Notes

On May 19, 1918, 15 German AEG bombers from Boghol 6 (Bomber Squadron 6) of the Imperial German Army Air Force [1]attacked a bridge over the River Canche in Étaples and both No. 1 and No. 7 Canadian Hospitals were hit. The nurses' quarters of No. 1 Canadian General sustained a direct hit, scattering debris and setting it on fire. Sixty-six Canadians were killed including three Canadian army nurses. Edna Auger was awarded the Red Cross Second Class, one of the highest honours given by that organization, for carrying 5 wounded patients out of the burning hospital, a supreme feat as she was only 5 ft 3 inches tall and less than 100 pounds. She was presented with the medal by King George V at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Feb 22, 1918. Edna Mabel Auger returned home to Canada after the war on the Northland in July 1919. She went on to supervise the building and equipping of the first hospital in Grande Prairie, Alberta, then returned to Medicine Hat in 1923 as the Supervisor of Nursing where she also taught. She never married but was an active member of both her community and her profession for the rest of her life. She was a member of the University of Alberta Senate for fifteen years. She died May 2, 1932 at the age of 50 and is buried with her father in Section B, Block 116G, Plot 2, Lot 3, Hillside Cemetery, Medicine Hat, Alberta

Version: 1 Last modified: 2025-11-24 21:03:05 by: Marc