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Red Cross Nurse Recruiting Poster
World War I, 1914-1918

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

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Red Cross Nurse Recruiting Poster
World War I, 1914-1918

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

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Wanda Jane MacLellan

This U. S. Red Cross Nurse's uniform belonged to Wanda Jane MacLellan. She was born to Tom MacLellan and Margaret Colville, and grew up in Caplan, Quebec. Her father owned a store and ran a lobster cannery in Caplan. As a young woman, Wanda traveled to the United States to find work and study. She worked as a bookkeeper in a shop while also taking night courses in bookkeeping.

When the war broke out in 1914 she felt a need to make a contribution and yearned to be in the Canadian Red Cross. She was unable to serve overseas with Canada as only qualified nurses were allowed to enlist in the Canadian Red Cross. This prior qualification was not required for service in the U. S. Red Cross so Wanda enlisted and was sent overseas. Wanda Jane MacLellan's bilingualism became a decided asset while serving in France and she helped write many letters for wounded French soldiers. She was eventually assigned to the postal service where her bookkeeping skills were employed. After the war she married Hugh Cameron Watson, a local blacksmith in New Richmond. Wanda Jane McLellan later volunteered for the Red Cross as a secretary of the New Richmond branch during the Second World War.

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Wanda Jane MacLellan
World War I, 1914-1918
Black Cape, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum
Gaspesian British Heritage Village

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Wanda Jane MacLellan's Red Cross Nurse Uniform
World War I, 1914-1918
Caplan, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

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Wanda Jane MacLellan's Photos & Certificates
World War I, 1914-1918
Caplan, Quebec, Canada

Credits:
Bay Chaleur Military Museum

40

A Veteran of Two Wars

Charles LeBlanc, son of Sylvestre LeBlanc, was born in New Richmond in December of 1896. He served as a private in the 3rd Canadian Engineers Battalion during the First World War. When war erupted again in 1939, he re-enlisted and served as a cook for the Canadian Home Guard at the 44th German POW Internment Camp in Grande Ligne, Quebec.