Thanks to Pat, for organizing yet another terrific event for the sister-friends, yesterday afternoon, at the Lougheed House.  We wanted to include something special for this year’s commemoration of Remembrance Day and thought this would be different.  Proudly They Served takes into account the participation and commitment of Canadian women during World War II as they served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.  From the Lougheed House, programs and exhibits…

Proudly They Served: Canadian Women’s Army Corps, October 21st, 2015 until January 17th, 2016

Learn about the history of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) and the role of Lougheed House in providing a Calgary barracks during World War II. Hear stories firsthand in the audio tour component of the exhibit from women who worked as switchboard operators, cipher decoders, drivers, cooks and clerks during WWII. Collections featured in the exhibition include artifacts, oral histories and photographs from the Lougheed House Conservation Society, the Military Museums, the Glenbow Archives and a private collection.

WWII code breaking happened beyond Bletchley Park! Yesterday, we heard the story of Canadian Women’s Army Corp’s Veteran, Rose Wilkinson, who served as a cipher decoder. The talk was led by Lougheed House Curator, Trisha Carleton. Gathered in the beautiful Lougheed House and drinking tea from flowered cups, we enjoyed a very pleasurable and informative event.

While the sound system didn’t support the large numbers who turned out for the event, Rose was warm and well-spoken, as she shared her experience…an 18 year old farm girl who, once her two brothers went overseas, was determined to do her part in the war effort and so, against all odds, she joined up.

Many personal vignettes and narratives were shared.  Rose was grateful for the uniform, having only ever dressed in hand-me-downs.  Her brown oxfords were the first pair of brand new shoes she had ever owned.  The bunk where she slept in training was the first time she found herself actually sleeping alone, given the family’s sparse possessions.  It  took her a few nights before she got used to that.

Rose shared contributions of champion, Mary Dover to the cause, as she spoke eloquently about the differences for women in the military, at the time, as compared to a life in the military for men.  She described having had tomatoes thrown at her as she got of the train at Ottawa.  Society didn’t accept such radical change.  A woman’s place was at home.

As we listened, I could not help but feel very proud of women…not just women who served, but women at home.  Their skills became extremely diverse as they took the place of their husbands, fathers and brothers on the farms and in businesses.  In fact, just last night, I learned that my own grandmother, Florence Elliott, before even marrying my grandfather, had a job in a munitions factory, where she tamped down powder in gun shells. (A narrative I hadn’t heard until speaking about it with my father on Skype last night.)  While women’s careers in the military may still seem to us today as ‘women’s work’, these young women were among those who paved the way for women today.  Women received ninety cents a day for their service at the time, compared to the almost dollar and a ninety cents earned by the men.

Rose spoke of the fact that she was never sent overseas and regrets that to this day, but worked very hard ciphering code, specific to the Canadian armed forces.  She was only ever tempted to share messages one time…and that was when she received a code regarding her own two brothers who were listed among the missing in action.  In the end, the two had been wounded and sent home, safe.  Rose resisted the temptation to share the news with her mother at the time although she knew that her brothers were facing some sort of calamity or even dead.

When the talk concluded, I made it my business to go and introduce myself to the four female Veterans who were in attendance and to thank them for their service.  I feel so proud of them and will cherish their stories.

This exhibit will be available for viewing through to January and I strongly recommend that my readers in Calgary attend.

In response to a comment left by a lady, Barb, who is researching her biological grandmother, I contacted the Lougheed House and had a kind response from Caroline.  I’m including that response here, along with two photographs.

Hi Kathleen,

I’ve done a little bit of research and haven’t found much on a Viola Meng. I have attached two photos. One (NA-5473-11) identifies a Miss Ming, which could refer to Viola Meng. The credit reads:

L-R: Anne Gerk (Sweet); unknown; Alberta Rockleau; Miss Bowran (?); Maxine Fuller; Miss Ming; Trudy Berra; Fern Gosselin; Pearl Dragdowich (?); engineers.

The other is of the CWAC women at Christmas – perhaps Viola is in this photo? Unfortunately I don’t have the names of anyone in this photo readily available.

I’ll keep my eye out for any other info on Viola.

Best wishes,

Caroline