Jane (Jennie) Glendenning

Jennie Glendinning was born in 1885, west of Manilla in Brock Township.

With the outbreak of W.W. I, Jennie enlisted as nursing sister. She travelled to Montreal where she trained at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Upon graduation in 1915, she deployed to England where she cared for sick and wounded British soldiers, prisoners of war and civilians. For her exceptional service, devotion to duty, and professional competence, she was awarded the Royal Red Cross Badge.

To help understand the significance of Jennie’s contribution, the nursing sisters were revered and respectfully called “bluebirds” because of their blue uniforms, white aprons and white head-dress. Given the courage and dedication shown by these women, each was granted the military rank of lieutenant or higher. It is believed that people’s admiration for the work of these women was influential in the decision to grant women the vote after the first world war.

On her return home, Jennie served with the Victoria Order of Nurses bringing relief to those who were ill and homebound.