Wanting to be in Signals
Heroes Remember
Wanting to be in Signals
Transcript
Description
Ms. Rapp describes joining Signals in Ottawa as a steno. She is eventually promoted to Sergeant as an enticement to keep her.
Helen Rapp
Helen Rapp, the youngest of five children, was born on July 15, 1925 in Schumacher, Ontario. Her dad and older brothers were gold miners. Ms. Rapp's brothers enlisted when the Second World War began, and she used her drafting studies to obtain a job with General Electric in Hamilton, where she helped assemble Bofors guns. When women were permitted to join, she enlisted and served in Ottawa. Ms. Rapp attained the rank of Sergeant and managed the office which controlled all Communication in Canada.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:53
- Person Interviewed:
- Helen Rapp
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC)
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Occupation:
- Clerk
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Ms. Rapp discusses the need for women to work in war industries, her work at General Electric building the Bofors anti-aircraft gun, and her enlistment as soon as women were permitted in the armed forces.
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A Soldier took my Job
Ms. Rapp discusses losing her job to a soldier returning from overseas, but being given the same opportunities to obtain housing, education, and civilian employment as those who'd served overseas.
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