Reception
for Miss Bowlby
Accompanied by her father
and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bowlby of Woodhouse, who had gone to
Toronto to welcome her, Miss Annie Bowlby arrived home last Friday
by the 9:05 p.m. G.T.R. Express.
It is a little over a year
ago since Miss Bowlby, almost without attracting any attention,
volunteered to go the fighting front and left for overseas. She has
been stationed most of the intervening time as a nursing sister in
the British Hospital at Malta, prepared for the reception of
Gallipoli wounded.
News of Miss Bowlby's
expected return to Simcoe was received early in the week and the
county council which was in session, determined to take official
note of the first return of a Norfolk County nurse from active
service. A special committee of the council was named and it was
decided that a public reception be tendered Miss Bowlby on her
arrival at the depot.
Colonel Pratt, commanding
the 133rd, co-operated, and a guard of honor, 250 strong, headed by
the band, lined the platform when the train pulled in. Warden
McDowell and the county council were present in a body, and citizens
turned out on foot and in motor cars to help in the cheering.
When Miss Bowlby and her
parents got out to the platform, the soldiers presented arms and
then Warden McDowell made a brief but singularly happy speech and
presented her with a handsome traveling bag; someone furnished a
beautiful bouquet; hearty cheers were given, and the proceedings
were over.
The affair was a well
deserved tribute to a splendid young woman whose noble work on
behalf of suffering and wounded British soldiers has greatly
endeared her to the people of the community that is proud to claim
her as a daughter.
