Royal Canadian Legion Branch 94
262 Kinchant St V2J 2R2 Quesnel, BC, Canada

Few nurses who served in the Second World War are still alive today. On Sunday, December 8th, one of the last, Madeline Shavalier, turns 105 years old. In an ef...fort to help her celebrate this incredible milestone, I ask that you share your birthday wishes below. I will pass them along, and together we can ensure that this birthday is a memorable one for Maddy! Maddy is the only woman I’ve met who has survived a sinking ship. In 1943, Maddy and her colleagues were on their way to Italy, when their ship was attacked by Germans and they were forced to evacuate. Once in the lifeboats, all they could do was wait. It was pitch dark and you never heard such a quiet group of nurses in your life. We were too scared to speak. It was a good two hours and then we saw a light. And as the light got brighter we saw it was a ship. And we were nervous. We thought, is it our ship or is it the enemy? As luck would have it, it was an American ship. The sailors dropped down scramble nets, and the nurses had to climb several feet to get to the ship’s deck. Two women fell off the ropes and into the Mediterranean. In total, 1,675 nurses and soldiers were rescued, and this operation became the world’s largest rescue at sea. Maddy was stationed in Caserta and Perugia, areas in Italy that had a high prominence of mosquitos, which posed the threat of malaria. Despite the risks, Maddy enjoyed seeing the soldier’s faces light up when they found out she was Canadian, as many of them hadn’t seen a Canadian woman in months, if not years. Maddy was responsible for treating a German patient once: we treated him the same as we treated our own fellas. Other patients threatened to end his life so the nurses had to keep a close eye on him. Maddy’s stories illustrate the close proximity of nurses to the battlefield. Women who volunteered for the war did so knowing that their safety may be jeopardized. Of the 4,480 Canadian Nursing Sisters, 12 lost their lives, 2 were taken prisoner of war, and others faced injury or illness. According to Maddy, There were hardships but they were valuable years. I learned a lot about life. Maddy, your selflessness is admirable, and our nation is lucky to have you. Thank you for your service, and I wish you a very Happy Birthday.

Here's a young former Royal Canadian Navy Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, who served on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Annapolis, Provider and Regina.

https://www.atlasobscura.com//what-is-moose-milk-canadian-

What’s for lunch at the Quesnel Legion this Friday, you might ask? How about grilled pork chops. Soup, salad and dessert included for $15.95!

A new sculpture honors military working dogs.

99-year-old Bunny McIntyre was one of the first women to join the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service in the 1950’s. She has had a tough year, with no family c...lose by. Let's brighten her holidays and thank her for her valued service. You can send her some holiday spirit at: Bunny McIntyre 734 Waverly Road Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2X 2G4 They sacrificed so much to give us a better tomorrow. This #NationalWriteALetterDay, why not honour and thank our veterans by sending them best wishes for the holidays? Maritime Forces Pacific / Forces maritimes du Pacifique Maritime Forces Atlantic - Forces Maritimes de l'Atlantique Canadian Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Canada