Marion Patterson
Marion Patterson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait of Patterson by Robert Sivell | |
| Born | Marion Chalmers August 26, 1911 Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Died | August 14, 1993 (aged 81) Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Fire warden |
| Years active | 1942-1944 |
| Known for | George Medal recipient |
Marion Patterson (nee Chalmers) (1911-1993)[1] was a Scottish fire warden during World War II. She was awarded the George Medal for helping to save sailors trapped in the rubble of a bombed building.[2] Her medal was presented by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.[3]
Life
Marion Chalmers was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on August 26, 1911. From 1919 to 1939 she lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In August 1939, she, her husband (Guthrie Armour Patterson, born January 29, 1904 in Dundee, Scotland) and son (Douglas Patterson, born October 8, 1932 in Toronto), moved back to Aberdeen.
After WWII broke out Patterson enlisted as an Ambulance Driver. In October 1942, she became a Senior Fire Guard for the Civil Defense in Aberdeen.[4]
She died August 14, 1993 in Toronto[5]
Recognition for bravery
On 7 August, 1942, while on duty, Patterson was helping to extinguish a burning building when she heard cries for help coming from under some walls that had collapsed. She managed to get to the sailor who was trapped below and free him. He was too weak to help. A rope was lowered through the damaged walls and she was able to tie the rope around the sailor’s waist and with help got him out of the burning building. The building collapsed less than a minute later.
On December 4, 1942, after the incident was written up in the London Gazette, she received an invitation to attend Buckingham Palace on February 12, 1943 to receive a presentation of the George Medal by King George VI. Patterson was the first street fire-guard to win a medal while engaged in fire duties. As part of the award, she was also selected for portraiture in a special section of the National Gallery of England set aside for heroes and heroines of the Blitz. Patterson was also invited to be a guest at Balmoral Castle for the remainder of her life.[6][7]
The Scottish artist Robert Sivell was commissioned by King George VI to paint Patterson’s portrait.[8] Patterson attended Buckingham Place again for the presentation of the portrait. The original was hung in the National Gallery, London and was displayed in a special wing for Heroes and Heroines of the 1939-1945 War.
Patterson also received two replicas of the portrait and a sketch in black and white. One replica is in the Ottawa Canadian War Museum and was on display as part of the Women At War exhibit at the museum in 1985. Patterson’s medals and the sketch are now kept in the Aberdeen Art Gallery.[9]
References
- ^ "Gazette". Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Mrs Marion Patterson, G M". www.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Tracing the last WWII heroines". 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ webmaster@aberdeencity.gov.uk, Aberdeen City Council, Continuous Improvement,. "Local World War II heroine subject of lunchtime talk". www.aberdeencity.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ottawa War Museum
- ^ "Women's Activities, London, Jan.29, 1943".
- ^ "Paisley Daily".
- ^ "Mrs Marion Patterson, GM | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Marion Patterson George Medal Award World War Two Heroine Aberdeen". aboutaberdeen.com. Retrieved 19 September 2017.