MARLBOROUGH – During World War I and World War II the women of Marlborough rose to the challenge and enlisted or volunteered. They served in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, Coast Guard, the Marines, Army Nurse Corps, Yeoman, and the Red Cross. You had to be between the ages of 20 and 36 and have had at least two years of high school.
The Marlborough Historical society is showcasing many of these women who volunteered to serve. The society was able to highlight with pictures and records some of these brave women. On display are seven women who during World War II were in the Coast Guard. Several stayed on through the Korean War. Also on exhibit are six women who were in the Marine Corps Reserve, two that were with the Red Cross during World War II and two that served in the first World War. The Navy Nurse Corps had three city women and there were fourteen more Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during World War II. These are the records and files the society was able to locate.
There are twenty-two Marlborough women on display who served in the Army Nurse Corps. They saw duty in Australia, West Indies, Japan, Italy, Palestine, France, Germany, Algeria, Philippines, and New Guinea.
During World War I Eleanor Barnes and Ethel Bryant volunteered with the Red Cross in France from 1918 to 1919.
Alice Comstock was with the Red Cross from 1942 to 1951. Gertude Frye was in the Red Cross from 1942 to 1946. Vivienne Humphrey was in the Cadet Nurse Corps serving at the Harlem Hospital, in New York. These women assisted in nursing the wounds of men during World War II.
Many of these women not only served but also suffered difficult losses during their tours. Fanny Kontoyianes, who served during World War II, lost her husband, Daniel Langerlier. He was killed in action in Germany. Mildred Hudson, who also served during World War II, lost her brother, Burr, in Okinawa. Rachel McDonald, who served as a Yeoman during World I, had a son killed in World War II. During World II Anita Garvey, who was an Army nurse in England lost her husband. Catherine Langelier of the Cadet Nurse Corps lost two brothers in the conflict.
Marie Robertson was a Russian immigrant who came to the United States after she married Charles Robertson. Charles had been attached to the American Consulate in Shanghai, China. When her husband passed, she entered the Women’s Army Corps, and was part of the Signal Photographic Detachment, stationed in Australia.
To these brave women we say thank you. The city of Marlborough is proud of you.
The Marlborough Historical Society has photos of these outstanding women on display at the Peter Rice Homestead at 377 Elm Street. If you would like to see them, contact the society through the website (historicmarlborough.org) and arrange a tour.
