Birth name Helen Wilson Cargill Years of service 1923–1952 Died 4 December 1969 Rank Air commodore Books Lilies | Allegiance United Kingdom Battles/wars World War Two Battles and wars World War II Service/branch Royal Air Force | |
Born 1 October 1896 ( 1896-10-01 ) Awards Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (1941)Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (1945)Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1951) | ||
Air Commandant Dame Helen Wilson Cargill, DBE, RRC (1 October 1896 – 4 December 1969) was a British nurse and Royal Air force officer. From 1948 to 1952, she was Matron-in-Chief of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.
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Early life and education
Cargill was born on 1 October 1896. She was educated at St Bride's School, Edinburgh. From 1919 to 1923, she trained as a nurse at St George's Hospital, a teaching hospital in London.
Military career
In June 1923, Cargill joined the newly re-named Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service. She was promoted to sister on 1 July 1926, and to senior sister on 1 February 1939. During the interwar period, she served in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East.
Cargill saw active service during World War Two. She was an acting matron as of June 1941. From 1942 to 1944, she served in the UK and in Aden. Following the Normandy Landings, she was Matron of the RAF Hospital in Normandy, France. From September 1944 to May 1945, the end of the war in Europe, she was Matron of a hospital in Brussels, Belgium.
Cargill returned to the United Kingdom after the end of the war and spent the rest of her military career as Matron of the RAF Hospital in Matlock, Derbyshire. This was a psychiatric hospital that specialised in the treatment of former prisoners of war. On 16 July 1948, she was appointed the Matron-in-Chief (IE head) of Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service. On 1 February 1949, when the women's forces were integrated into the British Armed Forces, she was granted the rank of air commandant. On 12 May 1952, she retired from the military due to "medical unfitness for air force service".
Honours
In the 1941 King's Birthday Honours, Cargill was appointed an Associate Member of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC). In the 1945 King's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC). In June 1949, she was appointed a Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ). In the 1951 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).