Elinor Florence's Blog, page 9

The BEST of Wartime Wednesdays

Dear Friends: After five years and more than 100 wartime stories, this will be my final WARTIME WEDNESDAYS post. But since I’m eager to stay in touch with all you lovely people, my monthly blog will return next month with new content, and a new name: LETTERS FROM WINDERMERE. To learn more, click Read On below . . .

Willa Walker Blazed the Trail for RCAF Airwomen

Willa Magee Walker rose rapidly through the ranks in 1941 to become head of the newly-formed Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division. Only 28 years old, grieving the recent death of her baby son, her husband locked away in a German prison camp, Willa rose to the challenge with courage and dignity, breaking down barriers for future generations of women in uniform.

Winston Churchill Parker was POW

Named for the future British prime minister, 100-year-old Winston Parker Churchill of Okotoks, Alberta, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, served as a Wireless Air Gunner in a Wellington bomber, was shot down on his unlucky thirteenth mission, and spent the rest of the war in a prison camp.

Elinor Answers Your Questions

Dear Friends, Followers, and Fans: I’ve been writing Wartime Wednesdays for almost five years. During this time, I’ve had two novels published, appeared at 160 book signing events, and answered hundreds of emails and phone calls. Many people are curious about the same topics, so today I want to share the answers to my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Jean Hubbard Joined Army on 18th Birthday

Jean Brims Hubbard of West Vancouver, B.C., now aged 92, joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps on the day she turned eighteen. Wearing her red and white polka-dotted dress, she is likely the only recruit ever welcomed into the armed forces with a birthday cake!

Wartime Odds and Sods

For your summertime reading enjoyment, here’s a selection of fast and easy wartime tales that struck my fancy – starting with this delightful picture of Samantha Kot, who re-enacted an old photo she discovered right here on Wartime Wednesdays.

Russell Thompson: Army Veteran, Role Model

Here is one of the reasons they call it The Greatest Generation. Canadian Army veteran Russell Thompson of Seeley’s Bay, Ontario, who will turn 99 in a few months, embodies the values that made this country great.

Elizabeth Cutler: Star Weekly Artist

The artists who created these beautiful Toronto Star Weekly covers have been mostly forgotten, so it was a delightful surprise to hear from a woman whose great-aunt Elizabeth Cutler was a regular contributor to the magazine. Sheree Meyer of Orlando, Florida shared her memories of her talented Great-Aunt Betty.

The Rovers: Our Brightest and Best

A group of young men from Cranbrook, British Columbia, members of the Rovers branch of the Boy Scouts, built this cabin deep in the forest to use as their private clubhouse in the happy days before the Second World War. Four of them died while serving their country. Now all that remains is the stone fireplace, a crumbling memorial to those brave young men who never returned to the mountains they loved so much.

RCAF Mapmaker: Dorothy Chapman Garen

When I discovered this photograph online, I was struck with the lovely elegance of Dorothy Chapman Garen in her Royal Canadian Air Force uniform. I was even more thrilled to find that Dorothy, now aged 95, is living not far from me in Canmore, Alberta, where I was able to thank her in person for her service to our country.