The Canadian Woman's Army Corps (CWAC), was the women's branch of the Canadian military founded in WW2, similar to the American Women's Army Corps (WAC). Though CWACs had strictly non-combatant roles, many served outside the country in the United States, the UK, Italy, and northwest Europe. The CWAC was disbanded in 1964, when women in service were merged into the main Canadian army.
The majority of these photographs seem to have been taken during or just after World War Two, probably mostly for promotional and/or recruitment purposes. Thanks to the format of Kodachrome transparency, the colours are just about as bright now as they were then.
(Unrelated note-- after almost three years I finally realized how/why to make jump breaks, so posts will now appear shorter on the blog main page (a big plus if you, like me, have a crummy computer/internet connection that doesn't like too many images!). Don't forget to click "read more", though-- still as many images per post as ever!)
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWACs in Holland. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC with flowers in Holland. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWACs salute. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC Private Palmer blowing a bugle (Canada was still very much a part of the British Empire, so the flag is really no indication whether this was taken in Canada or the UK). Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC with a flag (the best part is the hand holding it out for that 'waving' look!). Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWACs in Washington DC. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A (very staged) meal in mess hall. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC Sgt. Shirley McNeill with a foot pump. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC in front of the Union Jack. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
Two CWACs and an American sergeant in Washington DC. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
Archery, because that's super useful in 20th century warfare. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC with American flag in Washington DC. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC platoon marching. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC doing Christmas wrapping. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
Pipe Major Lillian Grant, leader of the CWAC pipe band. Source
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| Add captionCredit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC photographer Sgt. Karen Hermiston, the first woman photographer in the Canadian Army (more on her here), with a Speed Graphic camera. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC beside a lion statue near the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC in Washington. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWACs who seem to be sewing badges, Holland. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC with an American serviceman in Washington, DC. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWACs exiting a plane. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC in a church. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
CWAC Private Palmer. Source
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| Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada |
A CWAC in an archway at the Canadian Parliament, Ottawa. Source
2 comments:
I love the brilliant colors of these images! I especially enjoyed seeing the one entitled "A CWAC with an American serviceman in Washington, DC", as I used to live in Washington and the image of The Washington Monument in the background reminds me of the view from my first apartment there!
Betty
I never tire of seeing colour photos of era we're used to in black-and-white-- especially these bright Kodachrome ones! Brings the past so much closer. Terrific to hear you could relate to that one, I love coming across old photos of places I know well! :)
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