Canada. A Memorial Cross Pair to Nursing Sister Elizabeth Lillie O'Kelly, RCAF

A Memorial Cross Pair to Nursing Sister Elizabeth Lillie O'Kelly (nee Cavers), RCAF, wife of Flight Lieutenant (later Wing Commander) Hubert Gerard O'Kelly CD, RCAF; War Medal 1939-1945; and Memorial Cross (N.S E.L. O'KELLY C39063). Naming is impressed on the MC and suspended from a silver bow-tied ribbon with pinback, the WM is un-named as issued. Original ribbon on the WM, dark patina on both awards, extremely fine. Accompanied by an original Oil Painting of O'Kelly in her Nursing Uniform (oil on canvas, 101 mm (w) x 150 mm (h)), along with copies of her Service Award Computer Card, Attestation Paper, Service Records, RCAF File Photograph and RCAF Identification Card. Also included are copies of her husband, C.24840 (1618) Wing Commander Hubert Gerard O'Kelly's Service Award Computer Card, Attestation Papers, Service Records, Certificates of Service and Application for the Canadian Forces' Decoration.

Footnote: Elizabeth Lillie Cavers was born on November 7, 1918 in Ormstown, Quebec, the daughter of George Walter Cavers and Eva Gertrude Cavers (nee Scott). In her developing years, she was educated at Tathurst Public School (1925-1932) and Ormstown High School (1932-1936). After high school, she attended Montreal General Hospital, taking a three year training course from February 1938 to February 1941, graduating as a Registered Nurse. After graduating, she attended Alexandra Hospital from March 1 to May 1941, where she took a Post Graduate Course in Communicable Diseases. Cavers was employed on the General Duty Staff at the Western Division, Montreal General Hospital from May 1941 to June 1942. She left MGH for a Special Duty Nursing assignment, looking after Private Patients beginning in June 1942 until her enlistment in the RCAF on December 3, 1943. She was a member of the Montreal General Hospital Nurses Association and the Montreal General Hospital Alumnae Association. Cavers spoke and wrote both English and French and was active in tennis, softball, bowling, swimming, with reading and knitting being her hobbies of choice. She filled out application to join the Royal Canadian Air Force on September 2, 1943 and had her medical on September 20th. Elizabeth Lillie Cavers was a resident of Montreal when she enlisted with the RCAF in Montreal, Quebec, on December 3, 1943, appointed to The Reserve, Special Section, Non-Flying List, Nursing Sister Branch, at the age of 25, naming her next-of-kin as her mother, Eva Gertrude Cavers of Ormstown, stating that she was Single, that her religion was United Church and that she was a Registered Nurse. She was posted to No. 3 Training Command in Montreal, then transferred to RCAF Rockcliffe in Ottawa, where she was hospitalized "sick" for two weeks, from May 31 to June 13, 1944. While in hospital, she was promoted to Temporary Nursing Sister on June 3rd. Two days after her discharge from hospital, she was transferred and posted to RCAF Western Command in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 15th, then posted to No. 3 Repair Depot in Vancouver on June 20th. She returned to No. 3 Training Command in Montreal on September 15, 1944. Her health was a major concern, as she was admitted to the Montreal Neurological Institute upon arrival in Montreal. She was discharged from MNI on October 2nd and subsequently admitted the following day to Royal Victoria Hospital, where she would be treated for the next four weeks, before being discharged on October 30th. She was placed on "sick leave" from November 1 to 15, 1944, then again from January 9 to January 22, 1945. In an interview conducted by the Department of Pensions and National Health in Ottawa, on February 8, 1945, it was noted that Cavers was a "Nursing sister with hospital and private patient experience. Plans to go into (the) public health field and has tentative arrangements for (a) course in October next. Pleasing personality, neat appearance", that she desired X-Ray treatments and that she "Anticipates considerable post-retirement treatment." She was still listed as Single when she was struck off strength on February 10, 1945 by reason of retirement on her medical records, credited with having served one year and two months in the RCAF. Cavers married Hubert Gerard O'Kelly on November 17, 1945 in Ottawa, Ontario, the couple later having two children, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann O'Kelly and a son, John Brian O'Kelly. C.39063 Nursing Sister Elizabeth Lillie O'Kelly (nee Cavers), Royal Canadian Air Force died at St. Anne's Hospital in Montreal, on July 26, 1949, her death attributed to her RCAF service, the reasons of which are not revealed in her service records. Her widowed husband, Flight Lieutenant (later Wing Commander) Hubert Gerard O'Kelly, RCAF Rockcliffe in Ottawa, later of Vancouver, British Columbia received her Memorial Bar. Her mother, Mrs. George Walter Cavers of Ormstown, Quebec received a letter of condolence from Wing Commander W.R. Gunn, RCAF Casualties Officer, dated January 14, 1950, informing her that she would be receiving a Memorial Cross in her daughter's honour. The Memorial Cross was forwarded to her on March 11th. Her husband, Hubert Gerard Theodore John Francis Egan O'Kelly was born on October 28, 1909 in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Hubert Peter O'Kelly and Rose O'Kelly. His father was a native of Sligo, Ireland, his mother was a native of Belfast, Ireland. The family immigrated to Canada, where his father was employed as an Accountant and he had two sisters, Eleanor and Maureen.

 

His early education was at St. Mary's School in Winnipeg, Manitoba (September 5, 1916 - September 1, 1919), with the young O'Kelly suffering a bout of Influenza in 1918. The family moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he attended St. Helena Separate School for three years (September 15, 1919 - September 1, 1922), then Holy Rosary Separate School for four years (September 3, 1922 - July 1, 1925) for Junior Matriculation. He was active in volleyball, along with rifle and revolver shooting, with locks and locksmithing being his hobbies of choice. He spoke and wrote English, but his French was "very limited". After leaving high school, he was employed for a little over one year as an Insurance Clerk with Canadian Fire Underwriters (September 1925 - October 1926). He was briefly employed with the T. Eaton Company in Toronto as a Parceller (December 1926 - January 1927), before taking a job as an Office Clerk with Might Directories Limited in February 1927 until his enlistment in the RCAF on May 24, 1928, and attended night school at Gregg School in "Secretarial" (January 4 to May 1, 1927). Hubert Gerard O'Kelly signed his Permanent Force of Canada Attestation Paper, enlisting for three years' service with the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Aircraftman 2nd Class (7618), on May 24, 1928 at Camp Borden, at the age of 18, stating that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic, desiring to be an Electrician in RCAF and graded as a Labourer. He attended a Carpenter Rigger's Course at Camp Borden from June 1 to August 1, 1928, was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class on July 1, 1929, then to Leading Aircraftman on April 1, 1930. He attended an Advance Rigger's Course at Camp Borden from November 1, 1930 to April 1, 1931 and while there, was named Corporal on January 1, 1931. He was hit with a bout of appendicitis in 1935 but made a quick recovery. O'Kelly made what would prove to be the first of many postings, being transferred to No. 11 Detachment in Vancouver on November 11, 1936, then to No. 4 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron in Vancouver on January 12, 1937. He was promoted to Sergeant on April 1, 1938 and to Flying Sergeant on September 1, 1939 upon the outbreak of the Second World War. Three and a half months later, he was posted to No. 20 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron in Vancouver on December 15, 1939 and took an Air Gunner's Course at Jericho Beach in Vancouver, from April 1 to May 9, 1939. O'Kelly was involved with the Royal Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May of 1939, in regards to the drilling of the Air Force Cadets Guard of Honour. He was commended by one of his superior offices for his outstanding work: "Sgt. O'Kelly did exceptionally good work in connection with the drilling of the Air Force Cadets prior to the Royal Visit and was also selected as one of the senior N..C.O.'s for the Royal Guard of Honour. His work deserves recognition." He returned to No. 4 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron in Vancouver, from September 1939 to May 1940, then posted to No. 4 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island from May 1940 to December 1942, where they were equipped with Supermarine Stranraer 912 flying boats. He was trained on Davis Submarine Escape Apparatus at Esquimalt from December 15 to 22, 1939. O'Kelly was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer 2nd Class on July 22, 1940, then to Temporary Warrant Officer 2nd Class on October 1, 1940 and received his Air Gunner's Badge on February 6, 1941.

 

He was posted to RCAF Station Ucluelet on Vancouver Island on January 25, 1942 and attended a Senior NCO's Administration Course in Trenton, Ontario from February 23 to April 6, 1942, where he was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer 1st Class on April 1, 1942. He was recommended for a Mentioned in Despatches by the Unit Commander for his work at Ucluecet, on February 27, 1943: "The above Warrant Officer (Hubert Gerard O'Kelly) has been the senior non commissioned Officer on this Station (RCAF Station, Ucluelet, British Columbia) since it opened, arriving here with the rank of Flight Sergeant in May 1940. W.O.1 O'Kelly's ability, devotion to duty and loyalty are outstanding, and his conduct and example have founded and maintained a high standard of efficiency, morale, and esprit de corps, throughout the Station. During the difficult time of opening a station in such an isolated location, this airman was a tower of strength to his Commanding Officer. He has the knack of getting men under him to work cheerfully and well. This Warrant Officer has splendid organizing ability, shows initiative, and is an expert at "getting on with the job," with whatever tools of material available, instead of complaining of lack of material or equipment. He maintains a cheerful and calm manner when difficulties arise." After Trenton, he returned to British Columbia, where he took a Canso Aircraft Familiarization Course with Boeing Aircraft in Vancouver from May 31 to June 8, 1942. In April 1942, he was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer 1st Class and employed as a Technical and Tradesman Air Gunner, then to Temporary Warrant Officer 1st Class on February 1, 1943, commissioned as a Flying Officer on March 27th, where he would be part of the RCAF Special Reserve until September 30, 1946. He was posted to Montreal, Quebec, where he attended an Engineer Officer's Course in Montreal at the Montreal School of Air Engineering, from December 31, 1942 to April 1, 1943, followed immediately by a posting to the Officer's Training School in Ste. Marguerite, Quebec, from April 2, 1943 to May 14, 1943. He was posted to Rockcliffe in Ottawa on May 14, 1943, named Temporary Flight Lieutenant on April 1, 1944, then posted to No. 124 Ferry Squadron at St. Hubert, Quebec on December 11, 1944. He was again recommended for a Mentioned in Despatches by the Chief Engineering Officer for his service at No. 124 Ferry Squadron, December 24, 1944: "F/L O'Kelly, as Officer i/c Aircraft Maintenance of this Unit for a period of over one year, has done outstanding work. He has continuously set a very high standard and has constantly striven to raise his section to an even higher level of efficiency. He has always displayed a high degree of initiative and fore-thought, and has, as a result of long hours and unstinted energy, accomplished a great deal in maintaining the many types of aircraft on strength of this unit, often under the most trying conditions." He was posted to No. 12 Command Squadron, No. 9 (t) Group at Rockcliffe on May 1, 1945, in the rank of Technical Flight Lieutenant. O'Kelly was once again recommended for a Mentioned in Despatches by the Squadron Engineering Officer at No. 12 Command Squadron for his outstanding work, on August 17, 1945: "This officer has set and maintained a very high standard of efficiency for the Squadron Maintenance Flight.

 

He had by his own untiring efforts set an example which has definitely been reflected in the attitude of those serving under him." He saw additional postings in 1945 to San Francisco, California and Dayton, Ohio for additional training and was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader on July 1, 1945. Upon return to Canada, O'Kelly married the aforementioned nurse, Elizabeth Lillie Cavers on November 17, 1945 in Ottawa, the couple later having two children, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann O'Kelly and a son, John Brian O'Kelly. C.24840 Squadron Leader Hubert Gerard O'Kelly was cited for a King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the New Years Honours 1946, the announcement of the award appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 37408, of Friday, December 28, 1945, on Tuesday, January 1, 1946, page 150. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Pacific Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. Squadron Leader O'Kelly was with No.12 Squadron at RCAF Rockcliffe when he received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, credited with serving from May 24, 1928 to March 27, 1943, advancing to Warrant Officer 1st Class, then as Acting Squadron Leader from March 27, 1943 to July 27, 1946, a total of 18 years and 57 days service. O'Kelly was named to the RCAF Regular Forces on October 1, 1946, reverting to Flying Officer from Acting Squadron Leader. As of December 1946, he was employed as an Aero Engineer. He was posted to No. 412 "K" Squadron at Rockcliffe on May 12, 1947. O'Kelly assumed the rank of Temporary Squadron Leader from May 30, 1946 to September 30, 1946, then Flying Officer from October 1, 1946 to December 31, 1947 with No. 12 Command Squadron. He attended an Officers' Administrative Course No. 32 at the Composite Training School in Toronto from January 5 to February 27, 1948.

 

The following year, he was posted to Air Training Command Headquarters Rockcliffe on May 2, 1949 for five months, where he completed his Annual Musketry. However, while at Rockcliffe, his wife, Elizabeth Lillie O'Kelly (nee Cavers) died on July 26, 1949, her death attributed to her service in the RCAF. Three months after the devastating loss of his wife and the children's mother, he was transferred again, leaving Ottawa for RCAF Station Sea Island in Vancouver on October 15th. O'Kelly assumed the rank of Flying Lieutenant from January 1, 1948 to December 31, 1951 with No. 412 Command Squadron, becoming Squadron Leader on January 1, 1952. He returned to RCAF Station Sea Island as its Squadron Leader, a position he would hold from January 1, 1953 to December 31, 1956. While posted at Sea Island, he was posted overseas to No. 4 "F" Wing Baden-Soellingen in West Germany on July 6, 1953. As a member of the military, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953. After his German service, he was posted to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa on May 25, 1955 and continued his education, attending an Engineering "B" Course with the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ottawa in 1956, while still being posted to RCAF Station Sea Island. He was posted to No. 5 Air Division in Vancouver on August 9, 1957 and was promoted to Wing Commander on January 1, 1957, now at Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa. O'Kelly applied for the Canadian Forces' Decoration on June 13, 1958, having completed twelve years' post-war service and would receive it accordingly. He is credited with having taken a Joint Services Missile Indoctrination Course on April 17, 1959 and saw his final posting to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa on June 20, 1960. Wing Commander Hubert Gerard O'Kelly CD (1618) retired from the Royal Canadian Air Force, discharged from service on July 15, 1961, credited with thirty-three years' service in the RCAF Regular Force, as an Airframe Mechanic and as an Aeronautical Engineer (Technical), from May 24, 1928 to July 15, 1961. Hubert Gerard O'Kelly died in January 1975, his burial taking place on January 23, 1975 at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Plot Horne 1/2/01/016A/0005 (75).