Description
1914-15 Star, E. M. Llewelyn, V.A.D., Elizabeth Margaret Llewelyn later Pearse, known as Elma to her friends, a scarce Star to a volunteer Nurse who was born in Jamaica.
Officially impressed: “E. M Llewelyn. V.A.D.”
Mount Elma, in Forbidden Plateau, Strathcona Provincial Park was named after her “Named by Ruther Masters, Comox and District Mountaineering Club, for Elizabeth Mary ‘Elma’ Pearse, wife of Theed Pearse, Mayor of Courtenay 1928-29, in 1930, Clinton Wood led Elma’s party into this are and she evidently rode her horse to the top of this mountain!”
Elizabeth Margaret “Elma” Llewelyn, was born on 20th May 1874 in Spanish Town, Jamaica. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Baxter Llewelyn K.C.M.G. and Theodora Louisa Llewelyn.
When she joined the war effort she was 41 years old, living at Ferney Close, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.
The 1911 Census shows her father Robert at “Retired Colonial Governor, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.”
Her father was a career Colonial Governor and Commissioner, so Elizabeth would have seen a varied Childhood as her father moved around.
He was from 1878-1883: Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos Islands
1885-1888: Governor of Tobago
1886-1889: Administrator of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1889-1891: Commissioner of Saint Lucia
1891-1900: Administrator of the Colony of the Gambia
7 November 1900 – 1906: Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Windward Islands and their dependencies
1900-1906: Governor of Grenada
Notably, During his time as the Governor of the Windward Isles Llewelyn oversaw the response to the 1902 eruption of La Soufriere Volcano on St. Vincent. On the morning of the climactic eruption he left the island of St. Vincent (his usual residence) for a meeting in St. Lucia, but made some observations of activity as his ship sailed past, and later returned. This impacted trust in his governance around recovery and response to further explosions. He later returned £33,000 of the £77,000 raised for relief efforts as decision-making around this was slow and acrimonious. The needs of the refugee populations were not met, and many were encouraged to move overseas for employment.
She had first entered into France on 21st September 1915 as part of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John, Voluntary Aid Unit, France.
She is additionally entitled to the British War and Victory Medal Pair, for service between at least 21st September 1915 and 16th November 1915.
As the war ended, she married Theed Pearse, an interesting fellow and noted Naturalist and Ornithologist, they swiftly moved to Canada and settled in British Columbia.
His obituary notes that she was “A tolerant partner in his natural history pursuits”.
Her Husband was later Alderman and Mayor in British Columbia and is remembered for his self published meticulous Tome “Birds of the Early Explorers in the Northern Pacific”.
He also represended the Executive Council of the British Columbia Red Cross Society as Chairman of the Local Red Cross, no doubt an influence from his wife, affectionately known as “Elma”.
She lived a very long life with her Husband, she died at the age of 94 in 1969, her Husband lived on another 2 years to reach the age of 99.
