Wilkes, Sylvia: my wartime experiences (November 16, 2005)
PublicInterviewer: Nielsen, Alyssum
ABSTRACT: Sylvia Wilkes Tape 1 Side 1 000 13 years old when World War II broke out Met husband when she was 16 (he was 24) at a train station Got married in 1945 071 Wedding - rationing of food and clothing 090 Permission for wedding from commanding officer, waiting period, screening process (blood tests) 118 Families reaction to husband Community's reaction to marrying a Canadian 136 Wartime censorship (Letters) End of war - Husband was wounded but she wasn't notified because she wasn't married 169 First child born in 1946 Moving to Canada - husband wanted to stay in England Came over with child (5 month old son) Sense of community on board the ship Adjusting to life in Canada 301 Differences between life in Britain and Canada - sense of excitement Domestic Responsibilities Son had to live in a sanatorium for 2 years after he was diagnosed with TB at 5 months Worked in the sanatorium - first in kitchen and then delivering supplies Living conditions in rural Saskatchewan Living conditions in sanatorium - restrictions Tape 1 Side 2 000 Second son born in 1951 after one miscarriage - miscarried after collapsing Had 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl) Third child died at 43 of cancer 062 Experience of living with in-laws Differences of shopping in Canada and Britain 092 Community interaction Many other war brides in her community 116 War Brides on Reserves 137 Connection to Canada - doesn't identify with Britain Experience of returning to Britain 160 Applying for immigration Citizenship and being a War Bride 219 War Bride association - Gloria Brock Association began after children had grown up 255 Working in the land army - started at 17 - joined because she was interested in animals Training helped with life in Saskatchewan Duties included milking cows, culling milk, grain/hay, thrashing, pigs, chickens Worked alone on the farm Denied metal for war effort Owner was a butcher Other women had to join the forces or work in a munitions factory Societal change towards women and employment Sense of duty - contribution to the war effort 327 Working women Empowerment of the women from the war generation 354 Bombing during the war - air raid shelters Doodle bugs and spit fires Sense of disillusionment of war
Interviewee: Wilkes, Sylvia
An interview/narrative of Sylvia Wilkes's experiences during World War II. Interview took place on November 16, 2005.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recording on audio cassette also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- WS_533
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- August 3, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. 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
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SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail | Public |
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Wilkes_S_0533_01.mp3 | Public |
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Wilkes_S_0533_02.mp3 | Public |
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