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Obituary: Edna Northey
– ATS: WW2
(b.1918 – d. July 16, 2010)
Ms. Edna Northey, of Barr Street Kitty, died quietly at home on Friday night. She was ninety-two years old, and had given her life and talent to the people and causes she cared about. She worked hard and played hard as well, helping the British Guiana Women’s Hockey Team bring home the medals time and again.
Edna was one of the last two female Guyanese still alive who had given service in World War 2, and will be accorded military honours at her funeral which will be organised by the Guyana Legion for Ex-service people.
A vibrant and spirited woman, who loved sports, Edna chose to give service during World War 2 by joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), which was the women’s branch of the British Army during WW 2. It was formed on September 9, 1938, initially as a women’s voluntary service, and existed until February 1, 1949.
General Secretary of the Guyana Legion, Kingsley Nelson, responding to the death of the veteran ex-service woman said, “She served with distinction. She was much recommended and gave exemplary service.”
Nelson said that Edna had the responsibility of serving in the Officers’ Quarters at Eve Leary during the war, and it was during this period that she became interested in hockey, so much so, that she represented this country on several occasions.
Edna remained in the military for a while, after the war before leaving to work for a local company. After a while, she left Guyana to live for some time near relatives in England, and dropped out of sight for a while.
“She came back into the Guyana Legion about seven years ago,” the General Secretary said, adding, “She has always been interested in the Legion’s activities.” He reminisced, “Even though she had trouble walking, she had arthritic knees, probably through playing hockey, she always made enquires and was always willing to be involved.” Nelson said the last visit Edna made to the Guyana Legion was the first time its current Patron, President Bharrat Jagdeo, ever visited, about three years ago on Remembrance Day. After that her condition began to deteriorate.
But even though Edna had paid her dues to society by giving service to the nation, it was in the world of sport that she truly shone.
When she was introduced to the game during her days in the ATS, it became the love of her life and Edna Northey became the goalkeeper of the British Guiana Hockey club, making every Intercolonial team from 1948 to 1956, and representing the country overseas on at least five occasions.
Edna Northey
As her love of sports grew, she also became involved in lawn tennis and to balance it off, took to an indoor sport – table tennis.
Edna Northey gained her education at the Ursuline Convent and joined the army shortly after finishing her studies there.
When she finally decided to leave military service, Edna went to work with a local company, Weiting and Richter as a stenographer. When she moved on, she went to work with the Bookers Company’s Accounts Department as a ledger machine operator.
As he took the time to remember her relationship with the Guyana Legion, Kingsley Nelson said the office would always make enquires after her physical condition prevented her from visiting.
“We visited her regularly. Physically visiting on a weekly basis, and making daily telephone calls to her,” he said.
Edna Northey died peacefully in her own bed at home. She had been hospitalised for a few days previously at the Davis Memorial Hospital. “The doctors there felt it would be better for her to spend her last few hours at home,” opined Nelson.
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