Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh
After serving together as Nursing Sisters during the First World War, Ellanore and Murney settled in a neighbourhood that welcomed 2SLGBTQI+ families.
Joined
1914, 1915
Postings
- Canadian Army Medical Corps
- Nursing Sister
Deployments
- Europe
- Battle of Vimy Ridge
Murney Pugh
Murney Pugh was born in Kingston, Ontario in 1883. She was a member of a prominent military family and trained as a nurse in Halifax. Murney joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps within months of the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 and went overseas to serve as a Nursing Sister.
Ellanore Parker
Ellanore Parker was born in Ireland in 1878. As a young woman she emigrated to Canada and trained as a nurse at the Winnipeg General Hospital. She enlisted in January 1915 and also served as a Nursing Sister in Europe.
Met in England
Murney and Ellanore first crossed paths while working at a military hospital in Netheravon, England. They soon become inseparable.
The couple served together at hospitals in France where they helped soldiers wounded on the Western Front.
Pugh and Parker while serving at No. 2 Canadian general hospital – Le Treport, 1915
Photo: Imperial War Museum
Battle of Vimy Ridge
They both were exposed to poison gas while caring for soldiers who had been gassed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Murney only experienced mild symptoms but her partner suffered from respiratory problems for the rest of her life.
While Ellanore recovered in hospital, Murney continued to serve as a Nursing Sister.
After the war, the pair returned to North America aboard a hospital ship.
Settling in California
They settled down in West Hollywood, California. Where their neighborhood welcomed 2SLGBTQI+ people.
Murney worked as a nurse while Ellanore pursued a literary career.
Ellanore would go on to publish journal articles, poems and novels. Her poems often detailed their lives and experiences in a world that did not accept their love. She also wrote of her lifelong battle with post-traumatic stress disorder—a result of her war experience.
Return to Canada
Ellanore and Murney listed themselves as partners in government censuses.
Newspaper stories described them as companions and life partners. These stories indicated their relationship was indeed more than just a “friendship.”
The pair returned to Canada in 1948 and lived in Victoria, British Columbia.
Ellanore passed away in 1965 and Murney died nine years later. Fittingly, they are buried side-by-side.
Related information
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