Wrens Lost in Service

Leading Wren Cook Cora Arbeau – W3283

Date of Birth: 1912-03-31 at Upper Blackville, New Brunswick
Enlistment Date: 1943-05-25 at Halifax, Nova Scotia
Date of Death: 1945-05-14 (Age 33) at Camp Hill Hospital Halifax

Cora Arbeau’s father was killed in the First World War, she never knew her mother, and she grew up with no family. Cora was working as a cook and housekeeper in Halifax when she joined the WRENs as a cook in June of 1943.

After her initial training at HMCS Conestoga, Wren Arbeau was posted to HMCS Protector II in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Cora was quickly promoted to Leading Wren, with her supervisor reporting that she was “a good cook and excellent worker. Reliable in every way.”

On the 28^thof April 1944 Cora requested to serve overseas.

In May of 1944 Cora was hospitalised for what was diagnosed as an atypical ulcer and ‘nervous dyspepsia’. Her condition seemed to worsen and she was hospitalised again on the 26^thof November 1944 and diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, or cancer of the stomach on the 19^thof November. She was transferred to HMCS Stadacona in Halifax for treatment.

On the 5^thof April 1945 Leading Wren Arbeau was discharged from the RCN as medically unfit for service and admitted to the Camp Hill Hospital that day. She would succumb to her illness on the 14^thof May.

Wren Steward Margaret Lorraine Bouffard – W6621

Date of Birth: 1926-10-22 at Calgary, Alberta
Enlistment Date: 1945-02-08 at HMCS Donnacona, Montreal, Quebec
Date of Death: 1946-06-29 (Age 19) at Ste. Anne De Bellevue, Quebec

Daughter of Annie Manuel, of Montreal, Quebec.

A bright and loquacious young woman, Margaret worked at a variety of jobs before joining the Wrens. Wren Bouffard had dreams of being a professional singer, performing with amateur troop shows, making several hitchhiking tours through Ontario and the US. She liked to go on-board troop ships when they came into harbour and sing for the soldiers.

Wren Bouffard’s behaviour began to deteriorate while in service, to the point that she was in the process of being discharged as unsuitable for service. It was discovered that Wren Bouffard was suffering from degenerative brain lesions, which would lead to respiratory paralysis and death on 29 June 1946.

Wren Bouffard is buried at Cimetiere Mont-Royal, Outremont, Quebec.

Wren Writer Dorothy Florence Britton – W3106

Date of Birth: 1920-07-13 at Toronto, Ontario
Enlistment Date: 1943-06-02 at HMCS York in Toronto, Ontario
Date of Death: 1945-03-28 (Age 24) at Toronto, Ontario

Daughter of Arthur Hamilton Britton and Marjorie Florence Britton, of Toronto, Ontario. Sister of Capt. Frank H. Britton and Donald M. Britton, and Amy D. Britton.

After two years of study at the University of Toronto and working at a number of clerical positions, Dorothy Britton joined the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service at the urging of her parents.

Dorothy completed her basic training at HMCS Conestogaand was assigned to HMC Ships Cornwallis, Unicorn, and York as a Wren Writer.

While at HMCS York in March of 1945, feeling alone and isolated, Wren Britton threw herself out of an upper story window. While she sustained no injuries, she was placed under observation at the Christie St. Military Hospital.

On the 28^thof March 1945 Dorothy Britton successfully took her own life.

Wren Writer Dorothy Florence Britton is buried in the York Mills (St. John’s) Churchyard, M. 4 Grave V.

Leading Wren Signalwoman Olive Irene Clegg – W1396

Date of Birth: 1919-07-14 at Binscarth, Manitoba
Enlistment Date: 1943-02-04 at Winnipeg, Manitoba
Date of Death: 1944-06-17 (Age 24) at Sydney, Nova Scotia

Daughter of Morley E. Clegg and Louise Clegg of Binscarth, Manitoba. Sister of Roland E. Clegg, and Fanny Louise Graham.

After her training at HMCS Conestoga, Wren Clegg was stationed at HMCS Bytown and HMCS Protector II. At Protector II she was promoted to Leading Wren Signalwoman on the 15^thof March 1944.

On the 29^thof January 1944 Leading Wren Clegg requested to serve overseas.

Unbeknownst to Olive, she had contracted tuberculosis (TB) at some time in her life and it had become dormant in her lungs. Olive became pregnant in late 1943, which caused a flare up of the TB. Due to the TB, Leading Wren Clegg was discharged medically unfit on the 6^thof June 1944. She was admitted to hospital in Sydney, Nova Scotia where her daughter was delivered by caesarian section. Olive Clegg passed away on the 17^thof June. Her daughter, born with TB, passed away a at the age of 3 months, 9 days.

“Leading Wren Olive Irene Clegg died in the TB Annex of the Sydney City Hospital at the age of 24 years, 3 days. She had been residing at the Wrens’ Quarters, ‘Protector’ E., Point Edward, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Her father’s name was included on her death record, but the name of her mother was ‘Not Available’. Gilbert Anderson, RCNVR, Point Edward, was the informant on her death certificate.

Because she was so ill, and was also 7 1/2 months pregnant, Leading Wren Olive Irene Clegg had a caesarian section on 2 April 1944; she gave birth to her baby daughter.

The remains of Leading Wren Clegg were transported to her hometown in Manitoba, where she was laid to rest with military honours.

Her baby girl, named Carolyn Jean Clegg, was cared for by her guardian, Elizabeth Torey, of Sydney; the child was sickly, and died at the age of 3 months, 9 days, in Inverness, Inverness County, Nova Scotia” – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122220155/olive-irene-clegg accessed 19 Nov 2019.

Leading Wren Signalwoman Olive Irene Clegg is buried in the Binscarth Cemetery, Binscarth, Manitoba, NE ¼ Section 10-19-28

Wren Wardroom Attendant Ruth Floyd – W4023

Date of Birth: 1925-03-30 at Liverpool, England
Enlistment Date: 1943-09-11 at Montreal
Date of Death: 1945-07-28 (Age 20) at Montreal

Daughter of William and Isabella Floyd, of Montreal.

Wren Floyd joined the Wrens shortly after her 18^thbirthday. After her initial training at HMCS Conestoga, Ruth was posted to HMCS Donnacona on 13 February 1944. While living in barracks, Ruth contracted tuberculosis. She was discharged as medically unfit on 27 March 1944. She would succumb to her illness on 28 July 1945.

Wren Ruth Floyd is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. Soldier’s Plot G.943, Grave #473.

Petty Officer Laundry Assistant Florrie Grundy – W4017

Date of Birth: 1899-01-13 at Bolton, England
Enlistment Date: 1943-08-26 at Naval Officer-In-Charge Toronto, Ontario
Date of Death: 1947-07-08 (Age 48) at Kingston, Ontario

Daughter of David and Emily Grundy. Sister of Flight Sargent Albert Grundy of Deseronto, Ontario.

Petty Officer Grundy was supervising a large hospital laundry in Kitchener, Ontario when she applied to enlist as a Wren. Florrie told the Wren Sub-Lieutenant conducting her interview that she would join as a Laundry Assistant or not at all.

After her initial training at HMCS Conestoga, Wren Grundy was stationed at HMCS Cornwallis where her supervisor described her as ‘a very good Petty Officer who has worked hard under difficult circumstances’. Wren Grundy was such a valued Wren that her chain of command attempted to advance her to Petty Officer a number of times, skipping Leading Wren. They finally won their battle when she was promoted to Leading Wren on 15 September 1944 and advanced to Acting Petty Officer on 1 October 1944.

In October of 1945 Florrie was diagnosed with breast cancer and discharged as medically unfit on 19 October 1945. She would pass away in hospital at Kingston, Ontario on 8 July 1947.

Petty Officer Florrie Grundy is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Ontario. Lot 1601.

Wren Laundry Assistant Olive Ivy Francis Le Pape – W4206

Date of Birth: 1925-05-04 at Montreal, Quebec
Enlistment Date: 1943-09-29 at Montreal, Quebec
Date of Death: 1944-04-21 (Age 18) at Montreal, Quebec

Daughter of Herman Le Pape and Gladys Byford Le Pape. Sister of Lionel Le Pape and June Le Pape DeGuire.

Olive was working as a cashier at Eaton’s in Montreal when she joined the Wrens. Aftter her initial training at HMCS Conestoga she was stationed at HMCS Protector. While home on leave in Montreal, Wren Le Pape was struck and killed by a streetcar at the corner of Christopher Columbus and Everett Streets.

Wren Olive Le Pape is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec. Section G 126609.

Wren Messenger Margaret Airlie McGill – W4572

Date of Birth: 1912-01-10 at Montreal
Enlistment Date: 1943-11-04 at Montreal
Date of Death: 1945-05-24 (Age 33) at Basingstoke Hospital, Basingstoke, UK

Daughter of Edward and Louisa McGill, step-daughter of Annie C. McGill, of Montreal.

Wren McGill, after her initial training at HMCS Conestoga, was stationed at HMCS Niobe in Greenock, Scotland. Margaret contracted meningitis and was sent to the Basingstoke Hospital in Basingstoke, England. She would succumb to her illness on 24 May 1945. A very popular and hardworking woman, the 4’5” Margaret’s loss was deeply felt by her friends and ship-mates. In a letter to Margaret’s step-mother Captain FL Houghton, RCN wrote that her ‘funeral procession was most impressive… The many tributes of flowers were beautiful.’

Wren Margaret McGill is buried in the Canadian Extension Ground, Brookwood Military Cemetery, 61.A.9, Surrey, England.

“Canadian Wrens are mourning the death of their “littlest messenger” Margaret McGill. The tiny four-foot-eight Wren from messenger Montreal who died on May 25th in Basingstoke Neurological Hospital, England, had been suffering from tubercular meningitis.

Members of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service are sorrowing not because she was the first Wren casualty overseas, and not because she was the smallest Wren ever enlisted, but just because she was “McGill the Messenger”. For the 33-year-old former store-keeper was one of the most tireless and willing, completely selfless Wrens ever to enter the Service.

Drafted overseas in June, 1944, she went through the last year of London’s scourge as a messenger at the Canadian Naval Mission attention Overseas – – a job requiring a strong back and untiring attention to her work.

Everything possible was done for her during her illness and she is sorely missed. More than 100 British and Canadian Wrens followed her coffin in the ceremonial Dead March when they buried her in the beautiful cemetery for the armed forces at Brookwood, southwest of London, on Monday. Captain F.L. Houghton, HCN, head of the Canadian Naval Mission Overseas attended the ceremonies with members of his staff, and full naval honours were accorded the tiny messenger.” – Tiddley Times May/June 1945

Wren Cook Winnifred Lillian Neal – W4657

Date of Birth: 1893-12-26 at Matlock, Derbyshire, England
Enlistment Date: 1943-12-01 at Vancouver
Date of Death: 1946-05-03 (Age 52) at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Daughter of Walter Stevenson and Sue Tharker, of Burton-on-Trent, England and mother of Nancy Neufeld, of Abbotsford, BC.

At 50 years old, Wren Winnifred Neal, nee Stevenson (her husband Stanley was killed in the First World War), was overage for enlistment, however due to her very pleasant, motherly nature and hardworking attitude she was allowed to join. After her initial training at HMCS Conestoga, Winnifred was posted HMCS Cornwallis, HMCS Chatham, HMCS Naden, and HMCS Discovery. While in the process to being medically discharged due to arthritis of the knees, it was discovered that Wren Neal had carcinoma of ovary with extensive peritonial and lymph node metastasis. She was discharged medically unfit on 26 April 1945 and admitted to Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver where she passed away on 3 May 1946.

Wren Winnifred Lillian Neal is buried in the Hazelwood Cemetery, Abbotsford, BC. Plot C-4, Grave 1.

Wren Steward Mary Rech – W3431

Date of Birth: 1924-10-26 at Carbondale, Alberta
Enlistment Date: 1943-07-03 at Edmonton, Alberta
Date of Death: 1944-07-24 (Age 19) at Sydney, NS

Daughter of Charles and Pearl Rich, of Carbondale, Alberta. Sister of Rose Crocker, Thomas Rich (Also served with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment), Private William Rich, and Private George Rich. Both served with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and both were killed in action in Italy.

Her mother, Mrs. Pearl (née Smith) Rich of Vancouver, British Columbia, was named 1968 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1968, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

Mary Rech worked as a housekeeper in Edmonton, Alberta when she joined the WRENs as a Steward at the age of 18. During her brief career, Mary was posted to HMCS Conestoga and HMCS Protector. On the 24^thof July, 1944 Mary and a group of WRENs and Sailors from HMCS Protector decided to go swimming at a quarry in Pt. Edward, Cape Breton. Mary, Wren Imelda Stever, and Wren Lillian Penteliuk ran ahead of the group. The three young women entered the water, all of them unable to swim. Mary stepped into a hole and the other two tried to rescue her.

When the rest of the group arrived, they discovered Imelda and Lillian clinging to each other about ten feet from the shore. They were quickly brought in and artificial respiration was performed. Only Wren Penteliuk was able to be revived. Navy divers later found Mary’s body approximately 33 feet under the water.

Wren Mary Rech was buried in Beechmount Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta, Block 206, Lot # 11.

Wren Steward Imelda Stever – W3419

Date of Birth: 1924-09-15 at Bathurst, New Brunswick
Enlistment Date: 1943-06-25 at NOIC Toronto
Date of Death: 1944-07-24 (Age 19) at Sydney, NS

Daughter of Vincent and Mary L. Stever of McWatters, Quebec. Sister of Joseph Ernest, Elmer, Herman, Vincent Jr, Evangeline, and Martha Stever.

Wren Imelda Stever joined the Wrens on her first trip to the city. During her brief career, Mary was posted to HMCS Conestoga and HMCS Protector. On the 24th of July, 1944 Imelda and a group of WRENs and Sailors from HMCS Protector decided to go swimming at a quarry in Pt. Edward, Cape Breton. Imelda, Wren Mary Rech, and Wren Lillian Penteliuk ran ahead of the group. The three young women entered the water, all of them unable to swim. Mary stepped into a hole and the other two tried to rescue her.

When the rest of the group arrived, they discovered Imelda and Lillian were seen clinging to each other about ten feet from the shore. They were quickly brought in and artificial respiration was performed. Only Wren Penteliuk was able to be revived. Navy divers later found Mary’s body approximately 33 feet under the water.

Wren Imelda Stever is commemorated at the Quebec Memorial, Pointe Claire Field of Honour, Quebec City, Quebec. She is buried in St. Guillaume De Granada Cemetery in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Grave 1.