Major Helen Livingstone Shanks

Helen Livingstone Shanks was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 14 April 1904, the daughter of Walter D. Shanks and Grace Cameron Shanks. She attended Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's schools and studied Household Science at Macdonald College before training as a registered nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. She worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital from 1926 until 1940 and at the Montreal Neurological Institute from 1937 until 1940 until she joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps as a Nursing Sister in January 1940 and served with No. 1 Neurological Hospital in Canada and the United Kingdom. After leaving the service on compassionate grounds in August 1941, she re-enlisted on 9 March 1942 and served at Rideau Military Hospital. She advanced through Assistant Matron, Matron and Principal Matron appointments, was posted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in 1944, and later served with No. 9 Canadian General Hospital overseas. Promoted to Major in August 1944, she completed 1,719 days of qualifying service, including 730 days overseas. She was appointed a Member of the Royal Red Cross, First Class, and received the France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-1945. After the war she married Colonel Dr. Robert J. Nodwell of Vancouver in Montreal on 15 August 1945 and retired from nursing. She died at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto on 24 December 1965 and was buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal.

1904-04-14 — Born at Huntingdon, Quebec.
1922 — Attended Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's schools; completed junior matriculation at age 17.
1922-1923 — Studied Household Science at Macdonald College.
1923-1926 — Trained as a registered nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
1926-1940 — Worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital; from 1937 to 1940 worked at the Montreal Neurological Institute as a general duty nurse.
1940-01-04 — Enlisted in the Canadian Field Force as a Nursing Sister.
1940-06-27 — Appointed to commissioned rank as a Nursing Sister.
1940-07-02 — Reported to No. 1 Neurological Hospital and began unit duties; attached to 23rd Field Ambulance for rations during initial organization.
1940-08-27 to 1941-05-31 — First period of qualifying overseas service with No. 1 Neurological Hospital.
1940-09-17 and 1940-09-21 — Reported sick with dental cavities and was referred for dental treatment.
1941-05-27 to 1941-05-31 — Transferred administratively through Canadian Base Depot while attached to No. 1 Neurological Hospital for rations and quarters.
1941-06-17 — Returned to Canada from overseas service.
1941-08-01 — Struck off strength after being permitted to retire on compassionate grounds.
1942-03-09 — Re-entered active service as a Nursing Sister and was posted to Rideau Military Hospital.
1942-12-01 — Appointed Assistant Matron.
1943-03-25 — Appointed Acting Matron/Acting Captain.
1944-01-08 to 1944-01-19 — Admitted to Rideau Military Hospital with pharyngo-laryngo-tracheobronchitis; discharged in good condition with four days excused duty.
1944-02-25 — Transferred from Rideau Military Hospital to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital.
1944-05-04 to 1945-07-30 — Second period of qualifying overseas service.
1944-08-21 — Promoted to Major (Principal Matron).
1945-01-09 — Recorded as appointed a Member of the Royal Red Cross, First Class.
1945-07-24 — Certified previous service while serving with No. 9 Canadian General Hospital.
1945-07-25 to 1945-07-30 — Passed through No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot and was struck off strength Canadian Army overseas.
1945-09-25 — Struck off strength to No. 11 District Depot pending release.
1945-10-06 to 1945-10-12 — Admitted to Vancouver Military Hospital for cystic cervicitis; underwent cervical biopsy/excision. Pathology showed chronic cervicitis, glandular hyperplasia and retention cysts with no malignancy.
1945-10-15 — Discharge counsellor recorded her plan to retire from nursing and establish a home with her Army medical officer husband.
1945-10-16 — Struck off strength at Vancouver on general demobilization and permitted to resign her commission.
1946-02-19 — War-service gratuity statement calculated 1,719 days qualifying service, 730 days overseas service and $873.88 payable.
1965-12-24 — Died at Sunnybrook Hospital.
1965-12-27 — Funeral service held; buried at Mount Royal Cemetery.