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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-09, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Nuron Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1 WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor �p] POSTMEDIA NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca SHAUN GREGORY Multimedia Journalist shaun.gregory@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca NANCY DEGANS Media Sales Consultant ndegans@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, wit not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to set and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Colonel Alice Sorby, M.B.E. Lieutenant-Colonel Alice Sorbywas one of the most outstanding soldiers that Huron County ever produced. As Deputy Commander of the Canadian Women's Army Corps, she has the distinction of being the first Canadian female soldier to serve overseas. Emma Alice Higgins was born on September 16,1903 in Bruce - field. She was eldest of two daugh- ters and one son bom to Benjamin and Lottie Higgins. The Higgins were devout Presbyterian farmers. The moved to Clinton where attended the public school and graduated from Clinton Collegiate Institute in 1921. She studied French and German at University of Toronto. When she graduated in 1924, the yearbook described her as 'two brown eyes, auburn hair and Irish wit' It also called the jazz loving Alice 'a study in contrasts: She 'was logical yet imaginative, sophisticated yet naive: After ayear at the Ontario Col- lege of Education, Alice Higgins taught languages at Guelph Colle- giate where she met her future husband Walter Sorby. Sorbywas a McGill University engineering graduate. On July 2, 1927, Alice married Walter Sorby at Wesley - Willis United Church in Clinton. In 1928, they were living in Winnipeg, Manitoba where Alice became active in community affairs. She was a board member of several of Winnipeg's charita- ble and philanthropic organiza- tions including the Junior League, the Red Cross, the Council of Social Agencies and Winnipeg's Community Chest. In 1937, she gave birth to a son who was her only child. Mrs. Sorbywas destined to become a prominent socialite in Winnipeg's civic life until the Sec- ond World War broke out. Accord- ing to a 2012 Legion Magazine Huron History David Yates article, Sorby told one journalist that 'in September 1939 when the thunder of war first crashed about ears, the immediate reaction was an almost hysterical desire to do something.' Unfortunately for Sorby, and Canadian women eve- rywhere, aside from nursing, there were few opportunities for women to serve in uniform. Yet, by 1941, the war created acute manpower shortages while thousands of patriotic women demanded greater opportunities to serve King and County. The solution was the creation ofwom- en's divisions in the army, navy and airforce. On August 13, 1941, the Canadian Women's Army Corps was the second branch of the armed forces to allow the enlistment of women (The RCAF created the Women's Division in July 1941). The CWAC provided logistical and clerical support for frontline units and freed up more men for combat duty. One of the first enlistees in the CWAC was Alice Sorby in Sep- tember 1941. At two-thirds the rate of pay of her male counter- part, Sorby donned the King's uniform with the rank of Captain. Her husband, Captain Walter Sorby, was then serving in the Royal Canadian Artillery in Eng- land. (Strangely, one of the requirements for acceptance into the CWAC's was that recruits were not to have any dependent children. With one dependent child, recruiters overlooked this www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com condition in Sorby's case). Captain Sorbywas inrtitially assigned to the headquarters staff of the Wmnipeg Military District where she oversaw 'one of the most flourishing and successful CWAC units in Canada: Her administrative skills 'won her the admiration of high military author- ities' according to the Goderich Signal Star. Sorbywas promoted to Major in July 1942 and appointed Deputy Commander of the Canadian Women's Army Corps. In August 1942, she became the first female soldier posted overseas when she was despatched to England to pre- pare the way for Canada's female troops. Unti11942, the only Cana- dian women who served overseas were the nurses of the Royal Cana- dian Army Medical Corps. Upon her arrival in England, Major Sorby was treated like a major celebrity in the Canadian and British press. The Toronto Star reported that the first thing the'Wmnipeg housewife' did was call her hus- band whom she now outranked to wish him a Happy Birthday. Major Sorby shared the front page of The Hamilton Spectator with the disas- trous Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. One British press cable stated that Major Sorby would 'pave the way for the coming of the first contingent of the Canadian Women's Army Corps' and approvingly stated that she had 'fulfilled her first task in such admirable fashion that the girls in khakiwho follow her have not a worry in the world. They will be the envy of every uniformed British girl in their smartly tailored uniforms.' Major Sorby set to work estab- lishing separate barracks, mess halls and other military facilities to accommodate the CWAC. On November 7, 1942, Major Sorby met at the docks the first wave of CWACs who marched 'smartly' letter to the editor Seaforth Lions Club Learns about Local Winery Catherine and Brian Lands - borough of Maelstrom Winery were guests at the February 22 dinner meeting. The first com- mercial winery in Huron County, Maelstrom Winery was established in 2009. They started small and have worked up to eight acres in grapes. It has been a labor intensive pro- cess with family members doing most of the work. Start-up costs can run $28,000.00 per acre and it takes five or more years to realize a return. The grape yield can run from three to seven ton per acre depending on the growing season. Deer, wild tur- keys and snow build up are a challenge and can affect their yield. A wine maker from the Niagara Peninsula who previ- ously had his own winery is working with them. It is a tightly controlled industry as they have to have 4 different licenses for processing their wine. One is from the LCBO who have to approve the operation, wine quality, alcohol content, prices, etc. They have a variety of white and red wines and iced cider for sale. Their hours of operation are Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 11:00 to 5:00 pm and will be open from 11:00 to 6:00 pm after May 1. Their prices vary from $12.00 to $28.00 per bottle. They brought a number of sam- ples for members to try. Lion Brent Ribey and Aleisha Dale are the proud parents of our newest lion cub Case Kevin Murray Ribey, born February 1. Our lions pride is growing February early -bird elimina- tion draw winners of $60 are Stephen and Jaclyn down the gangplank singing 'cur- rent hits: The Toronto Star reported that British dockworkers rubbed their eyes in amazement when they saw khaki clad women in full marching order wearing greatcoats and helmuts. They 'had never seen anything like it' The women were the first of 3,000 CWACs who served overseas dur- ing the war. Although there was never any question that the CWACs would be engaged in com- bat, many experienced the V-1 and V-2 rocket blitz. For her services, King George VI made Major Sorby a Member of the British Empire in January 1944. In June 1944, she was pro- moted to Lieutenant-Colonel. As the war in Europe wound down, Colonel Sorbywas recalled to Canada in March 1945 but before she left, she was invited to have tea with the Queen Mother. She said it was her most 'memorable occasion' while overseas. She retired as Deputy Director of the CWAC in September 1945. With the war over, Colonel Sorby, MBE went back to the role of housewife and mother. The Sorby's lived in Montreal for eight years before moving on to Halifax. Her husband, Walter, died sud- denly while visiting his parents in Guelph in February 1958. Alice Sorby moved to Ontario and taught high school in Whitby. In 1959, Colonel Sorbywas hired as a researcher by the Army's Historical Section in Ottawa where she felt 'quite at home in the military atmosphere with its trim uniforms and disciplined lines of files: Away from the office, Colonel Sorby enjoyed playing bridge, golf and reading. She retired in 1966 and died in Ottawa on August 18, 1982. It was 40 years to the day that she landed in England and became the first female Canadian soldier to serve her King and Country Henderson. There are still a few tickets available for pur- chase from Lion Bob Beuttenmiller. Lions members are busy canvassing local businesses collecting items for their April 9th TV auction. The donors' generosity is greatly appreciated. Donations of $1000 to the Melady-Powers Refugee Spon- sorship, $100 to Huron County Crime Stoppers and $4210 to District and International Lions projects were approved.