Downes, Marguerite: my Army recollections (December 27, 1985)

ABSTRACT: Lt. Marguerite Downes (now Gierman) Canadian Women's Army Corps Downes_M_0045_01.mp3 (Side 1) Born and educated in Victoria. Moved to England as a girl and in 1934 completed a business course. The family moved to Denmark and, because of the war, returned to Canada in March 1940. Joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps (C.W.A.C.) in Victoria in early 1942. Recruits had to be at least twenty-one years of age and provide references. In the beginning she lived at home, wore civilian clothes and a C.W.A.C. armband when on duty at Signal Hill. In June 1942 was issued a uniform and sent to Ste. Anne de Bellevue (Macdonald College) near Montreal where they underwent basic training, largely drill and first aid. Returned to the ordnance depot in Victoria, then to LaPointe Pier in Vancouver. Very cold, damp working conditions caused considerable sickness. Lived out on one dollar per day living-out allowance, on top of the ninety cents per day regular pay. In the summer of 1943 was transferred to Kamloops where she boarded in what seemed the lap of luxury: plenty of food, generous landlady. After a while she felt too remote from the war and applied for a transfer to C.W.A.C. Administration in Vancouver. From Vancouver, posted to Officer Training School at Ste Anne de Bellevue where great emphasis was placed on women management. (20:00) Posted to the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Wellington Barracks, Halifax. Did not enjoy living in "H" huts. Some disciplinary problems, many of the younger girls could not cope with military life. She feels that many recruits were not properly selected. Usual method of release was as a result of psychological and medical problems. Deliberate pregnancy one of the latter. The discipline and homesickness seemed to affect the Newfoundland girls and in many cases they were inclined to go absent without leave. "Good" C.W.A.C.'s were worth their weight in gold, but unfortunately often had to carry part of the work of others. (32:00) (Side 2) Mess food quite satisfactory, few complaints. Describes impressions of V-E Day in Halifax. All shops closed, including liquor stores. Too many armed forces personnel on leave. Organized the rescue, by truck, of many frightened C.W.A.C. personnel caught in the rioting. In July 1945 an ammunition dump caught fire and concussion from the resulting explosions caused their "H" huts to shift on their foundations. They all spent the night on the parade square. Discharged in 1946. Feels that army life was an unnatural one for a woman. Personally felt that the army benefitted her, but saw many emotional and jealous attitudes displayed which had a harmful effect on the military job to be done. Unusual medical problems not uncommon. (23:00)

Interviewee: Downes, Marguerite

Rank: Lieutenant.

Interviewer: Cafferky, Shawn

An interview/narrative of Marguerite Downes's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant Downes served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps. Interview took place on December 27, 1985.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Cafferky, Shawn
• Downes, Marguerite

Subject

• Canada. Canadian Army
• World War (1939-1945)
• Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
• Military history

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Canada--Canadian Army--Officers--Training of
• Halifax VE-Day Riots, Halifax, NS, 1945
• Gierman, Marguerite, (Marguerite Downes), 1919-2003--Interviews
• Macdonald College
• World War, 1939-1945--Psychological aspects
• Port Metro Vancouver--Lapointe Pier
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Women
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Women's Army Corps
• Canada--Canadian Army--Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Women's Army Corps--Military life
• Naval Armament Depot (Bedford Bay (N.S.))--Explosion--1945
• Powder magazines--British Columbia--Kamloops
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Ordnance, Naval--Storage
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Halifax, N.S.)--Wellington Barracks

Date created

• December 27, 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

• England
• Canada

Coordinates

• 60.10867, -113.64258
• 52.16045, -0.70312

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 55 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

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

Archival item identifier

• DM_045

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

• May 25, 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/e02x-0t73

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