Helen Cargill
| Dame Helen Cargill DBE RRC | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Helen Wilson Cargill |
| Born | 1 October 1896 |
| Died | 4 December 1969 (aged 73) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1923–1952 |
| Rank | Air Commandant |
| Unit | Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service |
| Battles/wars | World War Two |
| Awards |
Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (1941) Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (1945) Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1951) |
Air Commandant Dame Helen Wilson Cargill, DBE, RRC (1 October 1896 – 4 December 1969) was a British nurse and Royal Air force officer. From 1948 to 1952, she was Matron-in-Chief of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.[1]
Early life and education
Cargill was born on 1 October 1896. She was educated at St Bride's School, Edinburgh. From 1919 to 1923, she trained as a nurse at St George's Hospital, a teaching hospital in London.[1]
Military career
In June 1923, Cargill joined the newly re-named Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.[2] She was promoted to sister on 1 July 1926,[3] and to senior sister on 1 February 1939.[4] During the interwar period, she served in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East.[2]
Cargill saw active service during World War Two.[2] She was an acting matron as of June 1941.[5] From 1942 to 1944, she served in the UK and in Aden.[2] Following the Normandy Landings, she was Matron of the RAF Hospital in Normandy, France.[2] From September 1944 to May 1945, the end of the war in Europe, she was Matron of a hospital in Brussels, Belgium.[2]
Cargill returned to the United Kingdom after the end of the war and spent the rest of her military career as Matron of the RAF Hospital in Matlock, Derbyshire.[2] This was a psychiatric hospital that specialised in the treatment of former prisoners of war.[2] On 16 July 1948, she was appointed the Matron-in-Chief (IE head) of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.[1][6] On 1 February 1949, when the women's forces were integrated into the British Armed Forces, she was granted the rank of air commandant.[7] On 12 May 1952, she retired from the military due to "medical unfitness for air force service".[1][2][8]
Honours
In the 1941 King's Birthday Honours, Cargill was appointed an Associate Member of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC).[5] In the 1945 King's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC).[9] In June 1949, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ).[10] In the 1951 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).[11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "CARGILL, Air Commandant Dame Helen Wilson". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. April 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Private Papers of Air Commandant Dame Helen W Cargill". iwm.org.uk. Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33184. pp. 4802–4803. 20 July 1926. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34596. p. 868. 7 February 1939. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35204. p. 3752. 27 June 1941. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ "New Matron-In-Chief" (pdf). The British Journal of Nursing. July 1948. p. 81. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39043. p. 5161. 17 October 1950. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39539. p. 2578. 9 May 1952. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ "W.R.A.F. Director To Be A.D.C. To The King". The Times (51344). 31 March 1949. p. 4.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 38650. p. 3132. 24 June 1949. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 39104. p. 9. 29 December 1950. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dame Gladys Taylor |
Matron-in-Chief Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service 1948 to 1952 |
Succeeded by Dame Roberta Whyte |