How They Answered the Call - Women’s Roles in WWII It has been said that WWI was a man’s war, a soldier’s war and that WWII was everybody’s war, women and children included.  Today we would like to remember women of wartime, regardless of stature–military or civilian.  Let us also honor the significant roles all women played and continue to play amidst tyranny and the battle for liberty. During times of war, women have shown patriotism and a willingness to fight right alongside men.  This is seen throughout history as they often disguised themselves to get into battle and formed armies or war effort societies like The Women’s Land Army, The Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, The Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens), The Auxiliary Territorial Service or Air Transport Auxiliary.

Women went into military service for their countries working in administration, electronics, intelligence and communications. They worked as secret agents, nurses, monitored radar stations, drove ambulances, repaired vehicles and manned weapons or tanks.  Often under a direct threat to themselves, they tended to the wounded, cared for the sick and comforted the dying.

Civilian women worked as clerks, cooks, waitresses, volunteers, fund raisers and often labored in factories making ammunition, guns, uniforms, ships, aircraft and tanks. Women and mothers fed hungry families on rations, prayed for daily survival, cared for their communities and became "home front soldiers."  More often than not they also fulfilled a financial role too as family supporter.

Let us never forget the sacrifices of such women and their priceless contributions toward freedom.

S.O.E. Violette Szabo - a story of espionage and courage...

In retrospect, Violette Szabo was the perfect candidate for secret service. She was young, energetic, athletic, and beautiful. She was also bilingual and recently widowed. Violette had lived through the devastation showered upon her English homeland during the Battle of Britain. Further, the country of her birth and heritage, France, was now dominated by the enemy. Was she patriotic? Did she need revenge? ...more...

Elizabeth “Elsie” MacGill - "Queen of the Hurricanes"

During WW2 she was to oversee the production of over 1400 airplanes with a staff of 4500 comprised of nearly 40% of newly hired women. The other employees were likely members of the good old boys club, now they were answering to the first woman Aeronautical Engineer in North America. What other challenges did MacGill face? ...more...

ATA Marion Orr - a pilot who loved the Spitfire

When she was discharge in 1944, Marion Orr had logged 700 hours on over 60 types of aircraft. She was one of the female pilots who ferried ‘shot-up’ aircraft from landing strips to repair stations and back. They faced many dangers from enemy interception and faulty components to difficult weather ...more...

Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart
In The Mood
The Band Played On
For Me and My Gal
As Time Goes By
Swinging On A Star
Sentimental Journey
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
I’ll Never Smile Again
Pack Up Your Troubles
Lili Marlene
Now Is The Hour
We’ll Meet Again
It’s Been A Long, Long Time
You’ll Never Know
I’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
I Can Dream Can’t I
The White Cliffs of Dover

Popular Dances:
Samba, Rumba, Jive & Jitterbug

One of the most recognizable and beloved voices of WW2 was that of Vera Lynn.

At the onset of war she went, as did everyone, to sign up for work answering the call of King and Country. Young, ready and able, she would do whatever was required but was surprised when told she’d be most valuable entertaining.  She became a sweetheart of the troops and the most popular British singer of the war. No voice was more closely woven into the fabric of wartime emotion than hers.