Dame Emily Blair | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1890-01-12)12 January 1890 Boghead,Lenzie, Scotland |
| Died | 25 December 1963(1963-12-25) (aged 73) London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army (1916–18) Royal Air Force (1918–43) |
| Years of service | 1916–1943 |
| Rank | Matron-in-Chief |
| Commands | Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (1938–43) |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire Royal Red Cross Mentioned in Despatches Florence Nightingale Medal |
| Other work | Matron-in-ChiefBritish Red Cross Society (1947–53) |
Dame Emily Mathieson Blair,DBE, RRC (12 January 1890 – 25 December 1963) was a British military nurse and nursing administrator who served as Matron-in-Chief of thePrincess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (1938–43), Joint War Committee (1943–47) and theBritish Red Cross Society (1947–53).[1]
Emily Mathieson Blair was born on 12 January 1890 at Boghead,Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, the daughter of Mary Ann (née Croll) and Hugh Blair, a businessman andmuslin manufacturer.[2][3] From 1912 to 1916 she trained as a nurse atWestern Infirmary, Glasgow.[3]
During theFirst World War Blair served with theQueen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service.[1] When theRoyal Air Force was formed in 1918 she moved to thePrincess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service, becoming Matron-in-Chief in 1938. During theSecond World War she wasmentioned in despatches.[1]
In 1943, Blair was appointed Matron-in-Chief of the Joint War Committee. When the committee was disbanded in 1947, Blair served as Matron-in-Chief of theBritish Red Cross Society until 1953, and was responsible for supplying trained nurses for service in hospitals and convalescent homes.[1] She was made aDame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 2 June 1943, and was awarded theFlorence Nightingale Medal by theInternational Committee of the Red Cross in 1947.[3]
Blair retired in 1953 and remained a member of the Council of the British Red Cross until her death. She died oflung cancer on 25 December 1963 in a London nursing home.[1]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Matron-in-ChiefPrincess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service 1938–1943 | Succeeded by |