Hamill, Patricia Mary Jones: my Army recollections (April 4, 1985)

ABSTRACT: Capt. Patricia Mary Jones Hamill Canadian Women's Army Corps Hamill_P_0062_01.mp3 Born on Jan. 26, 1918 in England. Hers was a military family. Her father was a Master Gunner, permanent force. Was educated in Halifax. Discusses the early, unofficial role of women in the army which eventually resulted in the C.W.A.C. A secretary in civilian life, she joined the army in 1941. Worked as a secretary for a month, then underwent a month of drill. No uniforms, but was provided with civilian- pattern shoes, stockings, and an armband. Next, the nine women in her group were issued the smallest size of men's coveralls which they wore constantly. Finally, in Jan. 1942, they were issued uniforms. Food was badly cooked; roast beef every day except Friday. Many young women joined the service despite parental opposition. Pay was two-thirds that of men, but they were entitled to equal trades pay. Posted to an administration course at Macdonald College, Que., as an acting corporal. In June 1942 attended an officers' training course at the same place. More administration courses and a messing course. Felt that the O.C.T.U. was deficient in man (women) management aspects. Returned to district headquarters in Halifax. Was sent on a recruiting drive through Nova Scotia. In Sept. 1942 she was a company commander in Halifax. Discipline, training, sports, administration amounted to a considerable responsibility. Was posted to Sydney, N.S. and promoted to captain. Moved to Dundurn, Sask., in May 1943 for about four months. Married, moved to Regina as a company commander as both husband and wife were not allowed to serve on the same base. After one year she was posted overseas in Nov. 1944 with ten C.W.A.C. officers. A "Cook's Tour" of A.T.S. (Auxiliary Territorial Service) camps. For a time she was C.O. of an English company. Took courses. Remained in England as an exchange officer for four months. Posted to Ottawa as a company commander at army headquarters until Oct. 1945. Comments that members of the C.W.A.C. filled many non-combatant jobs and trades, releasing men for other duties. (25:00)

Interviewee: Hamill, Patricia Mary Jones, b. 1918

An interview/narrative of Patricia Mary Jones Hamill's experiences during World War II. Captain Hamill served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps. Interview took place on April 4, 1985.

Rank: Captain.

Interviewer: Gray, Grant

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Hamill, Patricia Mary Jones, b. 1918
• Gray, Grant

Subject

• World War (1939-1945)
• Canada. Canadian Army
• Military history
• Personal narratives--Canadian

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Women's Army Corps
• Macdonald College
• Canada--Canadian Army--Military life
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Women's Army Corps--Great Britain
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Hamill, Patricia Mary Jones, b. 1918.--Interviews
• Great Britain--Auxiliary Territorial Service
• Canada--Canadian Army--Women
• World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female
• Canada--Canadian Army--Officers--Training of

Date created

• April 4, 1985

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 sound recording (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Canada
• Great Britain

Coordinates

• 60.10867, -113.64258
• 54.75844, -2.69531

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 25 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)
• sound recordings
• reminiscences

Archival item identifier

• HPMJ_062

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• June 1, 2007

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. Migration metadata by KD and MT.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/x3b3-2c98

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