MILLAR, Mary Isabel
Age at Death: 19
Rank Private
Unit Canadian Women’s Army Corps
Service Number W10965
Place of Burial Brandon Cemetery, MB
Date of Birth 1923.12.22
Place of Birth Brandon MB
Enlistment February 5, 1943, Winnipeg MB
Date of Death 1943.05.16
Daughter of John Sym Millar and Elizabeth C. Millar, of Brandon
Mary was raised with three brothers (all of whom served in the military) and four sisters, in addition to twin siblings who died in infancy. She indicated during her enlistment that she had never been to a doctor. Her Personnel Selection Record states, “This very young girl radiates energy. Work that is sedentary would probably not be suitable. Some active work is suggested.”
Only a month after enlisting, she was admitted to hospital with a severe headache, loss of appetite and vomiting. She remained in hospital for a month while being analyzed, her mood swinging between drowsy and euphoric. On May 15, 1943, a doctor noted, “There is a continuous and monotonous repetition of phrases throughout the flow of speech… I think there is a good deal of intellectual degeneration and her condition is generally not improved.” Late that night, her heartbeat became rapid, then ceased. Her cause of death is listed as furniculosis of the right ear and suspected meningitis.
