Commanding Officers Disrespect Towards Women

Heroes Remember

Commanding Officers Disrespect Towards Women

Transcript

The day we arrived was the, our squadron... it was the first squadron to go onto a flying station and this... he was the Commanding Officer and he didn’t want us women. He didn’t want women period on his station. And he said it right on the, there we are and this was in the cold winter and we were freezing standing at attention out on the parade square and he, and we had just arrived. We hadn’t yet got in our barracks and when we found it, got out of the trucks and everything. We’re on parade. We’re out in front of him, he said, "I didn’t want you here.” and he said, “If any of you do anything, I don’t want you. You’re, you’re gonna be in for it." He really gave a dressing down you know it was a terrible thing... And here we were, not only were we freezing out there, no heat in the barracks, no running water and when that first meal that we all had in the mess, in the barrack, the kitchens were so filthy dirty that forks were with egg between the prongs you know just like spoons, it was terrible. I must say about that CO though, we naturally we, we... you could imagine how we felt. You’re suppose to be on parade every morning in your own squadron and you, where could you go to clean your teeth. There was no running water in our barracks. You couldn’t go to the biffy, you had to what, the only thing we had was the Red Cross had a canteen on the, on the campus, on that station and what we had to do was line up one by one and go to the Red Cross toilets that they had... until they, he got running water and heat in our barracks and that took quite a while. But anyway, what I must say, he apologized and he said he was wrong and he regretted it and he wanted to ask us to forgive him because he had been mean. He had been all sorts of things and that took a lot of guts for him to do that you know.

Description

Mrs. Walmsley shares her feelings upon arrival at #6 Dunnville Manning Depot and the disrespect given by the Commanding Officers towards women service in the military.

Norma Walmsley

Norma Walmsley was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up there until she decided to join the military. In 1941, Ms. Walmsley became a member of the very first squadron of women that was recruited by the RCAF. Following basic training at Havergal College Manning Depot in Toronto, she received her first posting to #6 in Dunnivlle. Later she was commissioned and posted to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa where she remained until the end of the war, holding the rank as Senior Officer in Charge of Womens Division Supplies for Canada and Overseas. After the service, Ms. Walmsley attended McGill University graduated and became a professor at Brandon College, serving as the Head of the Department of Political Science. Ms. Walmsley is credited for her active role in promoting student and community organizations and has a long history of services in respect to women’s role in society and Human Rights Development. In 1993, Ms. Walmsley was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. Her dedication and commitment has gained her presence and acceptance of many respectable awards within Canada.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 2:20
Person Interviewed:: Norma Walmsley
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Canada
Branch:: Air Force
Units/Ship:: Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division
Occupation:: Supply Officer

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Commanding Officers Disrespect Towards Women

Heroes Remember