www.ns.legion.ca 11 Canada’s Angels of Mercy in WWI To the Canadian soldiers who fought in the First World War, they were known as Angels of Mercy. These “angels” were the scores of Canadian nurses who served overseas in military hospitals and dressing stations, often dangerously close to the front lines. In all, 3000 women – 200 of them from Nova Scotia – served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the four year conflict. Most of them were single with an average age of 24 and, sadly, not all of those who went overseas returned home. By the time the war was over, 46 Canadian nurses had made the ultimate sacrifice for their King and country. During the conflict, the Angels of Mercy were to be found at Canada’s 30 military hospitals and clearing stations at the major battlefields in Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Their official titles were nursing sisters – a nod to the fact many of the earliest volunteers were from religious orders – and they held the rank of lieutenant. Each woman wore a nun-like white head covering and a white apron over a distinctive blue dress.
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