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Canadian Women at War
Canadian women, like women the world over, and through time immemorial, have served in times of war. These women mostly nurses or care givers, have taken care of the wounded and dying since the North West Rebellion of 1885. Canadian women have also served as secretaries, clerks, truck and ambulance drivers, military aides, and factory workers. Anywhere that men were pulled from their jobs to serve in the military, a woman was there to take his place. Long hours, hard work, and occasionally hazardous work was all in a days work for the Canadian woman. The North West Rebellion of 1885, The Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Desert Storm, Kosovo, Macedonia, Rwanda, and many many places the world over have seen these women perform their duties with honour and pride. In earlier times women were not allowed to be in a combat area, or to be used in a combat role. Nursing was the most needed role for women in the early wars, but as time has moved on the role of women in the military has evolved along with the rights of women. Not only can they vote, and have jurisdiction over their bodies, they can now serve in combat situations in all the armed forces of Canada. The women of today should be proud of the ones who went first, the ones who braved the world of men to break the mold, to go where women had never gone before. The 'Royal Red Cross' was the first award won by the Canadian women serving in Canada's military during the Boer War of the 1900's. The first of many awards and mentions. During World War I approximately 60 women died in a nursing capacity, most died of disease, and not a few died in the sinking of hospital ships. World War II saw women serving as drivers, mechanics, pilots, nurses, aides, and upwards of 100+ died in this service to their country and the world. Nowadays women in the Canadian Military have all the responsibilities and duties that men have. From combat duties, to reserve responsibilities. They now serve on ships, submarines and are pilots in combat and hazardous duty stations. Of course there are many still in the Medical Corps, serving on land and on hospital ships the world over, not only as nurses, but now as doctors and surgeons. After having served in Vietnam and having had need of medical attention, and having heard many stories of nurses and doctors and the trauma they've seen and treated, I respect the women of the armed forces more than any other group. They Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Canadian Women at War in Canada's Military is owned by . Permission to republish Canadian Women at War in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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