The Lt (N/S) Kay Christie ARRC Memorial Trophy

Lt. (N/S) Kay Christie served with the Canadian Forces in Hong Kong in 1941. Three weeks after her arrival, the hospital where she was stationed was bombed by the enemy air force. Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day 1941 and the following day all persons in the hospital became prisoners of war; they were confined to the building but allowed to continue functioning as a hospital.

In August 1942, all female nursing personnel were removed from the various service hospitals and interned in the Stanley civilian internment camp.

In September 1943, all neutral and foreign internees were repatriated. She and others were taken by a Swedish ship to Goa in Portuguese India where a prisoner exchange with the enemy took place. She eventually got back to Canada via United States.

After VE Day, Ms. Christie received a position with a prominent Toronto heart specialist as a medical nursing secretary. She was granted a discharge from the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps on October 30, 1945. After her discharge, she worked as a medical secretary for a neuropsychiatric specialist until retirement.

She was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross medal for her distinguished service, and in ensuing years she was named Honorary Patron of the National Council of Veterans, Honourary President of the Nursing Sisters Association of Canada, and in 1995, both she and fellow nurse, Ms. Waters were honoured by a plaque erected in the Police Academy in Hong Kong in recognition of their outstanding service.

The Warriors' Day Parade Council felt it most appropriate that a memorial trophy, bearing her name, be originated and associated with the Ex-Service Women's Competition.

The trophy was donated by Mr. Bill Bryden, President of the Canadian National Exhibition Association and was presented for the first time in September, 1996 by Ms. Mollie Christie, sister of the late Lt. (N/S) Kay Christie.

See also, Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association and Veterans Affairs Canada.