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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
GRAHAM, Dorthy (née Hill) - passed away at Grand River Hospital in KW on Thursday February 24th. Dorothy was born in Nutana, Saskatchewan, now a part of Saskatoon, on July 24, 1913, the daughter of George and Eleanor (Smart) Hill. She was predeceased by her parents; by her brothers, George and Russell; by her sister, Eunice (Reid); and by her husband, Gerry (2004). She is survived by her sister, Verna (Marion) of Vancouver.
Dorothy received her schooling in Delisle and then moved with her family to Meadow Lake, where she worked in the general store for a while before taking a business course in Regina.
She returned to Meadow Lake to work in a doctor’s office before obtaining a position with the Northern Settlers’ Re-establishment Branch of the Saskatchewan Relief Commission, which was formed in 1935 to assist settlers who had moved from the drought areas of southern Saskatchewan to the wooded and park belt areas of northern Saskatchewan.
She moved to Toronto and worked for Salvation Army War Services before enlisting in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens) in March 1943, receiving her basic training in Galt, Ontario. In August 1943, she went to England as part of the Canadian Naval Mission Overseas and was stationed in London for the duration of the war.
She returned to Canada in June 1946 and, after discharge from the Wrens, moved to Ottawa to work for the National Film Board where she met her husband, Gerald Graham, who was Director of Technical Operations and Research at the NFB. They married in 1954, moved to Baie d’Urfe, Quebec, when the NFB was relocated to Montreal in 1956, and retired to Kitchener in 1980.
Although Dorothy and Gerald had no family of their own, while in Montreal they became surrogate parents to international students who were attending MacDonald College. After moving to Kitchener, they continued to welcome international students into their home, and they stayed in touch with many members of their extended family of students.
Dorothy was a member of Trinity United Church, Kitchener. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the charity of your choice would be welcomed and can be made by calling the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home at 519-745-9495.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Church, 74 Frederick St., Kitchener ON on Monday, March 14th at 2:00 p.m. (Dignity Memorial)
Citation for award of Commendation:
HILL, Dorothy, Acting Petty Officer, W1161, Commendation, WRCNS - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 5 January 1946 and London Gazette of 1 January 1946.
"This rating was among the first Canadian Wrens to proceed Overseas. She has, at all times, displayed a marked devotion to duty, and during the period of enemy air attacks on London, her courage, leadership and excellent example inspired the Wrens under her control. Her work has been consistently outstanding at all times."
From the book 'Proudly She Marched' by Anne Kallin has a bit of Dorothy's story on page 98-99 - She was in the first group of Wrens to go to the CNMO in London where they experienced firebombs and doodlebugs. She recalled when the sirens went during the night we had to "don slacks and greatcoats, carry our tin hats and gas masks and proceed to the hallways until the 'all clear' was sounded. Some of the time waiting for the 'all clear' was spent singing, reading or just chatting with the appropriate pause for the Bug to land. It was sad to see so many Londoners spending the nights in the underground stations. We shall never forget that sight."
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