Gwendoline Trubshaw

Welsh civil servant (1886–1954)

Gwendoline Trubshaw

Born| 20 December 1886

Ael-y-bryn, Felin-foel, Llanelli, Wales

Died| November 8, 1954(1954-11-08) (aged 67)

London, England

Occupation| Public official
Relatives| Brian Trubshaw (nephew)

Dame Gwendoline Joyce Trubshaw, DBE (20 December 1886[1] – 8 November 1954) was a Welsh public sector official responsible for the recruitment and subsequent welfare of women who took part in support work for the First World War. She was an elected member of the Carmarthen County Council and had leading roles in a range of education and health organisations.

## Early life

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Trubshaw was the daughter of Ernest Trubshaw and Lucy Timmis Smith Trubshaw, of Ael-y-bryn, Felin-foel, Llanelli, and was baptised on 1 April 1887.[2] Her father was a factory manager, born in England; her nephew Brian Trubshaw became a noted test pilot.[3][4]

## Career

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Trubshaw was responsible for the recruitment of women for war service during WWI, and served as chairman of the South-West Wales War Pensions Committee[5] and honorary secretary to the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. She served on the Carmarthenshire Naval and Military Pensions Committee in 1917.[6] From that work, she was elected to the Carmarthen County Council in 1919, with the support of the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers' and Sailors' Association. She was the council's first chairwoman in 1937.[7] In 1938, she served on a committee to consider how the Contributory Pensions Act affected single women.[8]

In 1949, Trubshaw was one of only two independent candidates to secure election in Llanelli, when all other seats in the county were won by Labour. She was governor of Llanelli County Schools and Chairman of Llanelli School of Art, a member of the Carmarthenshire Blind Society, and for four years was Chairman of the West Wales Joint Board for Mental Defectives.[2][9]

In 1939, Trubshaw became the organiser for the newly-formed Women's Voluntary Service for her county. Having been a member of the Public Health Committee for nearly 27 years, she was Chairman in 1946, and in 1951 became member of the Central Health Services Council.[2]

## Honours

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Trubshaw received a CBE in 1920, for her wartime service.[2] In 1938, she was elevated to Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE).[10]

## Personal life

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Trubshaw lived at Cae'r Delyn, Llanelli. She died in London on 8 November 1954, aged 67 years.[2]

## References

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1. ^ 1939 England and Wales Register
2. ^ a b c d e James, Mary Auronwy. "TRUBSHAW, Dame GWENDOLINE JOYCE (1887 - 1954), public administrator and social worker". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
3. ^ Lewis, Paul (28 March 2001). "Brian Trubshaw, 77, Dies; Tested Concorde". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
4. ^ Simon, John. "Brian Trubshaw". Llanelli Community Heritage. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
5. ^ "Non-Official Members And Qualifications". Hansard, UK Parliament. 18 March 1926. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
6. ^ "Not a Matter for Charity". Llanelly Star. 9 June 1917. p. 1. Retrieved 11 June 2020 - via Welsh Newspapers.
7. ^ "Three Lady Members". South Wales Weekly Post. 15 March 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 11 June 2020 - via Welsh Newspapers.
8. ^ "Pensions for Spinsters". The Guardian. 16 April 1938. p. 17. Retrieved 11 June 2020 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Davies, Russell (28 March 2018). Sex, Sects and Society: 'Pain and Pleasure': A Social History of Wales and the Welsh, 1870-1945. University of Wales Press. p. 77\. ISBN 978-1-78683-214-6.
10. ^ Hambleton, George (3 January 1938). "No Canadians Mentioned in King's Honors List". Star-Phoenix. p. 7. Retrieved 11 June 2020 - via Newspapers.com.