Second World War
The Navy Ashore  - Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service

The Second World War saw close to 7,000 women in naval service. Founded in 1942, the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), often called the "Wrens", performed a wide variety non-combatant roles ashore, both in Canada and abroad.

WRCNS on Parliament Hill, Ottawa

In this photograph, members of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) march past a reviewing stand on Parliament Hill.

As their officer (front left) salutes, the others perform "eyes right" by turning their heads to the right, a compliment for the dignitaries (out of picture, at left) reviewing them. While the first members of the WRCNS were trained at Kingsmill House in Ottawa in the fall of 1942, training soon moved to HMCS Conestoga near Galt, Ontario.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19750011-036