Ambulance driver
Bernadette Williams was a 34 year old woman driving ambulances in the war. She first came to
Friday, May 14, 2010
Summary - Shiran
Shiran
Helping people
As i drove through the battle field I remember the dying bodies, the bombs flying all around me. i thought i was going to die, with fear in my heart. We spotted a laying body on the field and jumped out. We put him on the stretcher and carried him into the ambulance. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the faces of all those people dying. it scares me everyday that i could have been dead out there too. i don't remember why i joined the force and i cant remember if it was out of bravery of stupidity, but going to war is something i never want to experience again. even though I wasn't fighting with a gun, I was still fighting for my life.
Shiran
Bernadette Williams
Driving the Battle
When I was 11 years old I was selling poppies door to door for my school and a young man bought some crosses from me and later that day he came down to our house to buy some more. Little did I know that day that 7 years later I would marry him.
War broke out and in early 1940 the blitz started and as I had to do some sort of war work and I could drive I joined the ARP as an ambulance driver. I had to take a special driving test before I could drive an ambulance
Because of the heavy bombing we were considered a high risk area and if a major raid happened ambulances had to vacate the towns and drive to an assembly point where we would be sent to another depot.
Each shift was composed of a first aid party of four men who treated victims as they were extracted from the rubble. Then there was an ambulance with a driver and an attendant and a sitting case car that took the minor injuries back to a first aid post at Richmond Road Infants School which was staffed by nurses.
As a driver I had to check the tires, radiator and battery each morning. One of the more unpleasant tasks was the cleaning out of the interior after we had carried casualties.
A lot of the early casualties were from shrapnel wounds rather than the actual bombs.
My first casualty was a four year old boy who had a fractured base of skull and I duly took him to casualty at the back of the Hospital, my attendant asked a nurse and doctor talking at the door to help us with the stretcher but they said to wait for porters - we went back down to the High Street and got two men passing by two carry the stretcher. The child was dead before he reached the operating theatre. A very sad experience. I will never forget the eyes of that boy.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Claire M (Woman’s Army Corp)
After about three and a half months as being an Army Nurse Corp, I've worked in a couple different medical care centers. The conditions weren't like hospitals at home at all. Hospitals back home were always very sanitary and very calming to recover in. Medical centers where I worked during the war were often hectic. However the worst part of working in such a place is that your always being exposed to tropical illnesses and diseases, as well as having to adapt to different climatic conditions at any time, unsure of where you will be stationed the next day.
Working in such a place made my day somewhat more interesting then before. Each person had a different story to tell about themselves which made my day go by that much easier. However each day us nurses had to cope with lack of supplies and Theater clothing. Working so close to the men fighting, deaths of us nurses was unavoidable due to our hazardous duty.
- Betty Wilson
Working in such a place made my day somewhat more interesting then before. Each person had a different story to tell about themselves which made my day go by that much easier. However each day us nurses had to cope with lack of supplies and Theater clothing. Working so close to the men fighting, deaths of us nurses was unavoidable due to our hazardous duty.
- Betty Wilson
Claire M (Woman’s Army Corp)
The biggest and most accomplished experience of my life was first founded for me on August 13, 1941. This was also the day the Canadian Woman’s Army Corp was put together. Me and all my friends thought it would be a great idea to free men from duty in the front lines by replacing them in more important roles that men are allowed to do. I was even the perfect candidate for the job because I had a minimum of grade eight education, I was aged 18 to 45, and I'm of British subject. Me only being nineteen at the time, had my family worrying if they should let me go to such a place where only men used to be allowed. My dear mother kept nagging me on how I'm going to regret it but I kept reassuring her that I will be safe. I also thought that this is my way of doing my part in the war.
Everywhere I would go in town there were signs promoting the Canadian Woman's Army Corp positions. I found that some were quite appealing to me and they made me really eager to start my new job! As Canadian Woman Army Corps became more popular, billboards, handbills and advertisments were put up to promote these positions even more. More and more of my friends and their mothers were joining this corporation because it felt like the right thing to do at that time. I kept some advertisements which looked like this.
At the time, pay looked like it was pretty good! We woman received two thirds of what the men earned in such positions. I was excited to see which job I would be assigned and was secretly hoping for being a cook because I have tons and tons of experience with working in the kitchen with my mother as a young girl. I could also be assigned the job of a secretary, clerk, vehicle driver, canteen worker, or any other non-combat job. I had to keep my fingers crossed and told everyone to wish me luck because it was a very nerve racking thing helping out in the war!
- Betty Wilson
Everywhere I would go in town there were signs promoting the Canadian Woman's Army Corp positions. I found that some were quite appealing to me and they made me really eager to start my new job! As Canadian Woman Army Corps became more popular, billboards, handbills and advertisments were put up to promote these positions even more. More and more of my friends and their mothers were joining this corporation because it felt like the right thing to do at that time. I kept some advertisements which looked like this.
At the time, pay looked like it was pretty good! We woman received two thirds of what the men earned in such positions. I was excited to see which job I would be assigned and was secretly hoping for being a cook because I have tons and tons of experience with working in the kitchen with my mother as a young girl. I could also be assigned the job of a secretary, clerk, vehicle driver, canteen worker, or any other non-combat job. I had to keep my fingers crossed and told everyone to wish me luck because it was a very nerve racking thing helping out in the war!
- Betty Wilson
Tina W. Female Factory Worker
Although my husband left for the army, I decided to leave for
Despite the fact that I was married, I was a still a young woman, with no children yet and this opened many opportunities for jobs. Because many men left for war, us women filled in the jobs left unoccupied by the men that left to serve the country. I was hired as a factory worker that produced aircraft, ammunition, weapons, and other goods needed for the war effort. Although the men originally with my job were paid more doing the same work, it was still a good pay in my eyes. Other friends of mine worked in machine shops, welding shops and manufacturing plants, also making equipment for the war. Here is a picture I have of me hard at work!
Some of friends, whom were stay-at-home wives and mothers also contributed towards the war efforts by knitting sweaters, scarves and other articles of clothing for the men overseas. Every woman conserved, saved and salvaged during the war. Fats, paper, metals, glass, rubber and bones were collected to recycle in the effort to make war supplies. My neighbor, Mary taught me that old clothes could be remade and that old oil could be used to make munitions. The war gave me an opportunity to have a job and taught me the importance of re-using materials.
- Beverly Grieg
Tina W. Female Factory Worker
On July 13th, 1942 I married the man of my life, William George Grieg. Just three weeks later, he went overseas as a Corporal in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corp. I remember him signing up for this war and telling me not to worry about him. His letters keep me happy and relieved that he is safe although he is not with me.There hasn’t been a day he hasn’t been on my mind and I pray for his safe arrival home constantly.
I was consoled by the fact that many of my female friends were here in Canada with me. During the Great War, I remember some of my fellow friends leaving to work as secretaries, clerks, ambulance drivers and nurses. I was in awe to find out that this time women were allowed to serve in all the armed forces of Canada. There were posters encouraging women to join the armed forces. I have included some examples of those posters below.However, even so the majority of my friends did not sign up for military duty since they had to stay home to raise the children and look after the land. Thank goodness I have some friends to stay with me here in Canada. I plan on looking for some work soon to fill in the positions left by the men that left for war.
- Beverly Greg
- Beverly Greg
Cherrie C
When the war had finally ended, I was still part of the WRCNS. I went back to my old plans before the war had started. I went on with my education and got a job at the city’s hospital. Since I lived in Montreal, my family, many of my friends and others did not like the fact that I joined military service to help the war effort. Quebec thought that a woman working in military service was not the best way women could help and support the war effort. They did not think that this would help the war effort in any way. Quebec was not the only who thought this. Some members of the military did not want women at war.
I tried to help my family in any way I can to make up for what I did because they were against it. I was walking into the grocery store to buy some food for my family. The clerk looked at me and recognized that I was part of the WRCNS. He gave me a nasty look. I felt so uncomfortable that I needed to leave the store.
I decided to meet up with my friends who were supportive of me for joining WRCNS. We were walking down the street passing by many people who gave me dirty looks. Some even spat on me as they passed by. They spat on my friends too. I felt bad that for one thing I did, the people I am close with and love have to suffer the hatred of others around us.
-Laura Thomson
I tried to help my family in any way I can to make up for what I did because they were against it. I was walking into the grocery store to buy some food for my family. The clerk looked at me and recognized that I was part of the WRCNS. He gave me a nasty look. I felt so uncomfortable that I needed to leave the store.
I decided to meet up with my friends who were supportive of me for joining WRCNS. We were walking down the street passing by many people who gave me dirty looks. Some even spat on me as they passed by. They spat on my friends too. I felt bad that for one thing I did, the people I am close with and love have to suffer the hatred of others around us.
-Laura Thomson
Ciona H
It was December 1st, 1941 when I had completed my first training and was ready to serve. We joined No 2 Service Flying Training School and were assigned a number of duties,everything you can imagine. When I first joined The Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division, also known as RCAF, it was through the motivation of my older brother, John. Many of the women were motivated to join the group because of patriotism, wanting a taste of adventure, or because of a brother, father or husband who were with the RCAF. Duties which were assigned to us were administrative and clerical work, dental assistants, equipment assistants, weather observers, telephone operators, photographers, wireless operators, fabric workers, tailors, laundry staff and cooks.
As a child, I was amazed by airplanes and hoped to fly one someday. I am still waiting for that day. Us women weren't allowed to fly because the RCAF would not give us permission. If I ever did fly, it was as a passenger or when there was work that had to be done, which wasn't often. Although I never flew planes, serving overseas was dangerous. We were exposed to bombing raids and I still remember the horror on our faces the summer of 1944, when Germany launched V-1 raids over Britain. I was selected as a group of Women's Division to be sent overseas to serve in Great Britain and a year later I was one out of 1,450 Women’s Division to be a part of the RCAF Overseas HQ and with Bomber Command’s No 6 Group HQ and bases.
I am presently retired of the RCAF, happily living in Ottawa with my husband and two children. When I think about the Women's Division, I feel it was a good experience which helped me grow as a person. It allowed me to be equal to men, as I was performing tasks which were strictly for men such as electrical and mechanical work. But also taught me about power, agility, strength, and equality.
-Kathleen Oonah Walker
As a child, I was amazed by airplanes and hoped to fly one someday. I am still waiting for that day. Us women weren't allowed to fly because the RCAF would not give us permission. If I ever did fly, it was as a passenger or when there was work that had to be done, which wasn't often. Although I never flew planes, serving overseas was dangerous. We were exposed to bombing raids and I still remember the horror on our faces the summer of 1944, when Germany launched V-1 raids over Britain. I was selected as a group of Women's Division to be sent overseas to serve in Great Britain and a year later I was one out of 1,450 Women’s Division to be a part of the RCAF Overseas HQ and with Bomber Command’s No 6 Group HQ and bases.
I am presently retired of the RCAF, happily living in Ottawa with my husband and two children. When I think about the Women's Division, I feel it was a good experience which helped me grow as a person. It allowed me to be equal to men, as I was performing tasks which were strictly for men such as electrical and mechanical work. But also taught me about power, agility, strength, and equality.
-Kathleen Oonah Walker
Ciona H
My training took place at Havergal College in Toronto. I was excited and scared, but thinking about how I would feel afterwards. The RCAF which I had joined was an important contributor during World War Two. Their contribution to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, also known as the BCATP, was important because we performed many responsibilities, allowing the men to serve overseas. I later became the Women's Division first officer. I was filled with happiness! I knew that I was chosen out of 17,038 women.
The year of 1942, was the time our duties had piled up. We became chauffeurs, hairdressers, musicians, pharmacists, laboratory assistants, parachute riggers, and began to perform tasks specifically chosen for men. In mid-1942, the Women’s Division had responsibilities outside the BCATP. I served in operating centers of the Western and Eastern Air Commands and worked at interpreting reconnaissance or bombing photographs. In December 1943, the RCAF Women's Division boasted a staff of 591 officers and 14,562 members of all ranks. The service was later abolished on December 11th, 1946 but five years later women were permitted to join the RCAF once again. In 1980, women were accepted as military pilots and in 1988, Canada became the first western country to license women as fighter pilots.
Although being a part of the RCAF didn't require me risking my life, I know that I did my very best to contribute. Serving overseas wasn't the most pleasant site, because I was constantly surrounded with death. But I am glad that I joined the RCAF and was worth seeing the horror, knowing that I helped many great soldiers.
-Kathleen Oonah Walker
The year of 1942, was the time our duties had piled up. We became chauffeurs, hairdressers, musicians, pharmacists, laboratory assistants, parachute riggers, and began to perform tasks specifically chosen for men. In mid-1942, the Women’s Division had responsibilities outside the BCATP. I served in operating centers of the Western and Eastern Air Commands and worked at interpreting reconnaissance or bombing photographs. In December 1943, the RCAF Women's Division boasted a staff of 591 officers and 14,562 members of all ranks. The service was later abolished on December 11th, 1946 but five years later women were permitted to join the RCAF once again. In 1980, women were accepted as military pilots and in 1988, Canada became the first western country to license women as fighter pilots.
Although being a part of the RCAF didn't require me risking my life, I know that I did my very best to contribute. Serving overseas wasn't the most pleasant site, because I was constantly surrounded with death. But I am glad that I joined the RCAF and was worth seeing the horror, knowing that I helped many great soldiers.
-Kathleen Oonah Walker
Melissa F
There was a lot of work that had to be done, followed with many serious, depressed days. But through it all, we still managed to have our few moments of happiness. We nurses always had the soldiers to keep us happy. In return of helping them, we occasionally met a man that caught our eye. It was November 30, 1943 and I was still in Sicily. I had met a soldier that day. His name was Don Collins. There had been several men before, but they were nothing like him. He was a positive trooper with nothing but charm. I had taken him in when he got wounded. I cured him and everything. In return he had said to me “I am so grateful for your service may I return the gesture by taking you to the main hall for a coffee one evening.”
It was too good to be true. Don had been called away to serve in another country. This was difficult for me, but nothing unique. There had been other soldiers in my life that have done the same. This one was different. I had made him promise to write me as much as he could-he said he would. Every time mail had come in, I would sit there and watch my fellow nurse friends receive mail from their special someone. I however, received nothing. As the days went by, I thought to myself, maybe he was like the rest of the soldiers I had tried to keep in contact with or maybe something bad had happened to him. All these negative thoughts had filled in my mind. I knew from this moment on, I loved him.
The day finally came when Don had written me back. He apologized sincerely in his letter. When I was reading the letter, it made me miss Don. I had the clearest image of him in my mind. I pictured him standing in front of me, with his dark brown hair, glossy blue eyes, and his smile as big as it could be. I had replied to him as soon as I got the chance, in hope for a letter to return as soon as possible. The letters had started to come and go on a regular basis. I still to this day, have every letter that he had written to me. It was the only part of the war that I wanted to remember.
As the war had ended and we both returned home, we had to meet up right away. We had continued our relationship for several years after. Don had finally decided I was the one for him, and we had eventually got married. We’re presently living in Chaffey’s Locks. Our wedding was beautiful and many of our friends from war had attended. I was so happy to see Margaret recovered from the incident on September 2, 1943. We are currently expecting to have our first child in 3 months, I’m very excited!
- Elizabeth Walker
It was too good to be true. Don had been called away to serve in another country. This was difficult for me, but nothing unique. There had been other soldiers in my life that have done the same. This one was different. I had made him promise to write me as much as he could-he said he would. Every time mail had come in, I would sit there and watch my fellow nurse friends receive mail from their special someone. I however, received nothing. As the days went by, I thought to myself, maybe he was like the rest of the soldiers I had tried to keep in contact with or maybe something bad had happened to him. All these negative thoughts had filled in my mind. I knew from this moment on, I loved him.
The day finally came when Don had written me back. He apologized sincerely in his letter. When I was reading the letter, it made me miss Don. I had the clearest image of him in my mind. I pictured him standing in front of me, with his dark brown hair, glossy blue eyes, and his smile as big as it could be. I had replied to him as soon as I got the chance, in hope for a letter to return as soon as possible. The letters had started to come and go on a regular basis. I still to this day, have every letter that he had written to me. It was the only part of the war that I wanted to remember.
As the war had ended and we both returned home, we had to meet up right away. We had continued our relationship for several years after. Don had finally decided I was the one for him, and we had eventually got married. We’re presently living in Chaffey’s Locks. Our wedding was beautiful and many of our friends from war had attended. I was so happy to see Margaret recovered from the incident on September 2, 1943. We are currently expecting to have our first child in 3 months, I’m very excited!
- Elizabeth Walker
Melissa F
We nurses had answered the call of duty when
Through earsplitting, thunderous explosions and fearful eerie flashes in the distance, we had waited for the inevitable arrival of wounded soldiers. We had received more than 600 causalities and in one 19.5 hour period, 98 operations had to be performed. In critical times, when there were many wounded soldiers, I had to step up and play the role of doctors in diagnosing and treating their wounds in a very timely manner. Depending on the nature of the injury, many were time sensitive and could not afford to wait for a doctor to attend to them. So I stepped up and took over some of the treatments a doctor would do. I knew if I didn’t do anything, they would die. I couldn’t resist letting a soldier in front of me die when I know I could have saved him. I felt it was my duty for
I will never forget the conditions some were in. Their faces were filled with horror and were shaking from how scared they were. Enlisting in the war we knew it was our job to heal them. It didn’t seem as bad as being a soldier risking their lives everyday, but it was. It was not only our job to heal them but it was our job to give them hope when they had none, and that little bit of optimism they needed. It was also our job to give them that strength they needed as we stood there doing all we could, but knew they were going to die. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done. We were not only their nurses, but their support.
After three years in
- Elizabeth Walker
Cherrie C
I heard about the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, also known as WRCNS, when it was first founded in 1942. When the war began, I did not think I would join military service to help the war effort. However, WRCNS changed my mind and motivated me to join the war effort. My original plans were to finish school, get a job and then get married. When the war began, circumstances began to change, and so did my plans. I was hired to as a Sick Berth Attendant because they saw that I had a good education with more than 2 years of High School done. I was aiming for a job that had to do with health and taking care of the sick.
We were all trained at HMCS Conestoga in
As I began to train as a sick berth attendant, I did not really like it so much at first because I was scared and frightened seeing what happens to some men during the war. After a few weeks in training, I knew I was part of this for a reason. I encouraged myself to face the fact that I wanted a job like this and to help the ones were hurt as much as I can.
- Laura Thomson