Lieutenant Irene Robertson

Lieutenant (Army).

Royal Red Cross 2nd Class

The Hamilton Military Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, includes a display of Nursing Sister Robertson's dress uniform. Her name on the showcase is given as "Helen Irene Robertson" which is different than Irene as shown on her military attestation, although "Irene" is used in part of the showcase exhibit label. Photos were taken of the display in 2009. The following is a transcription of the caption on the display case:

Dress uniform of Helen Robertson. Lieutenant (Nursing Sister) Canadian Medical Corps World War I.

Helen Irene Robertson 1883 - 1949

Born in Drayton Ontario, Nursing Sister Irene Robertson joined the No. 4 University of Toronto unit in 1914 as an operating room nurse. She served in England, France, Malta and Greece. She was mentioned twice in letters to King George V for her operating room work. Robertson won the Royal Red Cross medal for distinguished service. Following the War, Irene returned to Canada and worked at the Christie Street Hospital in Toronto.

-------------

Christie Street Hospital in Toronto was a centre for wounded war veterans after the war. This may have been part of the reason NS Robertson might have chosen to work at that hospital.

The uniform on display at the Hamilton Military Museum is dark blue with fitted jacket and separate long skirt, with a double row of brass buttons, belt with insignia, and a red lined cape.

Her Royal Red Cross appeared in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 09 April 1919, 4680:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31281/supplement/4680/data.pdf

A photo of her grave marker appears at this link:
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Esther-Madeleine-Robertson/2602327#/

Drayton Cemetery is located at 94-138 Wellington St. N., Mapleton, Wellington, Ontario. There are 3 small stone markers flat to the ground, one for Helen Irene Robertson, 1883-1949, Esther Madeleine Robertson, 1893 - 1970 and Alice Maud Robertson, 1887-1966.

Researched by M. I. Pirie. Photos taken of Nursing Sister Robertson's uniform will be added to this entry after the upcoming site redesign in 2017.

Also known as "Helen Irene Robertson".