Florence
Lieutenant
United States Army
Nursing Corps
June 4 1886 - May 27 1919
United States Army
Nursing Corps
June 4 1886 - May 27 1919
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Florence Beatrice Graham was born in Goderich on June 4, 1886. She was the oldest of three daughters of salesman George and Annie Graham. Although she “spent her girlhood” in Goderich, little is known of her family life. Her mother, Annie, died in 1895 at the age of 32.
Graham studied nursing at Presbyterian Hospital. When her father died in September 1917, Graham enlisted in the U.S. Army Nursing Corps and went to France with the American Expeditionary Force.
Nurse Lieutenant Graham served with distinction at Army Base Hospital no. 2 in France. At war’s end, she was the head nurse Camp Hospital no. 4 at Chateau-Thierry. On May 25, 1919, Graham and three other nurses were touring in a Cadillac car. When their driver swerved to avoid a bicyclist, he lost control of the car and flipped it over. Nurse Ella Dalton of Toronto was killed instantly. Nurse Alice Hagadoorn died of a fractured skull within minutes. Graham and another nurse were pinned under the car until they were pulled free.
Graham suffered a broken collar bone, several cracked ribs but it was the punctured lung that proved fatal. Believing her injuries were minor, Graham tried to help the others. Yet, despite the best efforts of doctors from her own hospital, she died two days later. The Signal reported that she ‘kept up bravely to the end.’ As Graham’s father had died earlier in 1917, a sister who lived on East Street was notified of her death.
Graham studied nursing at Presbyterian Hospital. When her father died in September 1917, Graham enlisted in the U.S. Army Nursing Corps and went to France with the American Expeditionary Force.
Nurse Lieutenant Graham served with distinction at Army Base Hospital no. 2 in France. At war’s end, she was the head nurse Camp Hospital no. 4 at Chateau-Thierry. On May 25, 1919, Graham and three other nurses were touring in a Cadillac car. When their driver swerved to avoid a bicyclist, he lost control of the car and flipped it over. Nurse Ella Dalton of Toronto was killed instantly. Nurse Alice Hagadoorn died of a fractured skull within minutes. Graham and another nurse were pinned under the car until they were pulled free.
Graham suffered a broken collar bone, several cracked ribs but it was the punctured lung that proved fatal. Believing her injuries were minor, Graham tried to help the others. Yet, despite the best efforts of doctors from her own hospital, she died two days later. The Signal reported that she ‘kept up bravely to the end.’ As Graham’s father had died earlier in 1917, a sister who lived on East Street was notified of her death.
54th DMMF Donation - 15 May 2016
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Donation Location
Goderich Tourism Office
Goderich Ontario |