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Women at War

This one-hour documentary delved into the lives of women in the Canadian Armed Forces in the Second World War. Narrated by Pat Patterson, the series mixed historical footage with interviews of former air force, army and navy women, nurses, war artists and administrators. The show aired on Nov. 7, 1982. Second World War veteran George Robertson produced the television special and also conducted all the interviews.

WW II: Canada's Armed Forces recruits women

Broadcast Date: Nov. 7, 1982

1941: For the first time in Canadian history the call goes out for women to enlist in women's divisions of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Recruiting films make training bases look like holiday camps and highlight the newfound glamour of a woman in uniform. By the thousands women answer the call. They leave behind roles as homemakers or department store clerks to become "Wrens," "CWACs" and "WDs."

WW II: Canada's Armed Forces recruits women

• Canadian women had a long history of organizing for home defence, but had not previously been allowed in the armed forces except as nurses. As the bureaucracy of the Allied war machine grew, women were needed for clerical and other jobs in order to release men for combat. In 1941 the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWACs) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women's Division) were formed. In 1942 the Royal Canadian Naval Women's Service (Wrens) was formed.

• As in the First World War, women were not allowed in combat roles. They were given clerical, administrative, communications and support jobs.

• The Armed Forces recruited both single and married women, though they sometimes avoided young single women to avoid "moral issues." By the end of the war 45,423 women had enlisted.

• All three women's services were disbanded in 1946. Women were again recruited in the 1950s as the forces expanded during the Cold War.

• The Proudest Girl in the World was a two-minute Hollywood-style musical produced by the National Film Board of Canada to encourage women to enlist. It was directed by Canadian Julian Roffman.

• Roffman went on to write, direct and produce B-movie horror and crime flicks such as The Bloody Brood, The Mask (a.k.a. Eyes of Hell), The Pyx (a.k.a. The Hooker Cult Murders) and The Glove (a.k.a. The Lethal Terminator).

WW II: Canada's Armed Forces recruits women

Medium: Television

Program: Women at War

Broadcast Date: Nov. 7, 1982

Guest(s): Molly Bobak, Georgina Keddell


Interviewer: George Robertson
Narrator: Pat Patterson

Duration: 5:04

Photo: J. Robert Baylor / National Geographic

Last updated:
July 23, 2009


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All clips from this program

4 results available  

MediaTitle and dateDescription
Television
5:04 		Nov. 7, 1982
WW II: Canada's Armed Forces recruits women 		During World War II, women are recruited for Canada's Armed Forces for the first time.
Television
3:44 		Nov. 7, 1982
Nurses face danger and death 		A Nursing Sister recalls the grim sights of murdered civilians and so many young men dying.
Television
4:25 		Nov. 7, 1982
Female officers take charge 		One of Canada's first female officers recalls the first time she had to discipline a male.
Television
6:01 		Nov. 7, 1982
Enforcing discipline among female recruits 		"Women at War" looks at the unfair reputation attributed to women in the forces.
4 results available