Eswyn Lyster
Encyclopedia
Coral Eswyn Lyster, (b. September 27, 1923 - d. July 18, 2009) was a Canadian author best known for writing extensively on the Canadian war bride experience. She also published articles on the Dieppe Raid
in World War II, as well as a book on genealogy
.
(WRNS) informally known as the Wrens, which was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.
In 1943 she met Company Sergeant Major
(CSM) Bill Lyster of the Calgary Highlanders, a Canadian regiment stationed in her home town of Aldwick
, Sussex
. They were married later in the year. In April 1945, Bill, now commissioned and with the rank of Captain, was badly wounded and repatriated to Canada. In February 1946, Eswyn and her infant son joined the stream of 44,000 war brides travelling to Canada.
Many ships, like the Queen Mary, were pressed into service for this massive emigration: Eswyn crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the RMS Mauretania (1938)
, the first dedicated war bride crossing, to Pier 21
in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. Bill was from Empress
, Alberta
, and she and her son traveled by train from Halifax to join his family there.
Following emigration, her family lived in Regina
and Edmonton
when her daughter and younger son were born. In the 1950s, Eswyn began writing about her experiences and family. From 1956 to 1969 she lived in North Vancouver, British Columbia
. In 1969 she and her husband retired to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island
where she maintained an active writing career.
She was a long-time member of the Anglican Church of Canada
, an avid alpine gardener, and a member of several gardening clubs. She died in Victoria General Hospital July 18, 2009.
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
in World War II, as well as a book on genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
.
Biography
Eswyn Ellinor was born in London, England, to Stanley Ellinor (a newsagent) and Coral Winifred (née Stuart) Ellinor. During World War II, she served in the Women's Royal Naval ServiceWomen's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
(WRNS) informally known as the Wrens, which was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.
In 1943 she met Company Sergeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
(CSM) Bill Lyster of the Calgary Highlanders, a Canadian regiment stationed in her home town of Aldwick
Aldwick
Aldwick is a civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, England, and is part of the built-up area around Bognor Regis, to the west of the town. The parish includes Rose Green and occupies an area of , and has a population of 10,884 persons.It became, briefly, the focus of the British Empire...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. They were married later in the year. In April 1945, Bill, now commissioned and with the rank of Captain, was badly wounded and repatriated to Canada. In February 1946, Eswyn and her infant son joined the stream of 44,000 war brides travelling to Canada.
RMS Mauretania (1938)
RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. A successor to RMS Mauretania , the second Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard...
, the first dedicated war bride crossing, to Pier 21
Pier 21
Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 and became an immigration museum in 1999. Pier 21 is Canada's last remaining ocean immigration shed...
in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Bill was from Empress
Empress, Alberta
- See also :*List of communities in Alberta*List of villages in Alberta*Monarchy in Alberta- References :...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, and she and her son traveled by train from Halifax to join his family there.
Following emigration, her family lived in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
and Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
when her daughter and younger son were born. In the 1950s, Eswyn began writing about her experiences and family. From 1956 to 1969 she lived in North Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. In 1969 she and her husband retired to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
where she maintained an active writing career.
She was a long-time member of the Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
, an avid alpine gardener, and a member of several gardening clubs. She died in Victoria General Hospital July 18, 2009.
Notable events and webpage
- Royal BC Museum - A portrait of her wedding day was featured in the Royal British Columbia MuseumRoyal British Columbia MuseumThe Royal British Columbia Museum is a natural history and human history museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1886. The "Royal" title was approved by Queen Elizabeth II and bestowed by HRH Prince Philip in 1987, to coincide with a Royal tour that year...
exhibit called War Brides: One-Way Passage, in Victoria, B.C. Running from May until September 2008, it was a collection of 81 paintings by Calgary artist Bev Tosh, who is herself the daughter of a war bride. Eswyn was a featured guest at its opening on May 10–11, 2008 (Mother's DayMother's DayMother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
).
- Canadian Citizenship issues - Eswyn also became an advocate for those caught in the Lost Canadian debate, giving testimony at a Canadian Parliamentary committee hearing on citizenship. She has collaborated with historian and researcher Melynda Jarratt on warbride and Canadian citizenship issues.
- War bride anniversaries - Eswyn was a speaker at the "The Year of the War Bride" event, held at and sponsored by Pier 21Pier 21Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 and became an immigration museum in 1999. Pier 21 is Canada's last remaining ocean immigration shed...
, February 5, 2006. (The then-Lieutenant-Governor of Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
Her Honour The Honourable Myra FreemanMyra Freeman-References:* . Government of Nova Scotia. Accessed 2010-12-22....
was the keynote speaker.)
- Webpage - Her webpage includes an interactive message board for those seeking information about war brides - either for themselves or for relatives. Eswyn was also compiling an extensive war bride database of those in contact with her.
See also
- Lyster
- War bride
- Pier 21Pier 21Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971 and became an immigration museum in 1999. Pier 21 is Canada's last remaining ocean immigration shed...
- Royal British Columbia MuseumRoyal British Columbia MuseumThe Royal British Columbia Museum is a natural history and human history museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1886. The "Royal" title was approved by Queen Elizabeth II and bestowed by HRH Prince Philip in 1987, to coincide with a Royal tour that year...
- RMS Mauretania (1938)RMS Mauretania (1938)RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. A successor to RMS Mauretania , the second Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard...
- List of Canadian writers