The Vintage Inn

Today is Remembrance Day and I will be spending it acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country. As for my blog today I wanted to supply you with a roundup of posts done about Canadian’s/Canada specifically during WW2.

Starting off, please head over to my friend Elinors Blog ‘Wartime Wednesday‘. I have mentioned her before on this blog (several times to be exact) because it’s a wonderful piece of Canadian History (and beyond) that needs to be read by everyone! All month she has been sharing blog posts on her Facebook (and other social media channels) on stories from her new book ‘My Favorite Veterans’ and they are fascinating. Please take the time to read some of them today.

2. Another friend Jessica from Chronically Vintage wrote a marvelous blog post on the ‘Canadian Ration Book of WW2‘. It’s a interesting read on how Canadians handled rationing.

3. Victory Gardens. “We urge every citizen to endeavour to grow more vegetables in order to make an appreciable difference in the situation that confronts us,”– Emily Schofield and Elizabeth MacKenzie

I personally have written various posts on Canada during WW2. Here are a few of them:

4. Tale of the Canadian Army Show. This idea behind the show was to entertain troops, promote recruitment by enhancing the army’s image, to increase the sale of war bonds, and to bolster civilian morale.

5. The Canadian ‘Rosie the Riveter’-Veronica Foster.

6. ‘WW2 Air Force Uniforms for Canadian Women‘.

This blog post is very special today, not just for the content (provided by Elinor Florence) but because of the below comment I recently received from Marie:

I served in the RCAF Womens’ Division during 1942-46 stationed in Ottawa at Princess Alice’s Barracks. I am now 92 yrs old and remember those years with much fondness. I just recently had my greatcoat cleaned and pressed and donated it to the Legion in Aurora, Ont. My family still enjoy my tales of my time as a WD.I am grateful that I was able to serve Canada during that stressful time.

Isn’t that comment incredible? I’m so glad that Marie reached out to share this with myself and my readers. Thank you for your service.

And with that comment, I’m going to end this blog post today so that I can go off and reflect.

Thanks for stopping by friends!

Liz

This Friday is Remembrance Day, so for this week’s blog posts I am going to focus on Canada during WWII. That means today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage images blog posts) are 1940s vintage images of Canadian Women on the Home Front, doing their part for their Country.

1941 vintage ww2 photo of a canadian woman working on an airplane part for the war effort vintage photo

Further Reading: I have done MANY posts on the topic “World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts” that you can read by clicking on the link.

War production and savings poster regarding a variety of goods for reuse or repurposing as war supplies, 1940 / 1941.

1940s Vintage Poster: canadian WW2 propaganda poster for War production and savings poster regarding a variety of goods for reuse or repurposing as war supplies

Source: Collections Canada

1943-Time to punch in and begin your service for Canada.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in a floral 1940s dress punching in to a time clock to do her job for the War effort in Canada.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

January 1943-Mrs. Mackay using a Riveting gun at a shipyard in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -January 1943-Mrs. Mackay using a Riveting gun at a shipyard in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Defense workers on the line.

1940s vintage photo of women defense workers working at the factory in their factory uniforms.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Not all women during WWII were working on items for overseas, there was regular upkeep needed of items already made in Canada. Like the train pictured below.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Women during WW2 working on trains for the Homefront War Effort.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Female worker Margot Bourassa shellacs the body of a fuse in the breakdown room of the Cherrier plant (Montreal) of the Defense Industries Limited.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Female worker Margot Bourassa shellacs the body of a fuse in the breakdown room of the Cherrier plant (Montreal) of the Defense Industries Limited.

Source: Collections Canada

At the same plant mentioned above a woman sews cordite bags. On a vintage hair note, check out that style. Wow!

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - a woman sewing cordite bags

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Dominion Bridge Company – Two women working in shell manufacturing plant.

1940s Vintage photo of Dominion Bridge Company - Two Canadian women working in shell manufacturing plant.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

It was important in some factories that the workers minds did not go idle, so music was played to help combat this. The below picture is of 2 women workers selecting the music to be played from their central control room at a Montreal factory.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - picture is of 2 women workers selecting the music to be played from their central control room at a Montreal factory.

Source: Collections Canada

Female munitions worker Françoise Corbeil turns out parts while listening to the piped music in her factory.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Female munitions worker Françoise Corbeil turns out parts while listening to the piped music in her factory.

Source: Collections Canada

Break Time! Group of female workers enjoying a break from their work at a munitions plant.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Group of female workers enjoying a break from their work at a munitions plant. — Source: Collections Canada

Source: Collections Canada

Testing lenses, at the Instruments Division of the Canadian Arsenals Ltd. optical plant. On another vintage hair note, nice to see hair that looks like mine when I style it (not perfect!).

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -Testing lenses, at the Instruments Division of the Canadian Arsenals Ltd. optical plant. Cute 1940s hairstyle.

Source: Collections Canada

The Perry Sisters, employed at the Dominion Arsenals Ltd. plant, armed with rake, watering can and pitchfork, help look after the vegetable garden where they are working (looking mighty cute I might add).

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -The Perry Sisters, employed at the Dominion Arsenals Ltd. plant, armed with rake, watering can and pitchfork, help look after the vegetable garden where they are working

Source: Collections Canada

1943-Women of the Aluminum Co. wait in line to get an autograph from famous Canadian fighter pilot ‘George “Buzz” Beurling‘. Helen Fowler is the lucky lady first in line.

1940s Vintage Photo: 1943-Women of the Aluminum Co. wait in line to get an autograph from famous Canadian fighter pilot 'George "Buzz" Beurling'. Helen Fowler is the lucky lady first in line.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

After a hard day in the factory there is nothing better than catching a few rays with friends. French-Canadian women at Dominion Arsenals (Personal Note: I adore this image).

1940s vintage photo of 3 women taking a break after working in the factory. They are catching some sun in 1940s swimsuits and 1940s summer fashions. Cute 1940s hairstyles.

Source: Collections Canada

Hope you enjoyed the images of our hard-working Canadian ladies of the 1940’s. Thank you for your service!

If you would like to see more images of our Canadian women during WW2, check out my Part 2 post HERE.

Liz

Remembrance Day-Roundup of Interesting Canadian WW2 Posts

Vintage Photos of Canadian Women on the Home Front during WWII