Sick Berth Attendant Nancy Jane Harold

Nancy Harold was born in Peterborough in 1924 but moved to Paris as a child. She was the eldest daughter of Edgar M. Harold and his wife Doris. They lived at 195 Grand River Street North, according to the 1940 Paris telephone directory. She is mentioned in the 1940 yearbook of the Paris District High School.

Nancy served as a sick berth attendant in the Royal Canadian Navy. Sick Berth Attendants (SBAs) during WWII were essential medical personnel, often acting as the sole medical provider on smaller vessels like corvettes. They handled emergency care, treated battle casualties, and managed ship hygiene, frequently working in hazardous conditions with limited supplies. SBAs often operated independently on corvettes and minesweepers, as there were not enough doctors for every ship. They treated illnesses and severe injuries in the North Atlantic, including casualties from enemy action, such as during D-Day. They managed the ship's sickbay, maintained medical records, and handled hygiene to prevent illnesses. They faced high risks, with many serving on convoy escorts and some, like SBA Francis George Skyvington, losing their lives during the war.

In 1948, she married Franklin Leroy Cook in Hamilton, Ontario. The couple had a daughter, Cynthia and a son, James. Nancy’s second husband, who shares her headstone, was Frederick Theophilus Joudrey of Peterborough. They are buried together in the Paris Cemetery.