Mary Merchant

“Mary Merchant’s eventful life has been spent in several countries.”

Mary Merchant turned 102 on June 18, 2019. She is likely the oldest person in the Yukon.

Mary’s parents, Mabel and Sam McAllister, moved to Argentina when he was transferred from his London bank to open a new foreign branch.

Mary was born in Scotland in 1917 near the end of the First World War. For her birth, to retain her British passport, Mabel sailed nervously from Argentina on the last boat that allowed women and children aboard because of the danger of German U-Boats.

Her father had to wait two years for the war to end to see Mabel again and Mary for the first time.

Mary returned to Scotland, where she began grade school. At the age of about six, she learned to knit socks from her Uncle John, who had been blind since the age of 21 from an infection.

During the war, knitting was a popular patriotic pastime, as wool “victory” socks were valued by the soldiers stuck in soggy trenches.

John sent over many pairs. This old knitting pattern with the comfortable fit is still used by Mary today.

Mary was back and forth between Argentina and Scotland several times. After attending boarding school in Edinburgh, she returned to Argentina, and in 1935, began training as a nurse at the British Hospital in Buenos Aires, graduating in 1938.

The Second World War reached all over the globe, and many ex-patriots rushed back to England (paying their own way); 2,000 left Argentina in join up.

Mary’s younger brother, Sam, joined the Royal Air force but died at the age of 21 in a plane crash on Malta in 1941, where he is buried. Mary has kept his interesting letters written home.

Mary’s future husband, Walter Merchant, whom she met after the war, also joined the British Army and served in the tank corps in India and Burma.

Upon landing in India, he was the only one to escape from the tank because he was sitting on the top when the landing craft’s ramp let down in deep water.

Argentina was a neutral country during the war, as was Uruguay and Brazil, and therefore an attraction for both the British and German navies to use the port.

Britain imported quantities of grain, beef and wool (for uniforms) from South America.

Much to Mary’s amazement, there is a shipping case for corned beef on display on the SS Klondike that came from a neighbouring ranch in Argentina—Santa Helena, a two-hour drive from her home ranch, Santa Inez.

The port was also used by ships carrying freight from Australia.

The German ships intercepted and sank many vessels in the south Atlantic. One of the famous battles occurred on December 13, 1939—“The Battle of the River Plate.”

The new German battleship named The Graf Spee was sought out by British warships. After an exciting chase and battle, the captain scuttled the Graf Spee in the River Plate estuary between Uruguay and Argentina.

Mary remembers hearing the explosions. Part of the wreckage is still to be seen today.

The wounded British sailors from the battle were sent to the Falkland Islands and tended to by medical staff sent from the British Hospital in Buenos Aires. The captain of the German ship committed suicide, and is buried in Buenos Aires.

Mary’s elder sister, Barbara, worked for the BBC in London, beaming news in Spanish to South America. She had first-hand experience of dark streets, sirens, rationing and shelters.

Then came the relief of the D-Day landings giving the Allied troops a foothold in France in 1944.

Mary, in 1940, moved on to being a private nurse, in private homes.

Mary and one elderly patient who also enjoyed knitting spent many hours together turning out socks for the troops.

Mary was encouraged to become a pen pal with her relative, who was serving with the British Army in Burma, as a nice way to brighten up the lives of lonely soldiers. This turned into a six-year correspondence with her future husband.

Her photo was sent, and he was smitten. When he was discharged in 1946, they met

face-to-face for the first time, and were married in 1947.

Walter’s job as a manager of a large ranch for British owners was kept open for him, and they made it their first home. Their daughter Dorothy and son Philip were both born in Argentina.

Life became difficult in Argentina so in January, 1955, the family moved back to England for two years before immigrating to Canada.

Mary studied and went back to nursing for 20 years in Quebec. In 1972, Philip built her a log home near her job at the Brome Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital in Cowansville, Quebec.

After retirement, Mary lived for several years in Fredericton, N.B., before moving to the Yukon in 1995 at the age of 78.

For many years, Mary has actively participated in the Anglican Church and enjoyed reading the lesson during the service.

She is renowned for her sock production. At 99 years, she knitted 4l pairs and donated them, along with knitted baby sets, to the Anglican Church annual bazaar. As always, they quickly sold out.

Her photograph, along with the knitting table, was published on the front page of the Whitehorse Star of November 21, 2016. Mary’s Scottish short bread was also a staple on the Christmas bake table.

Most are surprised at her strong handshake and limber fingers, unusual for someone of her age.

She still knits, but using white wool, as it’s easier to see the stitches.

Mary recently moved from her downtown apartment into the Whistle Bend Place continuing care facility.

Bright as ever, she enjoys the activities and chatting with friends and visitors.

One should mention her simple diet: lots of vegetables, yogurt, soup, an apple a day, lots of tea and as little sugar as possible.

When Mary’s mother was about to give birth many years ago in Scotland, a family friend named Mary brought over a steak and kidney pie. Mabel declared that it was so good, that if the baby was a girl, she would be named Mary in her honour. Needless to say, steak and kidney pie has always been a favourite.

Mary’s diet along with a restful hobby of knitting for others, might be a happy lesson for a long and happy life.