From home front to the front lines: Student's research reveals women's role in wars
Portrait by Sarah Mayberry.
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Lisa Wiggins (left) and Sarah Mayberry.
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Full captions below
By Paula White
For This Week
Last summer, Lisa Wiggins got a history lesson she’ll never forget. In fact she was so amazed by what she discovered, she wrote a short story about it.
“She was pretty inspired,”commented Brian Perkins, curator of the Rothesay Living Museum. “It was one constant exciting discovery after another.”:
Ms. Wiggins spent the summer working for the Rothesay Living Museum under the District 6 Youth Apprenticeship Program. She was studying women’s role in society and how it has changed over the years, with a particular focus on their involvement in the first and second world wars. She was surprised to find out that women played a major role in the wars-from the home front to the front lines.
“It’s such a big movement for women,” Ms. Wiggins said. “Before I started I thought women in the 1920’s were in the kitchen, staying at home. Then you read all about these women doing all this stuff.”
Most of Ms. Wiggins research centered on Dorothy Purdy, who grew up in Rothesay in the early part of the 20th century. Miss Purdy is a classic example of how women’s role in society has evolved since the early 1900’s. She went from Rothesay socialite – appearing at teas, society weddings, luncheons and balls – to nursing assistant with the Volunteer Aid Detachment. She worked in a military hospital in England near the end of the First World War, helping nurse sick and wounded soldiers back to health.
Ms. Wiggins was able to piece together the life of Dorothy Purdy thanks to a collection of newspaper articles the socialite saved throughout her life. The collection was donated to the museum last year by Mrs. Hazen Inches.
Dorothy Purdy was born an only child. She was raised by her father, John Purdy, after her mother died when she was quite young. Mr. Purdy worked in the investment business. In her younger years, Miss Purdy was an active socialite. In the articles she saved, her name is mentioned in the society pages of many newspapers. She is even mentioned in the Montreal Star in 1913, at which time she was visiting Mrs. Nathaniel Curry, and the Ottawa Free Press during a visit with Miss Frances Hazen.
Miss Purdy first became involved in the war effort on the home front. She was a member of the Rothesay Red Cross Society, and even served on a committee in charge of collecting old newspapers, magazines, paper boxed and rags, which were in demand by paper manufacturers. There were what was also called “patriotic bridges,” where ladies of an afternoon to play bridge and drink tea. The proceeds from one of these events, held in Hune, 1916, were sent to Miss Jean Wishart, a nurse in the Granville Special Canadian Hospital in Ramsgate. The money, $73, was used to buy “comforts” and “dainties” to cheer the soldiers in her care.
In fact, the summer of 1916 appeared to be a busy one for members of Rothesay society. Fund raising events were frequent. On July 27, a Red Cross “Fete” was held in the town, which raised $1,100.
In October of 1916, the local VAD was formed. Prior to that, in September, Miss Purdy and other Rothesay women passed their First Aid and Home Nursing courses. In November, the graduates were sent for practical training at the Military Hospital, St. James and St. John. She returned in April of 1917. In July of that year , five women from Saint John and two from Rothesay- Miss Dorothy Purdy and Dorothea MacKean-volunteered to assist trained nurses in naval and military hospitals overseas.
Following a long, but “pleasant” voyage across the Atlantic, the seven women arrived in England in January of 1918. Miss Purdy and Miss MacKean were stationed at the University War Hospital in South Hampton, looking after sick and wounded soldiers. They remained there long after the war was over, returning home in July of 1919.
After returning from England, Miss Purdy continued her work with the Red Cross Society. She also became involved in the Girl Guide Movement, first launched in New Brunswick in 1918. She even served as district commissioner in 1924, as well as a captainin the Rothesay area. Most of her articles from about 1921 on deal with Girl Guides. Miss Purdy continued saving articles until about 1949.
Ms. Wiggins said what fascinated her most about the VAD was the fact that many women put themselves in danger to help wounded soldiers.
“Women were actually allowed to go to the front lines,” she said. “They actually volunteered for this. It would be quite an adventure.”
As part of her research, Ms. Wiggins found propaganda posters inviting women to volunteer for the war effort. She said several were quite graphic, including one of a woman delivering a punch to Adolph Hitler.
The study on Dorothy Purdy is the Rothesay Living Museum’s latest project. Its mandate is to collect historical information and artifacts from the five communities that make up Rothesay. Past projects include an in depth history of rowing in Renforth and sailing in Rothesay. The Dorothy Purdy project will be part of the museum’s Rothesay collection.
“We feel the scope of this has been universal,” Mr. Perkins said. “We have students interpreting history and making it come alive for them.”
The research on Miss Purdy prompted Ms. Wiggins to write a fictional short story about an unknown VAD. Written from a soldier’s point of view, it illustrates very well the crucial role VADs played in the wars. The story ("Volunteer Angel") can be found on page 10.
For This Week
Last summer, Lisa Wiggins got a history lesson she’ll never forget. In fact she was so amazed by what she discovered, she wrote a short story about it.
“She was pretty inspired,”commented Brian Perkins, curator of the Rothesay Living Museum. “It was one constant exciting discovery after another.”:
Ms. Wiggins spent the summer working for the Rothesay Living Museum under the District 6 Youth Apprenticeship Program. She was studying women’s role in society and how it has changed over the years, with a particular focus on their involvement in the first and second world wars. She was surprised to find out that women played a major role in the wars-from the home front to the front lines.
“It’s such a big movement for women,” Ms. Wiggins said. “Before I started I thought women in the 1920’s were in the kitchen, staying at home. Then you read all about these women doing all this stuff.”
Most of Ms. Wiggins research centered on Dorothy Purdy, who grew up in Rothesay in the early part of the 20th century. Miss Purdy is a classic example of how women’s role in society has evolved since the early 1900’s. She went from Rothesay socialite – appearing at teas, society weddings, luncheons and balls – to nursing assistant with the Volunteer Aid Detachment. She worked in a military hospital in England near the end of the First World War, helping nurse sick and wounded soldiers back to health.
Ms. Wiggins was able to piece together the life of Dorothy Purdy thanks to a collection of newspaper articles the socialite saved throughout her life. The collection was donated to the museum last year by Mrs. Hazen Inches.
Dorothy Purdy was born an only child. She was raised by her father, John Purdy, after her mother died when she was quite young. Mr. Purdy worked in the investment business. In her younger years, Miss Purdy was an active socialite. In the articles she saved, her name is mentioned in the society pages of many newspapers. She is even mentioned in the Montreal Star in 1913, at which time she was visiting Mrs. Nathaniel Curry, and the Ottawa Free Press during a visit with Miss Frances Hazen.
Miss Purdy first became involved in the war effort on the home front. She was a member of the Rothesay Red Cross Society, and even served on a committee in charge of collecting old newspapers, magazines, paper boxed and rags, which were in demand by paper manufacturers. There were what was also called “patriotic bridges,” where ladies of an afternoon to play bridge and drink tea. The proceeds from one of these events, held in Hune, 1916, were sent to Miss Jean Wishart, a nurse in the Granville Special Canadian Hospital in Ramsgate. The money, $73, was used to buy “comforts” and “dainties” to cheer the soldiers in her care.
In fact, the summer of 1916 appeared to be a busy one for members of Rothesay society. Fund raising events were frequent. On July 27, a Red Cross “Fete” was held in the town, which raised $1,100.
In October of 1916, the local VAD was formed. Prior to that, in September, Miss Purdy and other Rothesay women passed their First Aid and Home Nursing courses. In November, the graduates were sent for practical training at the Military Hospital, St. James and St. John. She returned in April of 1917. In July of that year , five women from Saint John and two from Rothesay- Miss Dorothy Purdy and Dorothea MacKean-volunteered to assist trained nurses in naval and military hospitals overseas.
Following a long, but “pleasant” voyage across the Atlantic, the seven women arrived in England in January of 1918. Miss Purdy and Miss MacKean were stationed at the University War Hospital in South Hampton, looking after sick and wounded soldiers. They remained there long after the war was over, returning home in July of 1919.
After returning from England, Miss Purdy continued her work with the Red Cross Society. She also became involved in the Girl Guide Movement, first launched in New Brunswick in 1918. She even served as district commissioner in 1924, as well as a captainin the Rothesay area. Most of her articles from about 1921 on deal with Girl Guides. Miss Purdy continued saving articles until about 1949.
Ms. Wiggins said what fascinated her most about the VAD was the fact that many women put themselves in danger to help wounded soldiers.
“Women were actually allowed to go to the front lines,” she said. “They actually volunteered for this. It would be quite an adventure.”
As part of her research, Ms. Wiggins found propaganda posters inviting women to volunteer for the war effort. She said several were quite graphic, including one of a woman delivering a punch to Adolph Hitler.
The study on Dorothy Purdy is the Rothesay Living Museum’s latest project. Its mandate is to collect historical information and artifacts from the five communities that make up Rothesay. Past projects include an in depth history of rowing in Renforth and sailing in Rothesay. The Dorothy Purdy project will be part of the museum’s Rothesay collection.
“We feel the scope of this has been universal,” Mr. Perkins said. “We have students interpreting history and making it come alive for them.”
The research on Miss Purdy prompted Ms. Wiggins to write a fictional short story about an unknown VAD. Written from a soldier’s point of view, it illustrates very well the crucial role VADs played in the wars. The story ("Volunteer Angel") can be found on page 10.
Captions
A pen and ink portrait of Dorothy Purdy, drawn by Rothesay High School Grade 10 student Sarah Mayberry.
Lisa Wiggins (left) spent the summer researching the life of Dorothy Purdy, a Rothesay woman who worked with the Volunteer Aid Detachment during the First World War. With Ms. Wiggins is Sarah Mayberry.
A pen and ink portrait of Dorothy Purdy, drawn by Rothesay High School Grade 10 student Sarah Mayberry.
Lisa Wiggins (left) spent the summer researching the life of Dorothy Purdy, a Rothesay woman who worked with the Volunteer Aid Detachment during the First World War. With Ms. Wiggins is Sarah Mayberry.