Joining the Forces in 1942

Heroes Remember

Joining the Forces in 1942

Transcript

He was in Saint John Fusiliers and when he was ready to go overseas, they transferred them from the Fusiliers to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and he was in that. And he was shell-shocked on VE-Day, on, yeah on VE-Day, June the 6th, he was shell-shocked, sent back to London and from London they kept him there in hospital for a while and then he was sent back here to Saint John. Well it was a shock because I can remember they sent them back, they landed I think I'm not sure if it was in Halifax or Montreal and they brought him back by train and we went down to the station and he walked by us and didn't even know us. You know and it was scary, because I thought, gee whiz, he's my brother and he doesn't know any of us and somebody came... I can remember, I was only a little one but I can remember walking down and my mom and dad were there and they spoke to him and he kinda looked at us but with a blank stare. But eventually he did, you know, he come out of it eventually, but cars or anything going at the time, any noise or anything, it would, he'd go right off, you know, it was, it was scary, it was real scary. I joined up because of him. I figured well he did, he's doing, he did his part so I'm gonna try to join up. This was before he went overseas. I joined up in '42, yeah, in '42 and he was in Quebec ready for overseas and he got compassionate leave and came home, tried to talk me out of joining up; "No sister of mine is putting a uniform on." And I said, "I'm of age, I wanna do it." And he said, "No, no, no." And mom said, "Look it, she wants to do it, let her do it." So I did, I joined up and I was never sorry that I joined. I enjoyed it.

Description

Ms. Stevens talks about her brother being shell-shocked on VE-Day and being sent back home on compassionate leave. Even though her brother tried to discourage her, she joined up in 1942.

Katherine Stevens

Katherine Stevens was born on March 17, 1924. She grew up during the depression years in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She decided to join the navy in 1942 and worked as a wardroom assistant with the WRENs. She served mostly in Esquimalt, British Columbia and when the war ended in 1945, she returned to Halifax.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 02:08
Person Interviewed:: Katherine Stevens
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Home front
Branch:: Navy
Rank:: Wren - Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS)
Occupation:: Wardroom Assistant (WRA)

Language selection

Joining the Forces in 1942

Heroes Remember