Lest We Forget / 17 Executive Members FRONT ROW Ron Gallant - Manager Patrick Doyle - 2nd Vice President Dave Brown - President Reta Kenny - 1st Vice President Jack MacEachern - Past President BACK ROW Judy Gallant; Tona Halliwell; Louis Doyle; Lorraine Doucette; Walter Doucette; Leroy Gauthier; Michele Beaton; Len Doiron; Dolph Gillis; Eugene McCabe Charlottetown Auxiliary was formed in 1936. The first meeting was held November 15th, 1936 with the following slate of Officers: President : Mrs. W.S. Stewart; 1 st Vice President: Mrs. I.E. Croken; 2 nd Vice President: Mrs. Florence Cook; Secretary: Mrs. Cecil Stewart; Treasurer: Mrs. A.G. Peake Before the formation as an Auxiliary it was known as G.W.V.A. (Great War Veterans Association) and any monies they had in that organization was transferred to the Auxiliary. A Charter was granted the Auxiliary on December 20, 1936 with the following Charter members: Mrs. W.S. Stewart; Mrs. A.J. MacDonald; Mrs. Arthur Peake; Mr. J.P. Hillion; Mrs. Florence Goodwill; Mrs. J.S. Walker; Mrs. J.A. MacKenzie; Mrs. J.F. Leightizer; Mrs. A.B. Cosh; Mrs. Norman Lowther; Mrs. G.S. Sherran; Mrs. Leo Bradley; Mrs. Gordon Worth; Mrs. Robert Cotton; Mrs. I.E. Croken; Mrs. T.E. MacNutt; Mrs. Elmer Ritchie. Of these Charter members four are still living: Mrs. Bradley; Mrs. Peake; Mrs. Sherren; Mrs. Lowther One of the greatest works the Auxiliary did was during the Second World War when a training station was located near Charlottetown and hundreds of Air Force Personnel from other Allied Countries were stationed here. The Auxiliary operated a canteen in the Legion home on Grafton Street at that time, and served over 500,000 meals to various servicemen from all branches of the armed forces. Of the women who worked in this Canteen, Ida Sudsbury, Chatherine Lee, Alice Jewell, Ellicott MacLean, Gypsey MacGillivray, Lexie Jordan and Nora Wonnacott are still with us. Lily Corrigan who also worked in the canteen, was a Life Member and received the highest Honor of the Auxiliary. She retired and returned to Charlottetown where she was elected as Treasurer and served this office for 20 years until her death. The Auxiliary grew in membership from 17 in 1936 to 188 in 1988, that is including Life Members. In 1963 the Legion Home moved from Grafton Street to its present location on Pownal Street, in 1979 it was re-decorated. The Auxiliary helped in any way it could in this operation. We have all our minute books except two since the beginning. It is quite interesting to see how the older members made money, and how much they contributed in time and goods. When they would have a banquet to cater to for example, two ladies would be assigned to make mayonnaise and bring it in, two more were assigned to bring tea, coffee and cream, two more would look after pies and rolls, two more potatoes, etc. The turkeys were all cooked and sliced at home, and some of the members took their white sheets in for tablecloths. There is some difference now, where everything is bought and paid for by our Auxiliary. Branch No. 1 - Charlottetown Ladies Auxiliary - History The Royal Canadian Legion Prince Edward Island Command Branch No. 1 - Charlottetown
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