Canada. A British War Medal to Belletta Paulson, Chicago Unit Nursing Staff, Base Hospital No.12 (United States Army), No.18 General Hospital at Etaples; (B. PAULSON.). Naming is officially impressed. Replacement ribbon, dark patina, near extremely fine.
Footnote: Belletta Paulson graduated from the Illinois Training School for Nurses in 1914. After the United States joined the First World War in April 1917, nurses were recruited to serve overseas. It was noted in the Clark County Press of Neillsville, Wisconsin in May 1917, that "Miss Belletta Paulson, a sister of Peter Paulson of this city, was one of 200 doctors and nurses who left Chicago last Wednesday night in a body for the battlefields of France". Paulson was one of sixty-three nurses under Matron Daisy B. Urch from the Chicago Unit Nursing Staff, which would compose what would be the sixth and last Nursing Unit to arrive for service in France, the nurses having been trained at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, and at the Evanston Hospital, affiliated with Northwestern University. The nurses were reduced to sixty-one in number, as two were killed while on board ship during a gunfire practice, about twenty-four hours after leaving New York: Miss Edith Ayres and Miss Helen B. Wood. A third nurse, Miss Emma Matson was injured. The accident that resulted in the death of the two nurses was due to a defective shell. A group of twenty-five nurses were interested spectators at the gunfire practice, when the shell exploded, with fragments dropping into the midst of the group. The ship returned to New York and remained there for twenty-four hours for the funeral ceremonies. During the passage overseas, the ship was attacked by two submarines, but fortunately was not hit, strongly defended by a British destroyer. Both at the time of the accident and also during the attack by the submarines, the nurses were credited with displaying "admirable discipline". In addition to Belletta Paulson, the following nurses composed the Unit: Miss Daisy B. Urch (Matron); Misses Bertha Alexander, Emma Applegrin, Florence Edna Baker, Clara Beihler, Daisy Burcham, Ada L. Crawford, Isabelle Caruthers, Harriet Chapman, Anna M. Collins, Elizabeth Cleveland, Rebecca Cohen, Sarah M. Deuel, Myrtle Dean, Elizabeth Greenwood, Bessie Gambee, Louise Hostman, Frances Hampton, Florence Hinton, Laura Huckleberry, Clara Hoffman, Aileen Jensen, Stella Maude Judy, Albina M. E. Jacques, Margaret B. Jones, Carrie G. Krost, Ernestine Kendel, Freda W. Larson, Elizabeth C. Lyon, Emily R. Lyon, May Morrisey, Helen McDonald, Lena Miller, Katherine Mahony, Edith Maude Murray, Edith McMillin, Bess L. Prouty, Frances M. Poole, Sarah E. Purcum, Lucile Pepoon, Helen I. Pfaff, Margaret M. Powers, Ella Pawlisch, Alice M. Radcliffe, Minnie Rettke, Clara D. Ruden, Theda Richter, Ruth Spencer, Edna Silcox, Olive B. Sweet, Nellie M. Stahl, Helena Sparks, Budy Streitmatter, Ellen Thomsen, Grace Umberger, Annis Van Alstine, Bessie Van Ark, Julia Wilson, Pearl W. Thompson and Miss Mary A. Lindsley, Dietitian. Upon arrival in England and before leaving for active service, the nurses spent a week in London, making the most of their opportunities and visiting many places of interest. The unit was entertained by Mrs. Page, wife of the American Ambassador, and spent a pleasant afternoon at the New Zealand Base Hospital at Walton-on-Thames.
The Archdeacon of London arranged to have special seats reserved for members of the unit at the Sunday morning service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. That afternoon, Sir Thomas Lipton, sent carriages to take them to New Southgate, where they were entertained at tea. During 1917, six American units arrived in France for duty with the British Expeditionary Force. They were fully staffed with Officers, Nursing Sisters, N.C.O.’s and men of the American Medical Services. The first unit to arrive on May 25th was the Lakeside Hospital (Base Hospital No. 4) which took over No. 9 General Hospital at Rouen. The nursing staff consisted of sixty-four, along with four civilian secretaries. Shortly after, five more units arrived and took over British Hospitals: the second unit on May 30th was the 5th Harvard Unit (Base Hospital No. 5) which took over No.11 General Hospital at Camiers, the nursing staff consisting of sixty-four, along with four civilian secretaries); the third unit on May 31st was the Presbyterian Unit (Base Hospital No.2) which took over No.1 General Hospital at Etretat, the nursing staff consisting of sixty-five, along with six civilian secretaries; the fourth unit on June 10th was the Philadelphia Unit (Base Hospital No.10) which took over No.16 General Hospital at Le Treport, the nursing staff consisting of sixty-four, along with four civilians: one dietitian and three secretaries; the fifth unit also on June 10th was the St. Louis Unit (Base Hospital No.21) which took over No.12 General Hospital at Rouen, the nursing staff consisting of sixty-seven, along with one civilian dietitian; followed by the sixth unit on June 11th, the aforementioned Chicago Unit (Base Hospital No.12) which took over No.18 General Hospital at Etaples, the nursing staff composed of sixty-one, including Belletta Paulson (having previously lost the other three members due to the gunfire accident while aboard ship), along with two dietitians and two secretaries. Arrangements were made for each of these units to be met and conducted to the Hospital they were taking over. The British Matron and a few of the Nursing Staff (Assistant Matron, Home Sister, Night Sister, etc.) remained for a certain length of time to assist the American Staff in becoming acquainted with the ways of British Hospitals. A certain number of Voluntary Aid Detachment members also remained, until the American staffs were up to full strength. Every possible arrangement was made to make the whole personnel welcome and feel at home as soon as possible. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, the hospitals were closed. No.18 General Hospital (Chicago Unit) ceased to take admissions effective January 17, 1919, the Nursing Staff proceeding to Coblenz on February 7th, with the remainder proceeding to Vannes on February 16th and 17th, including Belletta Paulson.