Lydia Reata Ferguson Nursing Sister Harvard University Surgical Unit (British Expeditionary Force) American Red Cross Palestine Commission September 14, 1881 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia Single Nursing Sister January 7, 1957 Yarmouth Mountain Cemetery Lydia Reata Ferguson was the daughter of Capt. Richard Morton Ferguson (1847-1933) and Lydia Rebecca (Dennis) Ferguson (1849-1932) of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Returning to Canada after her nursing service during WWI, on September 22, 1920, she married William Gray Kirk (1874-1950) at Yarmouth, NS. She was known, even at a young age as compassionate, kind, and caring. Reata graduated from Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing, one of the earliest nursing programs in the United States, established in 1883. In 1911, she was living in the United States working as a nurse. In 1915, Harvard University provided nursing services to General Hospital No. 22 at Camiens, France, with the British Expeditionary Force. In February 1917, Reata joined the Harvard British Expeditionary Force and was stationed in Camiens, France as a member of the Harvard University Surgical Unit. In December 1918, she continued nursing with the American Red Cross Palestine Commission in Palestine, Syria, and Egypt. In July 1919, she returned to Yarmouth and in 1920 married William Kirk. Reata remained a member of the Harvard British Expeditionary Force Association. She died on January 7, 1957. For additional information and photos: Presentation on Reata Ferguson by Elizabeth Hood Also see: Nurses of World War I

Lydia Reata Ferguson

Sources: WWI Military Records Canadian Census 1911, 1921.