Ethel Dickenson
Encyclopedia
Ethel Gertrude Dickenson (July 6, 1880 – October 26, 1918) was an educator and nurse born in St. John's
, Newfoundland
, Canada
. She is noted as been one of the Remarkable Women of Newfoundland and Labrador for her tireless work and death in the care of patients during the outbreak of Spanish influenza at St. John's in 1918.
Dickenson educated at Methodist College
, St. John's and McDonald College, Guelph
, Ontario
, became a volunteer nurse during World War I
at the Wandsworth Hospital, London
and also the Ascot Hospital. She returned to St. John's for health reasons in 1918. The outbreak of Spanish influenza required that emergency services be set up at the King George the Fifth Institute where Dickenson had once again volunteered her nursing duties to care for the sick.
Dickenson was the only nurse who succumbed to the disease, she died October 26, 1918. A monument to Dickenson stands in Cavendish Square, an octagonal shaft with a Celtic cross
at its pinnacle, sculpted from grey Aberdeen
granite. The monument was unveiled by Lady and Governor Sir Charles Harris
on October 26, 1920. Inscriptions on two opposite sides read as follows
On the other two sides:
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She is noted as been one of the Remarkable Women of Newfoundland and Labrador for her tireless work and death in the care of patients during the outbreak of Spanish influenza at St. John's in 1918.
Dickenson educated at Methodist College
Methodist College
Methodist College may refer to:*Methodist University in North Carolina *Methodist College in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong*Sha Tin Methodist College in Sha Tin, Hong Kong*Methodist College Belfast*Southern Methodist University...
, St. John's and McDonald College, Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, became a volunteer nurse during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at the Wandsworth Hospital, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and also the Ascot Hospital. She returned to St. John's for health reasons in 1918. The outbreak of Spanish influenza required that emergency services be set up at the King George the Fifth Institute where Dickenson had once again volunteered her nursing duties to care for the sick.
Dickenson was the only nurse who succumbed to the disease, she died October 26, 1918. A monument to Dickenson stands in Cavendish Square, an octagonal shaft with a Celtic cross
Celtic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
at its pinnacle, sculpted from grey Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
granite. The monument was unveiled by Lady and Governor Sir Charles Harris
Charles Alexander Harris
Sir Charles Alexander Harris was a British colonial administrator, Governor of Newfoundland from 1917 to 1922.Harris graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1878...
on October 26, 1920. Inscriptions on two opposite sides read as follows
This shaft, surmounted by the world emblem of sacrifice, is set up by a grateful public in memory of Ethel Dickenson volunteer nurse who in the great epidemic of 1918 gave her life while tending patients at the King George the Fifth Institute, St. John's. In honour also of those who nursed with her in the imminent shadow of death.
On the other two sides:
Be Thou Faithful Unto Death and I Will Give Thee A Crown of Life.