Helen Cattanach

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Helen Cattanach
Helen Cattanach in 1976
Photographic portrait by Bassano, 1976
Born(1920-06-21)21 June 1920
Knockando, Morayshire, Scotland
Died4 May 1994(1994-05-04) (aged 73)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1945–1977
RankBrigadier
Commands heldQueen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (1973–77)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Royal Red Cross
Commander of the Order of St John

Brigadier Helen Cattanach, CB, RRC, CStJ (21 June 1920 – 4 May 1994) was a British military nurse and nursing administrator who served as Director of British Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from 1973 to 1977.[1]

Early life

Helen Cattanach was born in Knockando, Morayshire, Scotland, to Francis and Marjory (née Grant) Cattanach on 21 June 1920. She was educated at the Elgin Academy, before travelling to Aberdeen to study nursing at Woodend Hospital.[2]

Nursing career

Having completed her training as a State Registered Nurse, Cattanach's military career began during the hostilities of the Second World War when she joined the Civil Nursing Reserve.[1] She became a regular nursing sister in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in 1946, having spent the period from June 1945 as a reserve in the corps.[2]

From 1958 Cattanach was posted to the War Office, initially as a Staff Officer with the Army Medical Directorate and then, in 1961, as the first officer from the Queen Alexandra's Corps to serve in the recruiting branch.[2] After fulfilling the recruitment role "with great enthusiasm",[2] she returned to nursing as a ward sister in Hong Kong. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1963.

Cattanach was promoted to matron and served at the British Military Hospital in Münster in 1968 and the Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot from 1969. Made an Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John in 1971, she was promoted to brigadier and appointed Matron-in-Chief and Director of Army Nursing Services in 1972.[1] This was the highest rank available to women in the British Army.[2] She was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1976 New Year Honours and advanced to Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John in 1977,[2] before retiring from the army later that year.

The National Portrait Gallery, London, holds seven photographic portraits of Helen Cattanach in its collection, taken by Bassano on 31 December 1976.[3]

Retirement

Cattanach retired to Woking, Surrey, where she was engaged in charity work.[2] She was appointed Colonel Commandant of Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from June 1978.

Cattanach, a life member of the Clan Macpherson Association,[4] died on 4 May 1994, aged 73. Her obituary appeared in the Gazette of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Association, vol. 10, #11.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Director Army Nursing Services (DANS) and Matron-in-Chief (Army)". Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Deaths: Brigadier Helen S. Cattanach". Creag Dhubh (47): 13–14. 1995. ISSN 0967-6538. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  3. ^ Portraits of Helen Cattanach at the National Portrait Gallery, London
  4. ^ Profile in Creag Dhubh, vol. 25 (1973), p. 553

External links