Tina W. Female Factory Worker

Although my husband left for the army, I decided to leave for Ontario to look for work. I saw posters all around encouraging women like me to work. Here is an example of one!

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