CWAC UNIFORM COMPLETE – 1943
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History:
CWAC: “Canadian Women’s Army Corps”: Corps féminin de l’armée canadienne is a non-combatant branch of the Canadian military reserved for women, created during the Second World War, in order to free men from non-combatant roles in the Canadian armed forces, as part of the Canadian war effort.
The Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) was authorized on August 13, 1941, in response to a shortage of personnel caused by male involvement in the armed forces. The creation of the unit was the work of Mrs. Joan Kennedy, who faced opposition from conventional male military authorities. In 1941, the organization was named the “Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Corps” but was not officially part of the armed forces. On March 13, 1942, the women volunteers were officially integrated into the Canadian Army and became the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. They wore a regulation uniform and a cap badge consisting of three maple leaves and a collar badge representing the goddess Athena.
The CWACs served overseas, first in 1942 in Washington, D.C., and then in the United Kingdom. In 1944, CWACs also served in Italy and in 1945 in northwestern Europe. After victory in Europe, some served with the Canadian occupation forces in Germany. Approximately 3,000 Canadian volunteers enlisted to serve their country’s forces. The CWACS were permanently disbanded in 1964.
Fun fact:
A February 1943 CWAC advertisement in the Edmonton Journal stated that recruits must be in excellent health, at least 5 feet (152 cm) tall, weigh between 100 and 110 pounds (48 kg), have no dependents, have at least a grade 8 education, be between the ages of 18 and 45, and be British. Since women were not allowed to participate in combat, CWACs had a variety of jobs: secretary, office worker, canteen workers, vehicle driver, and many other non-combat military jobs.
Uniform:
The official uniform regulations outline a standard outfit that women were required to wear: a large khaki coat, a skirt and hip-length jacket, a peaked cap with a high crown, and a cap badge with three maple leaves on a stem that read “Canadian Women’s Army Corps.” The helmeted head of Athena appears on the buttons and collar badges.
Here the uniform is composed of :
- A 4-button, 3-pocket wool jacket (label missing) name: “LEAROYD” with helmeted Athena collar insignia, “Canada” embroidered shoulder patch, brown epaulets closed with a small helmeted Athena button with “CWAC” pins at the end of the epaulets, 2 rank pins indicating the rank of lieutenant – Very good condition,
- A visor cap with a high crown and leather strap held by 2 small buttons stamped “Canada” with a maple leaf, a badge with three maple leaves on a stem inscribed “Canadian Women’s Army Corps”, made by “The Wolfe Cap Co”, dated 1943, size 7 3/8, with War Department receipt stamp – in very good condition
- A skirt matching the jacket,
- A beige shirt, “Yamaska Garments Limited” manufacture, dated 1943, Size 14 ½ – Good condition,
- A brown name tie with War Department reception stamp accompanied by a helmeted Athena tie clip – Very good condition,
- One pair of black shoes, “Good Year” brand heel – Good condition, traces of wear on the sole.
