Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Name: Elizabeth Genevieve Woodman Rank: Aircraftwoman 1st Class Service No.: W300727 Service: Royal Canadian Air Force, Women’s Division Date of Birth: February 23, 1920 Place of Birth: New Harbour, Newfoundland Date of Enlistment: November 27, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address at Enlistment: 270 South Street, Halifax, NS Age at Enlistment: 21 Height: 5 feet, 2 ½ inches Complexion: Medium Eyes: Hazel Hair: Light brown Marital Status: Single Trade: Teacher Religion: Anglican Next of Kin: George Woodman (Father) New Harbour, Trinity Bay, NL Date of Death: August 11, 1942 Age: 22 Cemetery: St. Augustine Cemetery, New Harbour, Newfoundland. Inscription: “Peace, Perfect Peace” Commemorated on Page 125 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 16 Commemorated on Page 210 of the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance Elizabeth Genevieve Woodman the daughter of George Woodman (1892-1954) and Mary Louise (Windsor) Woodman (1893-1973) of Newfoundland. Elizabeth had two brothers, Ford George Frederick (1924-2001) and Reginald Neal (1934-2005) and four sisters, Annie Elaine (1917-1978), Eileen Frederika (1928-2001), Grace, and Mary Patricia (1928-2001). Elizabeth worked as a store clerk for three years and a teacher in Heart’s Delight, Newfoundland, for two years prior to enlistment. She enjoyed swimming, basketball, field hockey, and skating. After enlisting at the No. 16 Recruitment Centre in Halifax, she was granted two weeks leave and ordered to report back to the recruitment centre December 18, 1942, departing for Toronto by train that afternoon. Elizabeth fell out of an upper bunk and landed on her back on January 8, 1942, at the No. 6 Manning Depot in Toronto, Ontario. She had a crushing fracture of the 1st lumbar vertebra but the medical examination did not determine it at the time. She was transferred to No. 8 SFTS in Moncton, NB, and arrived there January 25, 1942. She seemed to have recovered from her fall and subsequent visits to the medical officer in May 1942 reported she was able to carry out her duties. But on June 22, 1942, Elizabeth returned to the medical officer complaining that her back was getting worse. She was suffering intense pain and unable to do the work and to bend or twist. A medical examination took place and an x-ray on June 24, 1942, confirmed the fracture of her vertebra. She was transferred to Montreal and on July 9, 1942, Elizabeth had surgery in an attempt to attempt to resolve her spinal issues. The doctor noted [...] “It is unfortunate that the nature of the lesion was not recognized before the operation. It seems inevitable that tuberculosis meningitis will result -- also a tuberculosis infection of the wound is extremely likely.” She was discharged eleven days after surgery at the No. 5 Manning Depot, in Lachine, Quebec on July 20, 1942. Elizabeth died in Montréal twenty-three days later August 11th. The pension commission determined, " […] death from tuberculosis meningitis was the result of a pre- enlistment condition, aggravated during service in Canada, subsequent to May 21, 1940, but not pensionable as the aggravation did not arise out of, nor was it directly connected with, military service”. The Circumstance of Casualty report, Canada, War Grave Registers, indicates her death was due to war service. Her body was transported to Newfoundland and she was buried at the St. Augustine Cemetery, New Harbour, Newfoundland.