Christison recognized by Vittoria WI
Chris Abbott
Editor
Vittoria Women’s Institute recently presented an Honorary Membership to James Christison ‘in recognition of his many helpful, informative, and valuable contributions to the branch.’
Christison, curator of the Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Museum, made a 35-plus minute presentation – Women in War – at Vittoria WI’s Oct. 14th meeting, sharing a project that has been worked on for a number of years “trying to accurately research and capture the history of women’s involvement during war-time” on the home front and overseas.
Norfolk’s military history goes back to the founding of the county in the 1790s, he said, and it includes the War of 1812, First World War, Second World War.
“But the often untold story that we are trying to capture, is the women’s involvement in wartime, and also after the war - when the troops came home, there needed to be incredible support for them.
“We have folks like the Nursing Sisters that were vital during the First World War, for that conflict that was so different than anything the world had ever seen before.”
Christison noted the efforts of Nursing Sister Alice Trusdale, recognized on a Veterans Banner in Waterford. Born and raised in Waterford, Trusdale was one of about 400 nurses from southwestern Ontario that served during the Great War (1914-1918).
While she was training in advanced nursing in New York, the First World War started and she immediately return to Ontario to join military service in London as a Nursing Sister.
“She did some further training… then went overseas to England,” said Christison, “and there are some fabulous records, letters, that have captured her story.
“When the war was over, she continued on in the military, and she actually became Head Matron of the Freeport Military Hospital in Guelph.”
Trusdale (1892-1919) is Norfolk County’s only female to have died in wartime, said Christison, and her name is on the Carillon Tower (Norfolk War Memorial) in Simcoe.
“I could go on and on about Alice, she is just a wonderful snapshot of our social history and military history, and for a long time did not get credit.
“One of the reasons that we continue to try to capture this social history is because a lot of the First World War stories have been lost.”
In 1944, Christison said there were 22,000 Canadian women in the active army corps, 17,000 in the air force, and just over 10,000 Nursing Sisters in service.
“A huge part of the population, in uniform, but then all the rest were supporting those people in uniform.
The Women’s Institute and church groups were doing fundraising, quilts… the Bundles for Britain, the Jam for Britain… unbelievable contributions that were being made right here in Norfolk County.
“Norfolk County did some absolutely amazing things to help win the war.”
Bundles for Britain was ‘anything that could be made at home’ to be sent overseas to Great Britain to support troops.
“Norfolk County was right there. They sent literal tonnage over… just about everything,” said Christison, also noting the importance of The Farmerettes in Norfolk.
Christison highlighted three Norfolk women that served during the Second World War – Dorothy Backus, who joined the women’s branch of the Royal Canadian Air Force, training pilots and flying transports; Peggy Brown, a wireless operator stationed on the East Coast of Canada listening for U-boats. Brown was credited with locating a U-boat, which was captured by Canadian naval forces, along with an Enigma machine; and war correspondent Margaret Ecker, who was the only female in the room when Germany officially surrendered – her story is what told North America that the war in Europe was over.
“It’s great that these kinds of stories are coming forth,” said Christison.
“Excellent,” said Vittoria WI president Donna Kendall, commenting on Christison’s presentation.
“I think it was very important, to feel that ‘making a contribution,’” said Marilyn Davis, past-president and treasurer, noting the importance of the WI contributions.
Vittoria, part of the Hamilton WI district, compiles its local history in books – many, many books. There are also Norfolk district history books, which in part were used as a source for Christison’s presentation.
“We have all of the Tweedsmuir histories of our branch, and there are lists of all the things that were made and sent to the war effort within those history books,” said Davis. “And those books are now being digitized, so that they will be available to anyone to research.”
Originally formed in 1938, the Vittoria Women’s Institute branch currently has 18 members and two honorary life members, along with four men – including Christison - who for their significant contributions were designated honorary WI members.
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