We recognise and are grateful for those who served (and continue to serve) our country, but especially the women who answered the call to duty. They were collectively called many names such as the “Petticoat Army” in today’s post, or the “Attagirls”. Often, they were paid far less than men who served in the same postings. (First published in 2018).
Lest we forget…
The women who answered their country’s call…
The “Petticoat Army” and other women who served in the wars…
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, when the war started in 1939, only 600,000 women worked at permanent jobs outside the home.
This number doubled during WWII.
(Canadian Women’s Army Corps – (2016) pointillism on 6 by 9″ watercolour paper with watercolour background – gifted to Canadian vet in 2023).
Women were welders, engineers, chief flight instructors, pilots, to name only a few of the tasks they accepted during the Second World War.
They were essential to war-related industries as they filled factory job openings left vacant by men who were fighting overseas.
Above, the woman in the portrait wears the uniform of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. (21,600 soldiers)
Veterans Affairs Canada, states that with women in uniform for the first time ever in Canadian history, more than 50,000 served in our armed forces during WWII.
This number includes the CWACs, (Canadian Women’s Army Corps), the women in the Royal Canadian Air Force (WDs), the Wrens, women in the Royal Canadian Naval Service, and finally, the Canadian military nurses, known as Nursing Sisters.
“Well the guns will be silent
There’ll be no more fighting
Oh we’ll lay down our weapons
On Remembrance Day.”
“Remembrance Day” from the 1987 album, Into the Fire, by Bryan Adams.
