Record of Service

WRENS on Flag Deck practicing signals, 1944. Photo courtesy of Beatrice Mary Geary, The Memory Project.

Janet Watt served in the WRCNS during the Second World War. 1. As a class, watch Summary of the Conflict: Second World War as an introduction to the content explored in this activity. 2. Read the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service article on The Canadian Encyclopedia . 3. Watch Janet Watt’s video , taking notes as you go. Make sure to answer the following questions: • Who were the Wrens, and why were they were important to the war effort? • Why did Mrs. Watt want to join? What did her parents think of her decision to join the WRCNS? • What aspect of serving did she find the most challenging? • What were some of the social activities Mrs. Watt engaged in while at HMCS Cornwallis (located in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia)? 4. Using Mrs. Watt’s testimony and your research, write a letter home or a script of a telephone conversation between her and one of her parents discussing her experience at HMCS Cornwallis. Consider what she might include in her correspondence or conversation and what might she omit. What were some of things she was tasked with? How did she spend her free time? Janet Hester Watt continued

Extension Activity/Discussion: 1. Read the article Canadian Women and War on The Canadian Encyclopedia . During a class discussion, consider the following questions: • What were some of the different roles women took on? Compare and contrast the experiences of women on the home front and women in active service. • In what ways were both forms of service important to the war effort? • In what ways do you think women taking on jobs traditionally held by men challenged gender roles during the Second World War? • What challenges do you think service women might have faced above and beyond those faced by men? 2. Choose one of the following questions to research, and write an essay exploring the topic: • Why were women mobilized? What effect did this mobilization have on the war effort, both on the home front and overseas? • How did the Second World War change women’s rights and expectations in society? MODIFICATION: What kind of imagery, messaging, or slogans were used to help mobilize women? What kind of roles were women encouraged to take on? Using this information, create a propaganda poster to enlist the help of Canadian women during the war effort.

KOREAN WAR (1950–53) Applicable Interviews: Gerard Becigneul and Sergeant (retired) Bernard Charland The Korean War began 25 June 1950, when North Korean armed forces invaded South Korea. The war’s combat phase lasted until an armistice was signed 27 July 1953. As part of a United Nations (UN) force consisting of 16 countries, 26,791 Canadian military personnel served in the Korean War, during both the combat phase and as peacekeepers afterward. The last Canadian soldiers left Korea in 1957. After the two world wars, Korea remains Canada’s third-bloodiest overseas conflict, taking the lives of 516 Canadians and wounding more than 1,200.

Graveyard in Korea. Photo Courtesy of Maurice Lavoie, The Memory Project.

The Forgotten War

“I was at the Cenotaph a few years ago in Windsor and a member of Parliament was there. He mentioned World War One, World War Two. Nothing about the Korean War. And after it was finished, I knew the fellow and I asked him, I says, ‘How come you didn’t say anything about the Korean War?’ He said, ‘That wasn’t a war,’ he says. ‘That was a police action.’ ” - Gerard Becigneul

1. Before you do any research, split into small groups and list anything you already know about the Korean War. Have a class discussion about why the conflict is sometimes called the “Forgotten War.” 2. As a class, watch Summary of the Conflict: Korean War . Read the Korean War article and timeline on The Canadian Encyclopedia . Complete the 5Ws chart worksheet, available on the Education Portal .

MODIFICATION: Create a timeline of the Korean War. Include visuals such as maps and flags to help with the sequence of events.

Korean civilians. Photo courtesy of James Lafreniere, The Memory Project.

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