Margaret Brownlee (Primary Source) | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Memory Project

Margaret Brownlee (Primary Source)

This testimony is part of the Memory Project Archive

Please be advised thatMemory Projectprimary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.

Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
From 1942-1943, this 'Little Norway' centre served as the training ground for the Royal Norwegian Air Force. King Harald and Queen Sonja travelled to Gravenhurst, Ontario to dedicate a Norwegian-Canadian Museum at the Muskoka Airport in 2002.
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee (right), Sandy Gareau and Polly Bennett 'frolic' in the woods on their leisure time from the motor transport section of the RCAF in England in 1945. Courtesy of Margaret Brownlee.
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
The motor transport section of the RCAF near Margaret Brownlee's station in England in 1945. The fleet consisted of heavy transport for troops and equiptment as well as vehicles for official business. Courtesy of Margaret Brownlee.
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee lifting Millie Davis while performing RCAf Women's Divison fitness exercises in England in 1943.
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee
Margaret Brownlee and RCAF WD colleague Blanche stand beside a Lancastor Bomber grounded for maintenance and flown by a crew known as 'P' for 'Peter' in England 1944.
Margaret Brownlee
And at one point, Mackenzie King, Roosevelt, and Churchill had a secret meeting out - I believe it was supposed to be on a boat - and I was picked to drive Mackenzie King

Transcript

I'm Margaret Brownlee. I was Margaret Rankin at the time. I enlisted into the Air Force, in the Motor Transport Department. Well, we all left on the train. I was put in charge of all these girls, which I didn't tell my poor mother, because she was all upset because I was leaving home. We went to Toronto for six weeks basic training, and after that, I was posted to Rockcliffe, which is just outside of Ottawa. And I was in motor transport there for five years. I was driving chiefly, but I also did a lot of the dispatching - sending out cars for different jobs, and picking up different people, and all that. I drove a twenty-eight passenger bus. I drove a three-tonne cab-over truck, as well as all the smaller panels, and station wagons and staff cars, which were only ever used for big... you know, people in authority. We drove the band around to different concerts they were holding. And at one point, Mackenzie King, Roosevelt, and Churchill had a secret meeting out - I believe it was supposed to be on a boat - and I was picked to drive Mackenzie King to the aircraft out of Uplands. And I had to choose also a man who you could trust and wouldn't talk to drive the truck and take all his baggage. We had good times, and we had times that were a little scary. But other than that, we had a very good job, I think.

Challenge yourself - take the CC Quiz!

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization devoted to teaching Canadians more about our shared country.  We also produce the Heritage Minutes and other programs. If you believe all Canadians should have access to free, impartial, fact-checked, regularly updated information about Canada’s history and culture in both official languages, please consider donating today. All donations above $3 will receive a tax receipt.

Book a Speaker