14
The High School War Effort Committee1942
Wetaskiwin, Alberta
15
I was a member of the High School Student Union and we were involved in fundraising efforts for the war."At the beginning of the school term last September, the Executive of the High School Student's Union unanimously agreed that War Efforts should be emphasized above all other activities throughout the year. As a start in this direction it was decided that every student in High School purchase one War Savings Stamp every month as a minimum…Roddy French was selected as Chairman, and "Biddy" Palfrey became Deputy in charge of the Soldier's Comfort Fund.
War Savings Stamps have been available by the students at the War Efforts desk in the hall every Monday." (W.H.S. Digest, pg 4, Special 1941 Graduation Edition, June 16, 1941)
16
Norah (Biddy) as a teenager1939
Wetaskiwin, Alberta
17
Women Asked to Help in National Service19 October 1939
18
Norah (Biddy)1940
Wetaskiwin, Alberta
19
After I graduated high school in 1942, I worked for the Wetaskiwin Creamery in the office. I knew that I would join the military, but at the same time, I was hesitant and decided to wait one more year until I was nineteen. I travelled to Edmonton to the recruiting office and joined the service in September 1943. It seemed logical at the time that I would enlist in the forces because I came from a strong military family, and the war presented opportunities for me that I might never have again.20
A group of us from high school went to Edmonton where I enlisted. I was sent to Rockcliffe, Ontario for basic training. My home for the next month was B. Block, 109A Wing, Bed #20. There were two hundred and forty-one of us from Canada, Bermuda and elsewhere in Squadron 4.21
Airwomen training1943
Montreal, Quebec
22
Norah (Biddy) outside her barracks in Montreal1943
Montreal, Quebec
23
On November 12, 1943, I was notified that I would be posted to Montreal and I left Rockcliffe two days later. My posting was to the Number One Wireless School, which was housed in an old hospital, a beautiful building. At Wireless School, we learned to send and receive messages in Morse code, accurately and speedily. I trained for five months in class 25A and in the sixth month, I came down with pneumonia. Because I missed the last month of training, I had to miss my class graduation (it was heartbreaking) and stay on to graduate with the next class of RCAF women wireless operators.24
No 1 Wireless School1943
Montreal, Quebec
25
Meal Card, No. 1 Wireless School1944
Montreal, Quebec
26
During my time in Montreal, I was lucky to visit art galleries, museums and live performances. I had the air force send half of my pay cheque home to my mother so that I could save some money. On December 4, 1943, I wrote a letter to my family in which I described my schedule and asked that some of my saved wages be sent to me in Montreal."Dear Mum:
...How much money have I in the bank right now? Has this month's cheque come through yet. I was wondering if you could send me ten dollars more this month as well as the five to sort of last me Xmas etc. We get 5 whole days. On the 30th of Nov. when I got paid they gave me $3.10 which doesn't go far. Today after buying some odd things like soap I find that I have 39 cents. Amazing, isn't it? But I also got the stuff to cover my dresser which was not exactly cheap. So if its in the bank could I have fifteen dollars quite soon then I'll have to live off a soup-bone all January and February. The early shift is the one that we have to get up at 5:30 a.m., classes from 7 to 3:20 p.m. The late one you get up at 8:30 and have classes from 15 to 3 till 10:30 p.m. We go on parade at 2:00 so it cuts up the day rather badly... Its been snowing big soft flakes all day and the snow is just right for snowballs. I was bending over daintly like a cow with my head practically touching the ground with a rear elevation of about 6 ft when some dimwit couldn't resist temptation so I became the target of a fine mess of snowballs..."
27
Norah (Biddy) in uniform1944
Wetaskiwin, Alberta
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