War Widows Guild of Australia; Vasey, Jessie Mary (b.1897 – d.1966)

Collection relating to the Second World War experience of Mrs Jessie Mary Vasey, founder and National President of the War Widows Guild of Australia [later Australian War Widows Inc.], Australia and England, 1945-1995.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three folders of material relating to Mrs Jessie Mary Vasey and the War Widows Guild of Australia, dated from 1945 to 1995.

Folder 1 of 3 contains 31 items of correspondence relating to the War Widows Guild of Australia, dated from 1945 to 1973. Correspondence includes letters and telegrams written to Mrs Vasey and Mrs Edith Janet Mayo [succeeding President], from various Government, Parliamentary and Royal officials, in England and Australia. This correspondence relates to Mrs Vasey’s advocacy for the improvement in social welfare schemes for Australian war widows, and a meeting with Princess Alexandra of Kent in Victoria. This folder also includes one entitlement card, issued to Mrs Olive H Jackson [exact identity unknown], Victoria, dated from 1970 to 1971.

Folder 2 of 3 contains four postcards and one envelope with stamps made by Australia Post, relating to the ‘Australia Remembers 1945-1995’ campaign, dated 1995. The postcards contain portraits of Mrs Vasey and VX9 Major General George Alan Vasey, Sir Edward Ernest ‘Weary’ Dunlop, SX7964 Lieutenant Thomas Currie ‘Diver’ Derrick and 402745 Pilot Officer Rawdon Middleton. The envelope contains information regarding the related individuals, and an image of the Australian War Memorial.

Folder 3 of 3 contains one letter written by Mrs Vasey to Mrs Gahan [exact identity unknown], dated October 1945. In this letter she expresses her sympathies and condolences for the loss of her loved one. She invites Mrs Gahan into the Guild, and lists various resources to help support and assist Mrs Gahan in her life ahead.

Mrs Jessie Mary (née Halbert) Vasey was born in Roma, Queensland on 19 October 1897. After graduating from university, she married her husband VX9 Major General George Alan Vasey on 17 May 1921. Major General Vasey served in the Australian Army during both the First and Second World Wars. During his service he saw the poor living conditions the widows of his servicemen were facing, and encouraged Mrs Vasey to assist in the cause. On 5 March 1945, Major General Vasey was killed on active service, making Mrs Vasey a war widow herself. Understanding the systems and resources required to protect these vulnerable women, she founded The War Widows Guild of Australia in Melbourne, Victoria on 22 November 1945. The Guild grew and was soon established Australia-wide, supporting Australian widows of servicemen who had died of war related causes. As the Guild’s President, Mrs Vasey campaigned for better pensions, housing and medical assistance until her death in 1966.