Material Type

Photograph

Date Range

1941-1942

Physical Description

27 items

Physical Condition

Very Good

History Biographical

Nina Sergeant was born in Lethbridge on 15 July 1911 to Herbert and Elizabeth Anne Crawford Sergeant (nee Copperthwaite). Nina and her sister Betty were twins. She married Neils Ebbesen Kloppenborg and together they had five children: Anne, John, Kathy, Rob and Leanne. Nina Sergeant received her primary and secondary school education in Lethbridge, and then attended the Normal School in Calgary to train as teacher. She taught at schools throughout southern Alberta before her marriage. She was also a member of the Canadian Auxiliary Territorial Service. Nina played and taught the piano, and was a member of McKillop United Church and the United Church Women, as well as a supporter of the Lethbridge Fish and Game Association and the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra. Nina also was a member of Faith Rebekah Lodge and the Area 11 Home & School Federation. Nina Kloppenborg died on 9 June 2004 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge. The Canadian Auxiliary Territorial Service (CATS) was formed just prior to World War 2. It allowed women to serve in the military in a reserve capacity. The Lethbridge unit of the CATS received its colours from Margaret Reid, Western Commandant of the CATS, in a ceremony on 20 April 1941. Training in the CATS consisted of basic drill, first aid, motor vehicle repairs and general military skills. Training took place three days each week. The Lethbridge unit was made up of three platoons, more than 100 women in total. Eighteen women from the local CATS unit later joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC), including the CATS commanding officer Leona McElvena, who became the highest ranking woman to serve from Lethbridge during World War 2. A drain of Lethbridge and southern Alberta women from the CATS unit to the regular forces caused the local CATS to be disbanded on 26 October 1942. Potential new recruits could not be signed up as they opted to enlist in the regular forces after World War 2 began. The donor served with the Canadian Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Acquisition Source

Kloppenborg, Nina E. deceased

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of 27 black and white photographs of the women and activities of the local unit of the Canadian Auxiliary Territorial Service (CATS).

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20011081000

Collection

Archive

Less detail