Gold locket from P.E.I.'s Georgina Fane Pope finds home in Ottawa

A gold locket that belonged to "Prince Edward Island's Florence Nightingale" Georgina Fane Pope has been gifted to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

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The gold-filled pendant and chain, presented to Pope for service in the South African War, was donated to the museum by her great-niece Louise Birkett Krapf shortly before Krapf's death in 2015, according to a written release from the museum.

"This locket is a fine example of the types of gifts such as medallions, certificates and ribbons presented to returning members of the service by Canadian municipalities in the early 20th century," said Stephen Quick, Director General of the Canadian War Museum.

Long and glorious career

Pope, the daughter of father of Confederation William Henry Pope, was born in Charlottetown in 1862. After studying nursing in New York, she embarked on a epic career in war nursing, volunteering in 1899 as a nursing sister with Canadian troops in South Africa and becoming superintendent of Canadian nursing staff.

In 1903, Pope was the first Canadian ever awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria for her exceptional service and competence in the field. She was appointed first Matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1908, and at age 55 served in England and France during the First World War.

The City of Ottawa presented Pope with the oval locket in recognition of the work she performed under extremely trying circumstances.

"It adds to what we already know about an extraordinary woman whose military service was recognized and appreciated by the citizens of Ottawa," Quick added.

The front is emblazoned with an enamel shield with the words "For Duty to Queen and Empire," along with a Union Jack and a beaver. The crest and motto of the City of Ottawa appear on the back with the words "From the Citizens of Ottawa to Georgina Pope CNS for services in South Africa 1900."

Pope died in 1938 and was given a full military funeral in Charlottetown.

She is one of 14 historical figures commemorated at the Valiants Memorial next to the National War Memorial in Ottawa, and is one of four nurses depicted on a commemorative five-dollar silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2012.