Nona Catherine O'Neil (née Ratchford), Wren Writer, WRCNS

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

Nona Catherine O'Neil (née Ratchford)

Wren Writer, W3137, WRCNS

Born: 21 Feb 1923, St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada

Died: 12 May 2004, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

O'NEIL, Nona Catherine (née RATCHFORD) - of Bowen Island, B.C. Died peacefully on May 12th at the Palliative Care Unit of the Vancouver General Hospital. Nona was born in St. Boniface, MB in 1923, third of four children of John Ratchford and Evarilda Soucy. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Arthur R. O'Neil of Saint John, N.B., in 1998. She is survived by 6 children; Barbara O'Neil of Cranbrook, B.C., Patrick of Alert Bay, B.C., Brian of New Westminster, B.C. Colleen O'Neil of Bowen Island, B.C., Paul of Delta, B.C., and Peter of Ottawa. She had 13 grandchildren - Tony, David, Michael, Shannon, Kelly, Jake, Colin, Kathleen, Shea, Kit, Erin, Devin and Will. She was predeceased recently by her sister Alice Phelan, of Toronto, and has two brothers, Joe and Charlie Ratchford. The Ratchford's moved to Toronto when Nona was very young, and she was brought up on 9 Glenayr Road. She began her working life with Canadian Breweries in Toronto, then served as a W.R.C.N.S. (Navy Wren), in World War II, stationed first in Halifax, then overseas in Scotland until Dec.'45. Nona was married in Toronto in 1946, then moved to Saint John with Art, and started her family in 1947 with the arrival of Barbara. Her children were everything to her. She encouraged us to enjoy reading, sports and games, but especially music. The evidence truly lies in the considerable musical talents of her grandchildren, with whom Nona's spirit will live on in many homes filled with the sounds of pianos, guitars and fiddles. A small family service was held on Bowen Island, with all of her children present. She will be missed. (The Globe and Mail 26 May 2024)

Ships served in:

HMCS YORK - Enlisted 15 Jun 1943

HMCS CONESTOGA - Drafted to CONESTOGA 30 Sep 1943 as a Probationary Wren, WRCNS

HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 27 Oct 1943

* Rated Wren (GD) 30 Oct 1943

* Rated Wren Writer (C) (Sten) 26 Nov 1943

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 02 Dec 1943

* Rated Wren Writer (GD)

HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 29 Sep 1944

HMCS PEREGRINE - Drafted to PEREGRINE 22 Nov 1945

HMCS YORK - Drafted to YORK 06 Dec 1945

* Demobilized 06 Feb 1946

NCR001

NCR002

NCR003

NCR004

NCR005

(NCR001) Wren Nona Ratchford

(NCR002) Certificate of Service pg 1

(NCR003) Instructions to report to HMCS YORK for medical recheck and travel orders dated 02 Sep 1943

(NCR004) Train Travel Warrant dated 14 Nov 1945 - London to Greenock

(NCR005) Telegraph dated 07 Dec 1945 - drafting instructions for demobilization

NCR006

NCR007

NCR008

NCR009

NCR010

(NCR006) Christmas telegram to Nona from her parents

(NCR007) Undated telegram - Nona telling her parents she will be home for sure on the 22nd November

(NCR008) Souvenir Restaurant menu for The Bay Hotel, Gourock, Scotland, a Dining table card and a Second Class Berth Ticket

(NCR009) Leave ticket HMCS PEREGRINE 29 Nov - 17 Dec 1945

(NCR010) Confirmation of return of respirator, HMCS PEREGRINE 29 Nov 1945

NCR011

NCR012

NCR013

NCR014

NCR015

(NCR011) Restaurant ticket - Rogana Restaurant & Sea Food Bar, Exchange Place, Glasgow, Scotland

(NCR012) Carling Brewery Newsletter articles - Nona Ratchford joined the WRCNS

(NCR013) "In the Spotlight" - Article on Nona Ratchford

(NCR014) Poem about Halifax during the Second World War .... not very flattering

(NCR015) Unknown sailor and wren dancing on the jetty with a few other Wrens and a corvette's crew watching ... presumably V.E. Day or after.

NCR016

(NCR016) Wrens in Halifax celebrating the Anniversary of the Establishment of the WRCNS. Parade held 27 Aug 1944 // The WRCNS was stood up 31 Jul 1942

NCR017

NCR018

NCR019

NCR020

NCR021

(NCR017) Pass for Wren Ratchford to leave dockyard while on duty. The pass does not say which dockyard - presumed to be HMC Dockyard, Halifax

(NCR018) “Captains Picnic September 1944 - Marg Murphy, Sheila Hawkings and Me (Nona Ratchford)”

(NCR019) Article - Red Cross Donation Drive: Wren Nona Ratchford canvassing for the Red Cross onboard HMCS PORT ARTHUR. Mentioned in the article: Chief Motor Mechanic Bernard Conrad, RCNR of Bridgewater, NS and Motor Mechanic Reginald Williams, RCNR of Port Arthur, Ontario.

(NCR020-NCR021) Photos associated with the Red Cross Donation Drive article

NCR022

(NCR022) Wren Nona onboard an unknown ship. Location unknown

NCR023

NCR024

NCR025

NCR026

(NCR023) Wren Nona Ratchford , centre, with 2 unknown Wrens feeding pigeons at Trafalgar Square, London, England

(NCR024) Write-up on the "Greenock Gals" at HMCS NIOBE

(NCR025) Country side around Greenock, Scotland

(NCR026) Unknown male, Nona Ratchford (centre) and Felice Arsenault of PEI

NCR027

NCR028

NCR029

NCR030

NCR031

(NCR027) “Though wintry winds blow from Scotch shores, our Wrens are snug, here at “Lindores – Nona Ratchford, Toronto; Norma Perry, Montreal; Patricia Walsh, Toronto; Audrey Robinson, Winnipeg; Joyce Cudden-Woodthorpe, Toronto” // Nona Ratchford 1st on left, knitting.

(NCR038) Lindores - “top bunk L to R: Vera Dickie, Ev Bowen, Marg Abel, Lower Bunk: Ruth Popkin, Ev Hicks, Marg Brown, Bunny MacDonald, Roe Evans. Chair: Genevieve Conaty Floor: Merry Fraser & Kay Genors

(NCR029) Lindores Manor County House, Greenock, Scotland - accommodations for approx 80 Wrens

(NCR030) Wrens in front of Lindores Manor

(NCR031) Some type of index card for Lindores with Nona Ratchford's name