Women Inside the Canadian Military,1938-1966
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Women Inside the Canadian Military,1938-1966 by Sarah Hogenbirk, BA (Hons), MA A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2017, Sarah Hogenbirk Abstract This dissertation inserts servicewomen into military history and women’s and gender history by analyzing how women voiced their place in the Canadian military between 1938 and 1966. It studies how women negotiated the conditions of their service during the Second World War, resisted demobilization in 1946, and shaped the terms on which women entered the forces permanently in 1966. Drawing on official texts, unofficial histories, and personal scrapbooks, the thesis identifies the voices of women who pursued military careers and makes three arguments. First, women have actively negotiated with defence officials for a place in the armed services in war and peace. Second, servicewomen have adopted a perspective that went beyond the war in their plans for future service and their reflections on past service. Third, servicewomen crafted their legacies and pushed for recognition of female military expertise. The thesis moves beyond Ruth Roach Pierson’s pioneering work on women in the Second World War to consider women’s long-term identifications with the forces. Chapter one covers the establishment of the wartime women’s services. Chapter two studies wartime debates over alcohol and sexual (im)morality. Chapter three analyzes reports on the future of women in the forces written in 1946 by Acting Captain Adelaide Sinclair, Lieutenant-Colonel Daisy Royal, and an unnamed senior member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Chapter four examines women’s continued participation in the military community through veteran’s organizations and cadet groups, and discussions over their place in the armed services between 1946 and 1955. Chapter five concentrates ii on a 1965 study recommending a permanent place for women in the services. Chapter six explores how servicewomen narrated their histories in scrapbooks and unofficial histories. The research answers Cynthia Enloe’s appeal to listen carefully to women inside the military, and identifies ways women’s voices have been silenced, by both defence officials and scholars. The thesis highlights the military as a site of feminism, linking paramilitary women, servicewomen, veteran’s organizations, and cadets. Studying women’s negotiation of their military roles and their history reveals the policing of gender norms in the armed services, Canadian society, and the scholarship of the Second World War. iii Acknowledgements I have benefited from the assistance of many individuals and organizations. First, I must offer my deepest thanks to my supervisors, Drs. Joanna Dean and Norman Hillmer. Their guidance began even before they officially became my supervisors: their willingness to help me though the graduate application process made my choice to do my doctoral research at Carleton a clear one. My dissertation benefited greatly from their expertise, insight, and patience. Their careful critical reading of my numerous drafts enabled me to grow as a writer and scholar. I would not have developed into the scholar and person I am today without the continuous support of my supervisors. Many thanks are owed to Dr. Susan Whitney, who sat on my dissertation committee and examination committee. Dr. Whitney offered invaluable insight and made my dissertation stronger. I would also like to thank the members of my examination committee, Drs. Roger Sarty, Elinor Sloan, and Patrizia Gentile. All the members of my examination committee asked questions, that with further reflection, will push my research further. In addition, I would like to thank faculty and staff of the Department of History at Carleton University for making the Department my academic home for the past six years. My scholarship and time at Carleton has been enriched by discussions that took places in classrooms, the lunch room, and the hallways. I would like to express my great appreciation to Joan White, the Graduate Administrator at the Department of History at Carleton University, who expertly shepherded me throughout the policies and procedures iv of graduate studies. Her patience in answering my numerous questions and well-timed emails also helped me avoid countless other pitfalls. Thanks must also go to my fellow graduate students who provided academic and emotional support. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the support of Nicole Marion and Will Tait, who helped me prepare and stay sane throughout the preparation period for my comprehensive exams. Similarly, I must thank Nicholas Hrynyk for being so generous with his time, whether it was as a wonderful editor or in providing friendly shoulder. In addition, I owe a great deal to Laura Brown for graciously allowing me to talk through my research or writing issues during our walks and being a constant source of encouragement. As scholars know, it is important to find a supportive community. I was fortunate to find that during my undergraduate and master’s degrees at York University. I would like to thank the professors in the History and Women’s Studies Department at York University for introducing me to gender history. Many thanks are owed to Dr. Jennifer Stephen who supervised my master’s research project on Canadian servicewomen during the Second World War and encouraged me to pursue Canadian women’s military history as a doctoral topic. Another critical source of community was the Ontario Women’s History Network and the Ottawa Historical Association. Both organizations have members who are academics, civil servants, teachers, and museum professionals. Being able talk with fellow members enriched my thinking and broadened my network. Similarly, my scholarship also benefited from presenting my research and listening to others at the Berkshire Conference of Women’s Historians, the Canadian Historical v Association, and the Military History Colloquium that is hosted by the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies at Wilfred Laurier University. My research was made possible by the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and Carleton University. I would also like to thank the donors to the Frank H. Underhill Scholarship and the WWII RCAF Radar Veterans Graduate Scholarship in Canadian Military History, which are both administered by the Department of History at Carleton University. The staff at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of History and Heritage (DHH), and the Canadian War Museum made the research process much easier. In particular, I owe a great deal to Robert Caldwell, Dr. Isabel Campbell, and Major Mathias Joost at DHH for directing me to key resources, helping me interpret official texts, and supporting my project. I benefited from their vast knowledge of Canadian army, naval, and air force history. Military archivist Paul Marsden also helped me understand how to navigate the records at LAC. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to all the veterans who graciously shared their experiences with me. I gained invaluable insight into the armed services and conversations with them helped me critically analyze other sources. Thank you. Finally, I offer my profound thanks to my family and friends who have stood by me throughout the ups and downs of my graduate studies. In particular, I would like to thank my parents, Diane and John Hogenbirk, for their unwavering belief in me and all vi their support. I know they never expected to be still proofreading my work but I appreciate the help more than I can say. This work I dedicate to them. vii Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... viii List of Illustrations ........................................................................................................... ix List of Appendices ............................................................................................................. x Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One – Entering and Exiting the Women’s Services, 1938-1946 .................. 54 Chapter Two – Alcohol, Sex “Delinquency,” and the Women’s Services, 1941-1946 ................................................................................................................. 119 Chapter Three – Building Bridges: Wartime Women’s Services Design Their Successors .............................................................................................. 186 Chapter Four – Renewing Ties: The Interim Period and Re-entrance, 1946-1955 ...... ................................................................................................................. 244 Chapter Five – Becoming a Permanent Part of the Defence Forces of Canada: The Minister’s Manpower Study (Men) and Uniformed Women ........... 305 Chapter Six – Constructing Female Military Tradition(s): Servicewomen’s Scrapbooks and Unofficial Histories