Jeff Booth, who edited the book, introduced Emily with mention that the name was taken from a Canadian World War II recruiting campaign and had been the working title for a long time. He said that staff at the museum had long thought about such a project and when Emily suggested she would like to undertake the work, they were delighted. “This is a first. It’s the first time someone has collected stories of service women in the area for publication, and the fact a young woman from St. Thomas is doing this is a wonderful and appropriate tribute.”
Emily, a fifth year Education and History student at Laurentian University notes in the book’s introduction, “Women’s involvement in World War II was an essential part of not only the war effort, but also the feminist movement for equality within the Canadian Services. Women’s service during World War II is a complex narrative that deserves to be shared, so please enjoy the following stories of pride and honour.”
Creating the collection took place over six months and involved obtaining many recorded interviews with family, friends and in some cases with the veterans. Jeff noted that it is good to have the recorded interviews which were part of Emily’s research.
Emily, a fifth year Education and History student at Laurentian University notes in the book’s introduction, “Women’s involvement in World War II was an essential part of not only the war effort, but also the feminist movement for equality within the Canadian Services. Women’s service during World War II is a complex narrative that deserves to be shared, so please enjoy the following stories of pride and honour.”
Creating the collection took place over six months and involved obtaining many recorded interviews with family, friends and in some cases with the veterans. Jeff noted that it is good to have the recorded interviews which were part of Emily’s research.
Above - top left, Emily this past summer researching for "The Proudest Girl in Canada" (photo courtesy of Elgin County Military Museum); top right, display including Iris Hey's CWAC Anniversary sweater, donated by her daughter.
Emily read an excerpt from the story of Lt. Nursing Sister Glenora Lee (Robertson) who was stationed in England and near the front line in Italy.
... Now in Rimni, Italy, Lee arrived just days before the Battle of Rimni which would see the end of many Canadian lives. Stationed only three miles back from the front line, Lee could hear and feel the action taking place. The camaraderie felt between those in service was immense, Lee can still recall the dedication of the Canadian servicemen through the words of one patient: “The man looked at me when I went to bathe him, you know what his remark was, ‘There is someone else in the next bed who needs you more.’ You head that all around … It made you feel proud to be a Canadian."
~ The Proudest Girl in Canada
The book will be a source of pride for families of woman veterans in general, and for those whose stories are included. In attendance at the book launch were family members of Lance Corporal Iris Hey (Cockell), who passed away only this past October. A display included Iris’s 50th Anniversary CWAC sweater, donated by Anne Griffin in her mother’s memory.
When asked by her daughter why she chose to volunteer Hey stated, ‘Night after night you would sit by the radio and get the news report of the invasions overseas. I couldn’t just sit at home; I had to do something to help.”
~ The Proudest Girl in Canada
Iris joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corp (CWAC), and served as a Munitions Clerk in England during the blitz and then in France and Belgium – many of her assigned placements were primary targets for enemy bombers. In the book Emily says, “I feel truly honoured that I had a chance to speak with her. I cannot deny the pride I heard in her voice when she looked back on her time spent in the Canadian Women’s Army Corp.”
Speaking at the launch, Emily pointed out that her work is only a sampling of the thousands of reports of dedicated service by woman veterans. She has done well, however, in meeting her goal of highlighting the perspectives and wartime accounts of local women, something which had not been done previously. As Jeff says in the forward to “The Proudest Girl in Canada”, “These women’s accounts of World War II demand attention and remembrance, as do the experiences of all veterans.”
For more information about the Elgin Military Museum, visit www.elginmilitarymuseum.ca.