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Category: WW2

Canada’s WW2 Home Front History – The Farmerettes

With Remembrance Day approaching and last week’s special announcement (read to the end for what it was), I found the perfect excuse to complete the incredible Canadian WWII Home Front story of the Women of the Farmerette Brigade.

They can’t fight if they don’t eat” Farmerettes, the thousands of young women who took the place of male farmers and farmhands who had gone off to fight in the Second World War. 

Canada's-Ontario Canada WW2 Homefront Effort-The Farmerette Brigade. 1940s vintage photo.

Source: Farmerettes Forever FB Page

Special Note: Today’s post provides a high-level look at the remarkable service of these women, inviting you to explore the book mentioned below, join the dedicated Facebook group, and visit the Lambton County Museums website to dive deeper into their stories and history—three invaluable resources you won’t want to miss!

1940s vintage photo of 3 young women called Farmerettes pitching grain in Shelburne, Ont. 1945.

Farmerettes pitching grain in Shelburne, Ont. 1945. Source: Canadian Geographic


Further Reading: Please take a look at my archived collection of vintage blog posts highlighting ‘World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Home Front Posts


WHO WERE THE FARMERETTES?

During WW2 Canada was no different then any of the other allies countries, heading to work in jobs that the men who were now serving overseas could no longer occupy.

Women worked in factories building bombs, airplanes, and various other machinery for the war. However as the war progressed feeding everyone, especially soldiers became a top priority as well. So the women went to the farms.

In Britain, they organized farm work for women (“Land Girls”) through the National Service Women’s Land Army.

1940s Vintage Photo of the Womens Land Army in the UK during WW2 working in the fields

Source: Express.co.uk

In Canada, “Farmerette” camps were operated by the Federal Department of Agriculture and the Ontario Farm Service Force, to help meet those wartime production food needs mentioned above.

During the First World War, the Ontario provincial government created the Farm Service Corps, made up of girls 16 years of age and older, to provide farm labour. The Corps ran from 1917 to 1918, and the workers were known as farmerettes.

During the Second World War, a similar initiative, called the Ontario Farm Service Force (OFSF), was put in place from 1941 to 1952. These young women planted, hoed, thinned, sprayed, staked, detasseled and harvested the fruit and vegetables in Southern Ontario when the men had left farm labour jobs to enlist for service to fight for our freedom. On market garden farms and in orchards in Southern Ontario and the Niagara Peninsula the Farmerettes volunteered through a government program called the Ontario Farm Service Force.

These women really did make a difference and until recently their service has been largely unknown.

1940s vintage photo of two young women in 1940s fashion posing in front of a Sign that says "Ontario Farm Service Force Camp". They were Farmerettes and they were farming for the war effort at home in Canada.

HOW DID THEY STORY COME TO LIGHT?

The publication of the book titled, ‘Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz Memories of Ontario Farmerettesby Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter has brought to light the service these young women offered and the success of the program.

Bonnie Sitter of Exeter, Ont.,  found an old photo while going through her late husband Conrad’s belongings. It showed three young women sitting on a running board of a vehicle. It was taken on her late husband’s family farm near Thedford, northwest of London close to Lake Huron. On the back of the photo was written: Farmerettes 1946. 

Sitter’s curiosity led her to do some research and eventually, she wrote a letter to a local newspaper asking for women who served as Farmerettes to get in touch with her.

Shirleyan English, a former Farmerette, got in touch with Sitter. English had written a similar newspaper article in 1995 and received letters from 300 women who worked in the Second World War program. 

The two would go on to co-author the book Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes in 2019 (source).

Canada Wartime history-The Farmettes of Ontario Canada helping with the Homefront Effort. Read their book: 'Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz Memories of Ontario Farmerettes.

Liz / Vintage Inn Blog Note: I grew up in Sarnia Ontario, in Southwestern Ontario where many of these farms were and I never was taught this history in school. I hope that changes in the future.

We Lend A Hand

1940s photo of Farmerettes rubbing dry onions to remove their outer skin.

1940s Vintage Photo of Canadian Women in 1940s Wartime fashions for working called, 'The Farmerettes'. These young Canadian women worked on farms helping to feed the soldiers overseas.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

The Farmerette motto was “We Lend A Hand” and they were good to their word. When greater food production was requested by our Allies in 1943, a second motto was born, “Farmerettes: Food For Victory in 1943.” (Source).

Custom cake boasting the Ontario Farm Service Corps badge. Source: Farmerettes Forever FB Page

The Ontario Farm Service Force Farmerette Brigade pledge, signed by Bonnie Wilson.

1940s Canadian Women's History: The Ontario Farm Service Force Farmerette Brigade pledge, signed by Bonnie Wilson. These young women were called 'Farmerettes' and they worked on farms helping to feed the soldiers overseas during WW2.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

RECRUITMENT

The Ontario Farm Service Force ran a recruitment program. It was advertised in newspapers and on posters. The Department of Education was very supportive. Many workers were recruited through field staff visits and announcements made over P.A. systems.

Girls from across Ontario signed up. They came from as far north as Sioux Lookout and from both big cities and small towns. Farmerette Joyce McKinnon recalled that British war guests and French Canadians signed up. While some girls commuted from the city and neighboring farms daily, many traveled by train and ferry to live in large camps and on farms. This was the farthest some had ever been from home (Source).

April 15th, 1943 Recruitment Ad: “WE CAN’T FIGHT IF WE DON’T EAT!!”…”We won’t Eat if YOU don’t help Ontario Farmers THIS SUMMER!

Yooza! I know I would of signed up after reading this advertisement.

1940s vintage advertisement during WW2 asking young women in Ontario Canada to come and work on the farms to help feed the soldiers overseas. April 15th, 1943 Recruitment Ad: "WE CAN'T FIGHT IF WE DON'T EAT!!"..."We won't Eat if YOU don't help Ontario Farmers THIS SUMMER!"

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

“For Peace Sake…Pitch In! “Lend a hand” on the farms”. June 15th, 1944 recruitment ad for the Farmerettes.

1940s vintage advertisement during WW2 asking young women in Ontario Canada to come and work on the farms to help feed the soldiers overseas

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

THE UNIFORM

A uniform was available to buy in the early years of the Farmerette program. It included a royal blue cotton dress and wedge cap. There were white gloves, shoes, and socks, as well as a “Horn of Plenty” badge. The uniform was forgotten quickly as overalls, work shirts, and bandana’s were worn on the job (seen in many of the photos in this post).

Inge Cumberland remembered:

“The Farmerette uniforms were smart, optional and expensive. My parents considered them unnecessary but the friend I had joined with was getting one so of course I had to have one. My argument was that when I was in uniform I could ride free on public transportation. I won that battle and I think I wore that uniform exactly twice, once on a bus and once for an Ontario Farm Service Reunion. I still have the little wedge cap among my souvenirs” (Source).

1940s newspaper clipping showcasing the “Neat blue uniform of the Farmerette Brigade”.

1940s vintage photo from a newspaper of young Canadian women in Farmerette Brigade uniforms. These young women helped with the home front effort during WW2 by working on Ontario farms.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

LIFE ON THE FARMS

The Farmerettes employed by the Farm Service Force pose for a group picture at the Huttonville Camp (Source).

1940s Vintage Photo of young women in Ontario Canada called 'The Farmerettes' at their farming camp in Huttonville. These women helped provide food for the soldiers during WW2.

Source: Oakville Historical Society

Food, housing and a small wage were provided to young woman who spent the summers planting and harvesting field crops and tending livestock.

Living accommodations for the Farmerettes varied. They stayed in hotels and camp cabins or renovated buildings like barns. They also stayed in wooden barracks, military style steel huts, and tents. The largest camps had up to 100 girls.

1940s vintage photo of the bunk house were the Ontario Farmerettes would stay during WW2 in Thedford Ontario while working on the farms for the war effort.

Thedford, Ontario bunk house Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

The camps were “run a lot like a Girl Guide camp… with a house mother, a labour secretary [in charge of job assignment], plus a cook and helpers.”  (Source).

The farmerettes worked up to 10 hours a day, earning 25 cents an hour. If they were picking fruit, they made 25 cents per six-quart basket, or if pruning tomatoes, 50 cents per 250-plant row.  Room and board cost $4.50 per week.  In addition, tasks like weeding large plots of crop land, picking fields of corn and stooking wheat, they helped with meals and did their laundry by hand (Source).

1940s vintage photo of young women working on a farm harvesting onion in Ontario Canada during WW2. They were called the Farmerettes and they were helping to provide food to the soldiers.

Farmerettes working in the onion fields. Source: Readers Digest

Girls in grade 13 with good grades who worked a minimum of six weeks could be exempted from their senior matriculation exams. Bus or train fare to the camps was paid by the government, as was the return fare if they worked four months (Source).

1940s vintage photo of the rec room were the Ontario Farmerettes would stay and have fun during WW2 in Thedford Ontario while working on the farms for the war effort.

Rec Room at the Thedford camp. Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

There were two large Farmerette Camps in Lambton County. One was at the high school in Forest and the other was a converted mill in Thedford. I grew up in Sarnia, Ontario which is near the bottom of the map left.

Farmerette camps in Lambton County: There were two large Farmerette Camps in Lambton County. One was at the high school in Forest and the other was a converted mill in Thedford.

THE FOOD THEY PLANTED

At the beginning of the season, Farmerettes worked on their hands and knees to plant and weed crops. That included celery, cucumbers, and onions. Throughout the summer they harvested tomatoes, asparagus, and rhubarb. They picked and packaged fruit such as raspberries, strawberries, and peaches. Another chore was to rub Dutch onion sets softly on wire mesh to remove the dried outer skins (Source).

1940s photo: Charlotte Wetford & Shirley Palmer brought their own eye protection for when they rubbed dutch onion sets.

1940s vintage photo of 3 women during WW2 working on a farm in Ontario Canada to help feed the Canadian soldiers overseas. They were called Farmerettes. The women are wearing headscarfs and eye protection.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

In Lambton County, produce was sent to canning factories in Forest and Exeter and sold at markets. An interesting local crop was peppermint. On the Sitter farm, they distilled peppermint to oil which was sent to Wrigley’s Gum. For many girls, this was their first experience working in the field. They persevered through their physical aches and the heat to help bring in the harvest (Source).

Planting Peppermint.

1940s vintage photo of three women in Thedford Ontario planting peppermint for the WW2 war effort. They were called Farmerettes.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

LEISURE TIME

Farmerettes had weekends and evenings off. In the evenings the girls might go see a movie in a town like Forest. Other activities were knitting sweaters for soldiers, writing letters home, or playing Bridge. Dances and shows were sometimes held at the camps where girls sang, played music, or performed skits. Some camps also had softball teams (Source).

1940s Photo: Baseball! The women in Forest & Thedford had softball teams that would play each other and challenge other local teams.

Further Reading: Lets Play Ball! The All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League

1940s Photo of a young women playing softball during WW2 while working on Ontario farms helping the war effort. They were called Farmerettes.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

On most nights there was a strict curfew and “lights out” was at 10pm, though a few mischievous girls were known to sneak out. Once or twice a week they were allowed out until 11pm. Unlike today, it was a common occurrence for girls to hitchhike but the rule was to always go in a group.

On weekends they would visit nearby towns, cities, and beaches. Some places they visited were Detroit, Port Huron (directly across the border from Sarnia), Toronto, Niagara Falls, Grand Bend, Ipperwash Beach (I spent many a summer here & in Grand Bend), and Camp Ipperwash. On their trips they would attend dances, visit family, shop, go on dates, or swim (Source).

Heading out on the town. Fantastic 1940s fashions in these two photos.

1940s vintage photo of a group of women dressed up to go out after working on a Farm in Ontario Canada to help feed Canadian soldiers during ww2. They were called Farmerettes. Fantastic 1940s fashions!

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

Date Night!

Gosh the men and women are so young in this 1940s photo. When I was 16 I was in school, complaining about homework and hanging out with my friends all the time. I could not imagine living this life.

1940s vintage photo of young men and women in 1940s fashion in Ontario Canada heading out on a date. The girls were working on the farms to help the war effort and they were called 'Farmerettes'.

Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

FARMERETTE STORIES

1940s photo of a group of girls playing in the rain taking a break from the farm in Ontario Canada. They were called Farmerettes and they helped feed Canadian soldiers during WW2

1940s photo of a group of girls playing in the rain. Source: Lambton Heritage Museum

Lambton Heritage Museum has several Farmerette stories, taken from Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz Memories of Ontario Farmerettes for you to enjoy (click the below image to be taken to the website). I encourage you take the time as they are fantastic reading.

Hear the stories of the women who worked on Ontario Farms during WW2 and after, called The Farmerettes.

What was the special announcement I mentioned above?

That the Farmerettes are now a stamp you can purchase from Canada Post. They share this special Remembrance day booklet of stamps with the ‘Soldiers of Soil’. Absolutely fantastic news! What a great way to help spread the word about the men and women who provided much needed farm labour in Canada during times of war.

Who were the Soldiers of Soil? In early 1918, the Canada Food Board created the national Soldiers of the Soil (SOS) initiative, to recruit boys 15 to 19 years of age to work on farms for the remainder of the war. The program’s acronym aptly spelled out the Morse code call for help (Source).

Canada Stamp: The Farmerettes featuring an image of 4 young women from the 1940s working on a farm. During the Second World War, a similar initiative, called the Ontario Farm Service Force (OFSF), was put in place from 1941 to 1952. More than 20,000 girls signed up to join the OFSF’s Farmerette Brigade. (The OFSF motto was “We Lend a Hand.”)

Living in camps and working up to 10 hours a day, the girls planted, tended and harvested fruit and vegetables in farms and orchards, and also worked in canneries.
Vintage Photo from WW2 of young Canadian men working on a farm for the Homefront effort. They were called 'Soldiers of the Soil'. They are now a stamp from Canada Post.

Source: Canada Post

A fantastic video talking about the stamps (video link here).

The Farmerettes join another historic stamp—now a collector’s item—that I own and previously blogged about, featuring ‘Veronica Foster, The Bren Gun Girl“. See her stamp below and read all about Veronica HERE.

Canada Post Stamp: Veronica Foster-Ronnie the Bren Gun Girl

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Farmerettes and their outstanding contributions to the war effort. It was difficult time for everyone and it was important that everyone did their part to help end the war and bring the soldiers home safely. Farming was part of that job.

Question time: Have you ever heard of these women? Do you have any family members that worked in factories or arms farms like this, “doing their part”/ Share any thoughts in the comment section below.

Further Reading: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Home Front Posts’ (archived blog posts).

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

The Canadian Nursing Sisters of WW2

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II.

Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.(scroll to the end to see Quick about facts about Canada’s HUGE part during D-Day).

Over the years on my blog, I have documented the contributions of Women during WW2, specifically Canadian Women as a way to continue to keep their stories alive. I am thrilled to add another piece to my collection, highlighting the remarkable Canadian Nurses or “Nursing Sisters” through a captivating combination of vintage photographs, magazine illustrations, and engaging stories. Join me for a brief yet powerful historical overview of these brave women who deserve to have their stories kept alive.

1940s vintage magazine cover from August 23rd 1941 from the Toronto Star Weekly showcasing an illustration of a Canadian Nurse with a wounded soldier during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

The First World War Canadian Nurses

Canadian women’s first military contributions were as nurses who tended to the sick and wounded in times of conflict. They were called “Nursing Sisters” because they were originally drawn from the ranks of religious orders. More than 2,800 Canadian Nursing Sisters served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War, often close to the front lines of Europe and within range of enemy attack. With their blue dresses and white veils, they were nicknamed the “bluebirds” and were greatly respected because of their compassion and courage. Canadian women were not permitted to serve in other military roles during the First World War (Source).

Left to right: Nursing Sisters, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride.

Vintage Photo of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW1, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride in their Nursing uniforms.

Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-007350 (modified from the original). Provided by The Vimy Foundation.

The Second World War

The Second World War would see Canadian women returning to serve again as nursing sisters but this time the nursing service went beyond the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. It was expanded to both the Royal Canadian Air Force Medical Branch and the Royal Canadian Naval Medical Service. By the end of the war, 4,480 Canadian Nursing Sisters served in the military, with 3,656 in the army, 481 with the air force, and 343 with the navy. Also aside from regular nurses, therapists, dietitians, laboratory technicians, and physiotherapists were employed by the army as well (Source). More than two-thirds of them serving overseas.

Second World War nursing sisters wore a military uniform with a traditional white veil. These young women were commissioned officers and were respectfully addressed as “Sister” or “Ma’am.” In fact, Canada’s military nurses were the first in any Allied country to have officer status. Canadian women would also serve in other military roles during the war, however, and some 50,000 eventually enlisted in the air force, army and navy (Source).

Further Reading from ‘the Canadian Encyclopedia’ on the Nursing Sisters (Lots more info on these women).

1940s vintage Photo from May 1942 of a group of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW2.

Photo: May 1942. Source: mcmaster.ca

Canadian Nursing Sisters as Seen thru Photos, Illustrations & Stories

Toronto Star Weekly from November 23rd, 1940 showcasing on the cover a Canadian Overseas Nurse.

1940s vintage magazine cover from November 23rd 1940 from the Toronto Star Weekly showing a Canadian overseas nurse in uniform during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Here is a coloured photo of a 1940s Canadian nurse.

1940s Vintage Photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister in uniform in front of an Ambulance during WW2

From ‘Historica Canada‘:

Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day. Visit her profile from The Memory Project Archive to hear her full testimony HERE.

Canadian Women at War during WW2: Learn all about Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day by clicking the link.

July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day

Source: Library & Archives Canada

The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940 (Source).

1940s vintage photo: The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940

Source: Alamy.com

Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Andria, Italy, February 1944 (source).

Important Facts: After three years in England, Nursing Sisters were sent into action on the continent.  Donning battle dress, steel helmets and backpacks, Canadian General Hospital, No. 1 arrived in Sicily, the first women to land in the Eighth Army area.  Almost all hospital units deployed to the continent were initially set up under canvas.  Later, they were moved into abandoned or bombed-out buildings (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: Canadian Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Andria, Italy, February 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Agnes Wilkie was a passenger on the ferry SS Caribou when it was sunk by a German torpedo in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland. Despite the efforts of her companion, Nursing Sister Margaret Brooke, she died in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. For her heroism, Brooke was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), the first Canadian nursing sister so recognized (Source).

Further Reading: CBC Article-Only nurse killed by enemy action in WW II remembered as a ‘warm, gentle’ hero in Misericordia exhibit

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Source: cwgc.org

Unidentified nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Unidentified Canadian nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse (source).

Description: “Give! … to relieve human suffering. $9,000,000 Needed Now. Canadian Red Cross”

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: McMaster University Library

One more Canadian Red Cross Propaganda poster. “The Need Grows As Victory Nears”.

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: eBay

Nursing Sister Healed the Wounds of War(read their story & see the fantastic photos by clicking on the text link or the image below).

Blog Post from Elinor Florence-Wartime Wednesday (a treasure trove of Canadian Wartime stories from those men & women who served).

Photo Description: Three young Canadian nurses from the story above. Jessie on the left with friends Mary Dowie and Queenie Rutherford.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young Canadian Nurses posing together in their nurses uniforms during WW2. Image from Elinor Florence.

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943.

Source: Silverhawkauthor.com via Library and Archives Canada

Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944.

Source: Legionmagazine.com

A video interview with Nora Cook, a Canadian WWII nurse who enlisted in the medical corps in 1943, and served in a field hospital in Normandy (video link).

Read Nora’s full story HERE:

Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Early on the morning of June 19, 1944, Molly (Dorothy Irene Mulholland) and another nursing sister, Winnifred “Pit” Pitkethly, became the first Canadian women to land as part of the Normandy offensive. Here is Dorothy’s Story (pictured below).

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Nurses posing with poppies during WW2

Source: Junobeach.org

Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters at his Bob Hope Show Tour (source).

The other man in the photo is Jerry Colonna, American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist (thank you to a reader for the name).

1940s vintage photo: July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters (and a man from his show) at his Bob Hope Show Tour.

Source: Library & Archives Canada


Quick Facts about Canada on D-Day

  • D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was one of the most significant chapters in Canada’s military history.  
  • More than 450 members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped inland before dawn on 6 June 1944. They were the first Canadians to engage the enemy on D-Day.
  • On 6 June 1944, some 14,000 Canadian troops from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade stormed the beaches of Normandy. 
  • More than 90,000 Canadian soldiers who had volunteered to serve Canada during the Second World War saw action in the Normandy Campaign. 
  • The Battle of Normandy lasted for 11 weeks. Fighting through the dust and heat of the French summer, more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers were killed and another 13,000 wounded before the campaign officially came to a close in late August, 1944. 
  • The Canadians who fought on D‑Day and throughout the Battle of Normandy were among the more than one million men and women from our country who served in uniform during the Second World War (SOURCE).

Thank you for dropping by and spending some time learning about these outstanding Canadian Women. I very much enjoyed putting this post together for all of you as I learned so much along the way.

Dear readers, please share any thoughts you may have on this topic in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

If you live or are visiting Ottawa , Ontario Canada please make sure you visit the The Canadian War Museum. Currently as of June 6th, 2024 they have a special exhibit called “OUTSIDE THE LINES – WOMEN ARTISTS AND WAR“.

Liz