In November I like to dedicate some of the month to blog posts on Women & Canada’s participation during WW2. I have done many posts on this topic and it’s always exciting when I find content I have not shared before. Like today’s post….”1940s images of Canadian Women in Military Uniforms During WW2“.

This post was one that I have wanted to do for some time, after my guest blog post in 2014 from writer (and friend), Elinor Florence entitled “WW2 Air Force Uniforms for Canadian Women”. Many of the images you will see below are discussed in this fantastic read. Please take some time after your done here, to take a look.

Now without further adieau, here is my newest read.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Woman taking a break to chat during WW2. They are part of the CWAC. In 1941, the Canadian Women's Army Corps was created, paving the way for a long tradition of Canadian women in the military

1940s Vintage Images of Canadian Women In Military Uniforms During WW2

Unidentified Woman in uniform with bag on chest in front of ‘Canada’s New Army’ posters.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Vintage photo of the new Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service “Wren” uniform -1943.

1940s vintage photo of New Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service "Wren" uniform -1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Signal officers of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

1940s Vintage photo: Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (W.R.C.N.S.) signallers during training at H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada, July 1943.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Canadian Red Cross Corps Uniforms.

Models show the uniforms worn by all four sections of the Second World War CRCC.

Source: redcross.ca

Three CRCC Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

1940s Vintage Photo: Three CRCC (Canadian Red Cross Corps) Welfare Officers visit a convalescing soldier overseas (ca. 1943-45) while distributing “ditty bags” on a hospital ward.

Source: redcross.ca

Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women’s Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Further Reading: The story of Chinese Canadian military service is one of determination, courage and honour. & Chinese Canadian Women in the War

1940s Vintage Photo of Chinese Canadian, Mary Laura Wong (Mah) enlisted with the CWAC (Canadian Women's Army Corps) in Vancouver, British Columbia where she was employed as a teletype keyboard operator.

Source: Veterans.gc.ca

Learning is always important!

Canadian Woman’s Army Corp (CWAC)- Unidentified Women in uniform sitting with books on their laps.

Interesting Fact: CWAC had 50,000 women in its ranks during the Second World War in support roles ranging from cooking to decoding (Source).

Further Reading: The Canadian Women’s Army Corps, 1941-1946 via Canadian War Museum

1940s vintage photo of the Canadian Woman's Army during WW2- Unidentified Women in Uniform Sitting With Book on Laps

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Eva May Roy (on the right of the photo), Roy left her job as a presser in a laundry to become a machine operator and fuse assembler at the General Engineering Co. munitions plant in Scarborough. Roy enlisted in 1944 and joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), a new division created just three years earlier. She’s one of many Black women who served in the Canadian Forces during the Second World War — people whose stories are largely missing from the public record (Source).

Roy was a trailblazer, serving overseas at a time when it was rare to see a Canadian military woman working in Europe.

Her story goes much deeper then this, so I encourage you to read all about Eva at the link below.

Further Reading: ‘She didn’t hesitate’: The untold story behind a Black Canadian woman’s wartime portrait

1940s Vintage photo of 2 Black Women in the Canadian Women's Army Corps during WW2

Source: CBC.ca

A young Canadian woman in military uniform is shown in this photo, counting pins surrounded by boxes of them from different colleges and universities in Canada.

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Woman in Military Uniform counting pins surrounded by boxes of pins from colleges and universities in Canada.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nurses with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Normandy, July, 1944.

(Image source: Government of Canada)

Woman’s Air Force, 1940’s. Unidentified Woman in uniform using wireless equipment.

Source: Library & Archives Canada

In the Canadian Auxiliary Air Force, women worked in the parachute packing and checking department.

Source: Community Stories

1940s’ recruitment poster – “Men & Women. The RCAF Needs You Now!

1940s' recruitment poster for Canadian RCAF duing WW2 asking for men and women to enlist

Source: Library & Archives Canada

By looking at 1940s vintage images of Canadian women in military uniforms during WW2, we can reflect on the history of women in the military, the impact of women’s contributions to the war effort, and the ongoing efforts to recognize the efforts of women in the military and beyond. These images remind us of the advancements women have made in the military and encourage us to continue to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in all contexts.

Thank you for dropping by!

Further Reading: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts

Liz

P.S. I’m off to Las Vegas for my mother’s 70th, so I won’t be having a new post until I get back. Follow along on Instagram.

If you follow my blog on the regular, you know that I’m pretty passionate about showcasing the stories of women on the homefront and at war during WW2. I like to focus on Canada as much as I can (since I’m Canadian) but there are other times I like to just showcase all the efforts of women from all over. Today is one of those days.

This week’s post is on 1940s magazine covers showcasing women from all over doing their part for the war effort. At home or overseas.

Further Reading: Vintage Photo Tuesday: Women of WW2 “Do Your Part!”

1940s vintage magazine cover of Colliers featuring women in 1943 in uniform. They are wearing 1940s hairstyles.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1940s Magazine Covers

Women Doing Their Part During WW2

First up I would like to kick off this blog post with this fantastic Sept 19th, 1943 cover illustration of two women in 1940s “off to work in the factory” clothing (hello saddle shoes!) and 1940s hairstyles (complete with hair scarfs and hair flowers). Love our “Rosies”.

Take a look at my friend and author, Elinor Florence’s collection of Toronto “Star Weekly” on her blog HERE.

1940s vintage magazine cover for the Toronto Star Weekly from Sept 1943 featuring an illustration of two 1940s women going to work for the WW2 war effort

Source: Elinor Florence

McCall’s Magazine, February 1943 with an amazing cover of an Aviatrix*.

Published in the thick of WWII, it is full of articles about making do, about sacrifice, ads about how to save, how to be a patriot and support the boys.

*Definition of Aviatrix: A woman who is a pilot.” It’s the feminine equivalent of aviator, and was often used to refer to Amelia Earhart, who vanished with her plane in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world. The word was most commonly used in the 1930s and 1940s before the role of “pilot” was well established (Source).

(available for purchase as of Nov 10th, 2022 HERE)

1940s vintage magazine: McCall's Magazine, February 1943 with an amazing cover of an Aviatrix

Source: Etsy-GroverStreetGirlSews

September 14th, 1943 – The Australian Woman’s Mirror. 32 pages of fashion, advertising, knitting, recipes and more.

1940s Vintage Magazine from WW2 featuring an Australian Woman in Uniform. September 14th, 1943 - The Australian Woman's Mirror. 32 pages of fashion, advertising, knitting, recipes and more.

Source: Etsy – TheVintageSide

1940s Cosmpolitan magazine featuring a nurse looking at her watch. Inside the magazine is ‘A Story of Wartime Marriage’.

1940s vintage magazine cover from Cosmpolitan magazine, March featuring a woman during WW2 as a nurse. Inside the magazine is a story of Wartime Marriage.

Source: Pulpcovers.com

“Working the Farms” was an important job all over the world.

A 56-page Everywoman magazine dating from March 1942, packed with social history and women’s interest features including:

– Mrs. Miles, Britain’s only aircraft designer
– Schooling
– Advice on selecting clothes styles that will be versatile and durable
– This Changing World
– Beauty While You Work
– Tips for renovating old and second-hand furniture
– Cleaning and caring for glass and china
– Ration-book cookery with recipes for every meal including desserts
– Spiritualism
– Knitting patterns (pictured)
– Health and beauty
– Beautifully illustrated short stories
– Readers’ letters & problem page
– and of course all those wonderful wartime adverts!

Digital Copy HERE

1940s Vintage Magazine: Full 56-page "Everywoman" magazine dating from March 1942, packed with social history and women's interest features

Source: Etsy-tuppencehapenny

Chatelaine magazine, September 1942. “Clocking in to start her war work”.

Further Reading: Chatelaine-The Canadian Magazine for Women since 1928 (past blog post)

The Australian Women’s Weekly 13-01-1945. The cover features the women of Australia who entered the service to help the cause.

Further Reading: The 1940s Vintage Magazine Covers of ‘The Australian Women’s Weekly’ (past blog post)

1940s vintage magazine cover: The Australian Women's Weekly 13-01-1945. The cover features the women of Australia who entered the service to help the cause to help the WW2 war effort

LIFE magazine from July 1st, 1940 featuring “Red Cross Girl”.

Source: Flickr

December 1941 of Women and Home, featuring knitting and crochet patterns for Christmas gifts and a woman returing home from doing her part.

1940s vintage magazine cover from December 1941 of Women and home featuring knitting and crochet patterns for christmas gifts and a woman returing home from helping the WW2 war effort

Source: Pinterest

McCall’s magazine September 1942, featuring another “Rosie” working in a factory.

1940s vintage magazine from WW2-McCall's September 1942 featuring a woman working in a factory for the WW2 war effort - Rosie the Riveter

Source: Pattern Vault

WOMAN magazine- “Incorporating the Woman’s budget”, May 3rd, 1943.

1940s vintage magazine: 1943 May 3rd Woman magazine featuring a woman in unform on the cover.

Source: Etsy – TheVintageSide

Collier’s Magazine July 14, 1945 – featuring Carole Landis on the cover.

Landis war work: In 1942, she toured with comedienne Martha Raye, dancer Mitzi Mayfair and actress Kay Francis with a USO troupe in England and North Africa. Two years later, she entertained soldiers in the South Pacific with Jack Benny. Benny later said that while many entertainers were reluctant to visit wounded men in camp hospitals, Landis made a point of spending time with them, and she displayed tremendous empathy as she talked with them about their lives and families back home. Landis traveled more than 100,000 miles during the war and spent more time visiting troops than any other actress. She became a popular pin-up with servicemen during World War II (Source).

1940s vintage magazine: Vintage Collier’s Magazine July 14, 1945 - WWII Carole Landis Cover. Stunning 1940s hairstyle inspiration.

Source: Pinterest

Thank you for dropping by! And thank you to all that served for your service near and far.

FURTHER READING:

World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts

Liz

Category: WW2