TREBBLE, Phyllis Margaret
Age at Death: 19
Rank Private
Unit Canadian Women’s Army Corps
Service Number W130290
Place of Burial Hillside Cemetery, Medicine Hat AB
Date of Birth 1925.09.04
Place of Birth Medicine Hat AB
Enlistment November 3, 1943, Calgary AB
Date of Death 1944.12.21
Daughter of Tom and Thurza Trebble, of Winnifred
Phyllis grew up in Winnifred, Alberta, 50 km west of Medicine Hat. Her father was the postmaster there for 22 years. She worked at the post office with him after completing Grade 11. Her Personnel Selection Record notes, “Her father did not wish her to enlist for he was anxious that she remain at home… Because of this girl’s introductory knowledge of Postal work, and the fact that she has a good education, training as a Postal Assistant is advised. This is Trebble’s main ambition.” Following her training, she was posted to the Base Post Office at No. 48 Company Admin Unit in Ottawa.
A few months later, her mother summoned her home by telegram; her father had to have an operation for stomach ulcers and she was needed to run the post office. Mr. Trebble died following the operation, and Phyllis requested and received two additional months’ leave.
When she returned to Ottawa, she began to have stomach trouble and was hospitalized repeatedly. In December 1944, she was admitted to hospital with pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding and vomiting. She had endometrial surgery but her condition deteriorated, and she died on December 21 of a pulmonary embolism.
Phyllis had three sisters and a brother, Roy, who served overseas with the RCAF. He named his daughter after her.
