ALEXANDRINA LIBRARY SERVICES
November 2011
news
No 88
by Dawn Juers and Helen Halm
Before taking a short break Dawn prepared much of the Newsletter and her research follows.
“This month being the anniversary of Armistice Day it is prudent to record the wartime efforts of
Jessie Wakefield, youngest child of Murat and Constance Susan nee Varcoe of Tadner, Currency
Creek. Jessie had two sisters, Gertrude and Flora and a brother, Allan. Her father had died nine
years prior to Jessie enlisting in the Australian Army Nursing Service on 6th August 1915.
A farewell was given to Nurse Wakefield by Goolwa residents at their Australia Day festival
reported in “The Register” of 4th August 1915. A fancy dress football match and a procession left
the Goolwa Institute that same afternoon. Nurse Wakefield was presented with a travelling rug and
the Mayor (Mr W. Sumner) spoke on behalf of her friends. Other speeches were made by Messrs
Thomas Goode and G. Ritchie.
Nurse Wakefield left Australia on the Orontes and posted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital
based at Cairo. Two years later she was at 3 AGH in the Somme area of France. It was June 1919
before she embarked from England on the Lucie Woerman for Australia and home, where she
nursed at the Repatriation Hospital.
Jessie was awarded the 1914-15 Star; the British War Medal 1914-20, and the Victory Medal.
The Advertiser reports that on 21st August 1919 a welcome home celebration was held for Jessie,
where many speakers welcomed her home and presented her with gifts.
On 11th October 1922, Jessie Wakefield married Alan Edward Woods in St John’s Church,
Adelaide. In 1926 a daughter Elizabeth Mary was born.
Jessie was cremated on 23rd August 1956 aged 70yrs, her last address given as Woodville Park,
SA.
LIEUTENANT JESSIE WAKEFIELD, AANS
Photo: Goolwa RSL Sub-Branch
Sources:
‘Saddles to Seakings ‘by Frank Tuckwell
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
http://trove.nla.gov.au
Wartime rationing was instituted on October 1, 1940. Apart from petrol
rationing, there was no official rationing of consumer goods until June 15,
1942, when clothing rationing began. The Rationing Commission, established
on May 14 of that year, issued a ration book with coupons for clothing, tea,
and sugar. The rationing was introduced on July 6 at the rate of half a pound
(225g) a person for five weeks but was increased to half a pound every four
weeks on November 23, 1942. Sugar rationing was introduced from August
31 at the rate of two pounds (900g) a person for a fortnight. In issues after June, 1944, clothing
coupons were on a separate card. On June 7, 1943, butter was rationed at half a pound (225g) a
person a week, reduced to six ounces (170g) a week on June 5, 1944, on January 17, 1944, meat
was rationed at two and a quarter pounds (1.1kg) a person a week, reduced later to (800kg).
Rationing ceased for clothing on June 24, 1948, for tea on July 3, 1950, for sugar on July 3, 1947,
for butter on June 15, 1950, and for meat on June 24, 1948. Petrol rationing ended on June 6, 1949.
(Clothing coupon from the Val Lawrence collection)
WRITING PAPER FOR SOLDIERS
From David Christie of Goolwa - “The friends and relatives of our soldiers on active service are constantly
receiving letters written on cigarette boxes, &c. The scarcity of writing paper seems to be greatly felt by the
men. I suggest that the drapery stores save up their ribbon paper and have it sent to the front. I know these
stores must destroy miles of such paper each week. It makes really good note paper.”
th
[The Advertiser 11 September 1915 p18]
***
Recently History Room volunteers assisted Year 8
students from Investigator College with their research of
local buildings such as the Old Police Station, Information
Centre, (former Post Office), and Mortuary.
They had already got some basics from our wiki, but found
additional information in our files, and photo albums.
Photo by Frodo
For anyone who is writing a family history and seeking
some background to their forebears’ era, Hindsight might help. Radio National’s website
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight has interviews for printing or downloading (mp3). Having a
school friend who lived in Japan during the Occupation, I (Helen) found the BCOF interviews
enlightening.
It was in the spirit of fun that Australian Light Horsemen, when asked what sort of plumes were
in their hats, replied laconically, “Kangaroo feather’s, mate.”
Great Book of Australian Humour by Bill Wannan
Happy researching
Helen
Genealogy help is available by appointment on Thursdays, to guide you through your research. Please phone the
Library on 8555-7000 to make an appointment. For comments, suggestions or to receive this newsletter – email
[email protected]
Back copies of this newsletter can be sourced on our wiki http://alexhistory.pbworks.com
2