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Note: ELIZABETH JEFFRIES McALLISTER, born July 23, 1866 was the daughter of Alexander Hardy McALLISTER and Catherine HANCOCK. As a girl, Elizabeth attended Eastham National School. Not very much is known of Elizabeth as a young woman, except for a photograph of her standing behind a troup of young army cadets; perhaps she was a sponsor or supporter of the group. The photograph was probably taken around the year 1885 when her brother, George, was a soldier in the 90th Regiment, 8th Battalion Royal Winnipeg Rifles, at the Battle of Batoche, during the Riel Rebellion. It was during this battle that the soldiers were given the name "Little Black Devils" by the followers of Louis Riel. Perhaps the young boys in the photograph were training to join the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
More research needs to be done to determine if Elizabeth's future husband, Thomas Albert WATTS, was with this battalion as it is believed his brother Jim WATTS was with Elizabeth's brother, George McALLISTER, in the 1885 Battle of Batoche.
On June 28, 1887, Elizabeth married Thomas Albert WATTS who was born at St Albans, London, England. Thomas and Elizabeth had five children:
Thomas Albert (Bert) Crackanthorpe WATTS, b. July 3, 1888
Catherine (Kitty) Annie WATTS, January 30, 1890
Reginald WATTS, March 17, 1892
Alexander Francis WATTS, May 4, 1894
Henry (Harry) James WATTS, June 2, 1896
During World War II, Elizabeth's husband Thomas Albert WATTS, was in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles "Little Black Devils" and became a prisoner of war in France, as was their son Bert. Their son, Harry, was with the air force (perhaps also with the Royal Air Corps) and was also a prisoner of war. At this time, Elizabeth wrote a letter asking that her son, Reg, not be taken into the army as her husband and two sons were in prison camps, and their son, Alex, was serving in France. Her request was granted in order that she would have at least one son with her in Winnipeg. Alex was later sent to Northern Russia with the Canadian Expeditionary Force to assist the White Russian Army; but was not able to return until 1919 after the death of his mother on November 2, 1918 -- just nine days before the end of World War I. It is presumed her husband and two sons were not in Winnipeg when she died, as they probably were not released from prison camp until after the war.
It is believed Elizabeth and her husband died of influenza in the terrible pandemic that began in 1918; also, it is believed they may have suffered from consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis) making them unable to survive the influenza. Thomas died February 18, 1920.
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BITS OF HISTORY: The Influenza Pandemic
In 1918, the very mention of the word 'flu could strike terror into the heart of most families. The big Spanish 'flu pandemic of 1918 was a deadly scourge that followed right after the appalling casualties of the First World War. Some 35 million people world wide died of the 'flu before the summer of 1919 -- 50,000 of them in Canada. In the same year, the Stanley Cup hockey games were called off during the series between Seattle Metropolitans and Montreal Canadiens, due to the 'flu.
The disease, which was said to have originated in Spain in 1917, quicly spread to battle-worn troops in France. As the war ended in Novemer 1918, the impetus to bring soldiers home was a significant factor in spreading the strain to North America and the rest of the world. The first Vancouver, British Columbia, case was diagnosed on October 5, 1918. In a matter of two weeks the number of reported cases had skyrocketed to 900 and 32 people had already died.
The 'flu of 1918 hit young adults hardest, with debilitating symptoms including high fever, sores, jaundice and vomiting. Pregnant women usually miscarried and often died afterwards. Two-thirds of the dead were in their 20s. Those lucky enough to survive faced a prolonged recovery from pneumonia.
(M. T. Burnett, updated August 21, 1999)
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