Ruby Belle Dickie, Class of 1916

Ruby Belle Dickie was born in Carlyle, Saskatchewan on July 29, 1890 to James Hay Dickie and Elizabeth Mitchell Clinkskill. She moved to Winnipeg at an early age and graduated from the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing in

1916. Immediately after graduation, she joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR) and served in Mesopotamia, Egypt and England.

Ruby Dickie wrote about her experiences in Mesopotamia in a letter “In an Eastern Theatre of War,” that was published in the Nurses’ Alumnae Journal, December 1919.

After the war, she returned to Winnipeg and accepted a position with the Manitoba Provincial Board of Health. She was transferred to Brandon in 1925. In 1936, she was honoured by King George V during his Jubilee.

Later in her career, she joined the Out Patients Department of St. Boniface Hospital, until her retirement in 1956.

Ruby was an active member of the Winnipeg General Hospital Nurses’ Alumnae Association and took on many roles involving in the publication of the Alumnae Journal.

She passed away in Winnipeg on March 20, 1981.

Please visit the gallery below to view objects that belonged to Ruby Dickie while she attended the Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing and during her service with the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve in World War I.

Ruby Belle Dickie Gallery

These objects are part of the Ruby Dickie collection on display at HSC Archives/Museum.

Ruby Dickie’s Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing pin, 1916

Ruby Dickie’s Winnipeg General Hospital School of Nursing pin, 1916, verso.

Silver spoon with Winnipeg General Hospital crest on top of handle. Spoon belonged to Ruby Dickie.

Starched nurses cap with “Dickie” marked on the cap in ink.

Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Uniform belonging to Ruby Dickie.

Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Uniform with cape belonging to Ruby Dickie.

Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve Cape belonging to Ruby Dickie. [Capes of reserve QAIMNS members with gray with a red border. The scarlet Alexandra rose was embroidered on the back of the cape.]

Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve badge and ribbon belonging to Ruby Dickie.

[Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve badge belonging to Ruby Dickie.]

Wooden lined tray containing Ruby Dickie’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Rerserve identification tags.

Ruby Dickie’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service Reserve metal identification tag.

Ruby Dickie’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve beige identification tag.

Ruby Dickie’s Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service Reserve red identification tag.

Brown wooden box with green silk lining. Includes key to outside lock. Contains brown leather nurse’s chatelaine that includes tweezers, scissors and thermometer.

Silver scale with brass plates and no stand that belonged to Ruby Dickie. Include silver weights.

Wooden box with red lining that belonged to Ruby Dickie. Contains five silver J.D.W.D. detachable buttons.

Wooden jewelry that belonged to Ruby Dickie. Box has hook enclosure and contains round pearl buttons and flat white buttons, Egyptian currency including 3 Drams and 5 Scruples.

[Unidentified ribbons belonging to Ruby Dickie.]

Active Service Testament 1914-1916, belonging to Ruby Dickie.

Ruby Dickie’s Registration Certificate for The Manitoba Association of Graduate Nurses, 1921