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![]({"id":"8546be38-0514-465d-9592-fe9dabe8057c","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"8285_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":47335,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:15.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:15.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #8285","alt":"","caption":"Helen McLean with the Dartmouth Badminton Players on a night when they played the EAC, Halifax. 1946. Helen is at far right of front row.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8285 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8285_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8285_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"8546be38-0514-465d-9592-fe9dabe8057c","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":1},"translations":[{"id":"03299ff5-f43c-4684-940e-4c8a33e415ad","media_id":"8546be38-0514-465d-9592-fe9dabe8057c","title":"Memory Project Image #8285","alt":"","caption":"Helen McLean with the Dartmouth Badminton Players on a night when they played the EAC, Halifax. 1946. Helen is at far right of front row.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8285 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"733ec8d6-4b96-4550-9304-0e6538a69870","media_id":"8546be38-0514-465d-9592-fe9dabe8057c","title":"Memory Project Image #8285","alt":"","caption":"Helen McLean et les joueurs de badminton de Dartmouth alors qu'ils apr\u00e8s un match \u00e0 l'EAC d'Halifax en 1946. Helen se trouve tout \u00e0 droite sur la rang\u00e9e de devant.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8285 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #8285"){kind=spacer}
Helen McLean with the Dartmouth Badminton Players on a night when they played the EAC, Halifax. 1946. Helen is at far right of front row.
![]({"id":"951bf16a-8f20-4017-af1d-649c7828c086","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"8286_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":40208,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:16.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:16.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #8286","alt":"","caption":"A farewell party for Helen and colleagues Lois and Anne from the Accounts Section of the RCAF, Dartmouth. Each was given a silver compact. 1946","creator":"Memory Project Image #8286 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8286_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8286_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"951bf16a-8f20-4017-af1d-649c7828c086","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":2},"translations":[{"id":"e8e22e22-767b-4fb8-93f2-d3ac9b6f43b7","media_id":"951bf16a-8f20-4017-af1d-649c7828c086","title":"Memory Project Image #8286","alt":"","caption":"A farewell party for Helen and colleagues Lois and Anne from the Accounts Section of the RCAF, Dartmouth. Each was given a silver compact. 1946","creator":"Memory Project Image #8286 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"47742175-49b7-46d6-9b35-7efec25e0c8d","media_id":"951bf16a-8f20-4017-af1d-649c7828c086","title":"Memory Project Image #8286","alt":"","caption":"Une f\u00eate d'adieu pour Helen et ses coll\u00e8gues Lois et Anne lors de leur d\u00e9part de la Section comptable de la RCAF \u00e0 Dartmouth. Elles ont chacune eu un miroir de poche. 1946.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8286 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #8286"){kind=spacer}
A farewell party for Helen and colleagues Lois and Anne from the Accounts Section of the RCAF, Dartmouth. Each was given a silver compact. 1946
![]({"id":"9a1ef5ae-23a5-4124-bf9e-ea0f091c1fd3","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"11062_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":47335,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-03T02:35:01.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-03T02:35:01.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #11062","alt":"","caption":"","creator":"Memory Project Image #11062 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/11062_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/11062_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"9a1ef5ae-23a5-4124-bf9e-ea0f091c1fd3","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":3},"translations":[{"id":"f4d96926-5365-436a-b1f5-22e3860bf868","media_id":"9a1ef5ae-23a5-4124-bf9e-ea0f091c1fd3","title":"Memory Project Image #11062","alt":"","caption":"","creator":"Memory Project Image #11062 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"3e0b9012-73c8-406e-960b-ffe48f488f9c","media_id":"9a1ef5ae-23a5-4124-bf9e-ea0f091c1fd3","title":"Memory Project Image #11062","alt":"","caption":"","creator":"Memory Project Image #11062 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #11062")
![]({"id":"ccd4df08-7ec9-4db0-98f8-d9b6f0759d54","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"8289_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":47796,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:21.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:21.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #8289","alt":"","caption":"Newspaper article \"W.D.'s Still Carry On Important Tasks In Operation Of Air Force,\" with Helen and colleagues posing for the accompanying photo.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8289 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8289_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8289_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"ccd4df08-7ec9-4db0-98f8-d9b6f0759d54","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":4},"translations":[{"id":"3fa5df50-1a9c-4b15-83fa-a1cf2861c448","media_id":"ccd4df08-7ec9-4db0-98f8-d9b6f0759d54","title":"Memory Project Image #8289","alt":"","caption":"Newspaper article \"W.D.'s Still Carry On Important Tasks In Operation Of Air Force,\" with Helen and colleagues posing for the accompanying photo.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8289 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"69d95973-6938-4054-b8ca-5960829557e2","media_id":"ccd4df08-7ec9-4db0-98f8-d9b6f0759d54","title":"Memory Project Image #8289","alt":"","caption":"Article de journal \u00ab La Division F\u00e9minie continue d'effectuer des t\u00e2ches importantes dans les Op\u00e9rations A\u00e9riennes \u00bb. Helen et ses coll\u00e8gues ont pos\u00e9 sur cette photo pour accompagner l'article.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8289 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #8289"){kind=spacer}
Newspaper article "W.D.'s Still Carry On Important Tasks In Operation Of Air Force," with Helen and colleagues posing for the accompanying photo.
![]({"id":"cd003aee-fa73-4ed1-9f37-e3bf1c555426","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"8287_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":24148,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:18.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:18.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #8287","alt":"","caption":"The Clerk Accountants of the Accounts Section, RCAF Dartmouth. Helen is on the far left. 1946","creator":"Memory Project Image #8287 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8287_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8287_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"cd003aee-fa73-4ed1-9f37-e3bf1c555426","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":5},"translations":[{"id":"ddde5002-5348-43d8-b23f-afc21d8b6193","media_id":"cd003aee-fa73-4ed1-9f37-e3bf1c555426","title":"Memory Project Image #8287","alt":"","caption":"The Clerk Accountants of the Accounts Section, RCAF Dartmouth. Helen is on the far left. 1946","creator":"Memory Project Image #8287 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"a7baa416-c113-4681-b027-47b435afe40e","media_id":"cd003aee-fa73-4ed1-9f37-e3bf1c555426","title":"Memory Project Image #8287","alt":"","caption":"Les comptables du service comptable, RCAF Dartmouth en 1946. Helen est tout \u00e0 gauche.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8287 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #8287"){kind=spacer}
The Clerk Accountants of the Accounts Section, RCAF Dartmouth. Helen is on the far left. 1946
![]({"id":"d80c7fbc-b800-4f16-b03f-9d9dd67053ca","disk":"s3","directory":"The-Memory-Project\/image","filename":"8288_600","extension":"jpg","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","aggregate_type":"image","size":44050,"variant_name":null,"original_media_id":null,"created_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:19.000000Z","updated_at":"2022-08-02T23:57:19.000000Z","title":"Memory Project Image #8288","alt":"","caption":"Photo inset from a newspaper article describing the jobs that the women of the RCAF were still performing after the war ended. The RCAF WD's continued to work after the CWAC's and WREN's were disbanded but by 1946, all WDs returned to civilian life.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8288 - Veteran #1723","source":"","conversion_urls":{"original":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8288_600.jpg"},"url":"https:\/\/d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net\/The-Memory-Project\/image\/8288_600.jpg","credit":"","pivot":{"mediable_id":"a7474d39-d321-46b2-9aab-9f4b0ac8924c","media_id":"d80c7fbc-b800-4f16-b03f-9d9dd67053ca","mediable_type":"App\\Models\\Article","tag":"gallery","order":6},"translations":[{"id":"ff0376c8-ad36-4481-a78b-8b4607265dbf","media_id":"d80c7fbc-b800-4f16-b03f-9d9dd67053ca","title":"Memory Project Image #8288","alt":"","caption":"Photo inset from a newspaper article describing the jobs that the women of the RCAF were still performing after the war ended. The RCAF WD's continued to work after the CWAC's and WREN's were disbanded but by 1946, all WDs returned to civilian life.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8288 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"en","credit":""},{"id":"0b5319ce-e5fe-4eea-bb5d-bcc21b65b891","media_id":"d80c7fbc-b800-4f16-b03f-9d9dd67053ca","title":"Memory Project Image #8288","alt":"","caption":"Montage photo d'un article de journal d\u00e9crivant les postes des femmes dans la RCAF pendant et apr\u00e8s guerre. La Division F\u00e9minine de la RCAF a perdur\u00e9 alors que la WREN et le CWAC ont \u00e9t\u00e9 dissous. Mais en 1946, toutes les membres de la Division F\u00e9minine sont retourn\u00e9es \u00e0 la vie civile.","creator":"Memory Project Image #8288 - Veteran #1723","source":"","locale":"fr","credit":""}]} "Memory Project Image #8288"){kind=spacer}
Photo inset from a newspaper article describing the jobs that the women of the RCAF were still performing after the war ended. The RCAF WD's continued to work after the CWAC's and WREN's were disbanded but by 1946, all WDs returned to civilian life.
My name at the time was Helen Cameron, and I was in the RCAF [Royal Canadian Air Force], WD [Women's Division]. We were in Saskatoon, which was a service flying station, and then I was posted to Dartmouth. In the beginning we were in holding stations in Montreal. And we got to Dartmouth, and it was about the time that people were being discharged, and a lot were coming back from overseas. There was a lot of work at that particular time. I went in in '44 and out in '46, so it was drawing to a close, except for Hiroshima. And we were also there at the time of the explosion in Halifax. I know that we were supposed to stay outdoors, even though it was a little bit away from us. It was some of the sailors coming back and rioting in Halifax.
At that time, married women weren't supposed to work. More freedom for girls in the workforce now.
My first experience when we got to Montreal - the wireless school was closing down, and we were just sort of put there to do odd jobs until we got more posting. I can remember what I said when we were enlisting - was that so we would understand the people that came back better. But I don't think I'd say that now.
Well, actually, I think it was a good life. I suppose you could choose what you wanted to do. I can remember even going to Dal [Dalhousie University] to take a course with two or three others in English Literature.
So, it was not spectacular, but it was an interesting time.