A Soldier's Story: Captain Maude C. Davison



Captain Maude Davison was born March 27, 1885, to Ernest and Janet (Siddus) Campbell, in Cannington, Ontario, Canada.

Captain Maude Davison initially trained as a Dietitian, earning her certificate from the MacDonald School of Home Economics. Then, she immigrated to the United States, working as a dietitian in South Bend, Indiana, before moving to California and attending the Pasadena Hospital Training School for Nurses. She graduated in 1917.

Captain Maude Davison's military career began with her enlistment as a reserve nurse in the Army Nurses Corp in 1918. In 1920 became a US citizen and a member of the Regular Army Nurses Corps.

She was assigned to the Philippines in 1939 as Chief Nurse and served in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked in December 1941, and World War II erupted. Transferring to the underground hospital in Corregidor, Captain Maude Davidson continued to supervise the nursing until the surrender of Corregidor in May 1942.

Captain Maude Davison's insistence that the nurses stick together and always be in uniform saved her staff during their capture. Despite the near starvation, she and her 66 nurses all survived the 34 months at the Santo Tomas Prison Hospital. She is known for telling a group of high-ranking Japanese officers that they couldn't enter the nurse's quarters without her permission.

February 3, 1945, the POWs were liberated, and Captain Maude  Davison medically retired from the Army in 1946.  She married her longtime friend Charles Jackson in 1947 and lived a quiet life until she died in 1956.


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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Ontario, Canada

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