Stacey Barker

Published by the Canadian War Museum, this pint sized full colour 'catalogue' gives the reader a glimpse into World War memorabilia and some personalized mentions of contribution and service of Canadian women during the two World Wars. The usual homefront war effort of preparing Red Cross packages, knitting woolens (socks, gloves, scarves, etc) are captured here, along with stories of women becoming factory/munitions workers and farm labourers. For example, Wilhelmina (Willa) Walker served in the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of the few women to attain the rank of Wing Officer (equivalent to a Lieutenant-Colonel). Joan Bamford Fletcher joined the Britain's First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and at the end of the Second World War she was sent to Indonesia to transport 2,000 Dutch internees surrounded by hostile rebel groups to a safer area some 450 kilometers away. Fletcher personally led 20 separate convoys through the mountainous jungle with the assistance of the defeated Japanese forces. Fletcher so impressed the Japanese solders under her command that the Japanese commander presented Fletcher with his samurai sword, which had been in his family for 300 years. This little book makes me want to learn more about Walker, Fletcher and other women who made such valuable contributions during and after the war.

Overall, a quick read that I can highly recommend as a starting point to learning more about Canadian women's contributions to the war effort.… (meer)