Deseronto Archives

On January 8th, 1916, Hattie May Mastin joined the Army Medical Corps in Kingston, Ontario as a nursing sister. She was born on July 31st, 1888 in Deseronto, the daughter of Melbourne Mastin and Minerva Jane (née Bruin). Hattie had served in the military hospital in Belleville for seven weeks. She was living at 269 William Street, Belleville when she joined the army. Hattie was the first woman to enlist of the people from Deseronto who served in the war, one of only two in total.

Her service record shows that she was transferred to the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Le Treport, France on June 18th, one of 46 new nursing sisters who arrived that day, according to the unit’s war diary.

Mastin left England for Canada on the SS Carmania on July 12th and was demobilized on July 15th, 1919 in Ottawa on general demobilization. In 1921, Hattie was back with her mother and siblings, living at 234 John Street, Belleville.