Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.11.2012, Page 14

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14 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • November 15 2012
A summary of Part I:
Many movies have been
made about the soldiers
and the airmen, but little
has been told of those who
manufactured the ammunition
for these brave men. World
War II was the beginning of
women joining the work force
in large numbers and they
never looked back. Munitions
factories were starting up in
eastern Canada including a
large shell filling plant in a
new town named Ajax. The
plant was actively recruiting
young prairie women for their
work force. Nina Stefanson and
Kristine and Lauga Olafson,
from Leslie, SK had gone east,
Lauga to Toronto, Nina and
Kristine to Ajax.
Whenever our depart-ment was caught up, we did other things
such as “churning”, coating
the inside of anti-aircraft
shell casings with fluid using
a big swab with a handle in a
“churning” motion.
We walked from our
residence to the Guard House,
but were transported the short
distance to the line by bus,
likely for security reasons.
These rough buses, which
had wooden benches running
along both sides and straps for
standees to hold, we named
“Cattle Cars”.
Life in Ajax was rather
pleasant. We had access to a
recreation centre and movies.
We made many trips to the
nearby town of Whitby and
sometimes travelled to Oshawa
by bus. I completed a typing
and shorthand course under
the War Emergency Training
Program. I was able to bus into
Toronto occasionally to visit
with Lauga, take in a movie or
go shopping.
In June 1943, my 16
year-old sister Joey arrived
in Toronto by train, escorted
by our Aunt Alice who was
returning from a family visit in
Saskatoon. Through Selective
Service, Joey obtained a permit
to work and started at York
Arsenals. She operated a drill
lathe making small parts. The
machine threw off bits of hot
material that burned her face and
neck. She gave her notice and
a week later began at General
Electric, where she worked on
transistors and soldered radios
for tanks. She continued at that
job until we returned home in
1945.
On July 7, 1943, with my
train fare paid back, I gave my
notice at Ajax with the reason
“to go to Toronto to be with
my sisters”. Three days later I
started work at York Arsenals.
It was great to be together with
Lauga and Joey again. We
all boarded at Mrs. Ireland’s,
within walking distance from
work. It was a busy house
with six children. Mrs. Ireland
worked nights so she could
be home for the kids in the
morning, after which she would
sleep, then get up and make
supper for everyone. Getting
off night shift, we would climb
into warm beds just vacated by
the girls who were heading off
to school.
With no explosives
involved, the York Arsenals
plant was more relaxed. We
worked with steel and metal.
Shells were cut from rods of
steel and various other small
parts were manufactured. The
factory consisted of several
departments all housed in
one large building, operating
two 10-hour shifts with two
hours between shifts for
machine repair. Lauga and
I were fortunate to be hired
as inspection staff. I sat
beside a drill operator with
my gauge and tested the size
of holes drilled into tubes.
Occasionally I was sent to
another department where I did
things like “stripping bridge
plugs” and “burring strikers”.
The “Grinder” machine used
a lot of oil which caused an
oil rash on my face and arms.
I worked on welding a little
plate to the bottom of shells
using a large machine. When
the war ended I was inspecting
on “Gridleys”, a big ugly oily
machine that turned rods of
steel into shells. If the shells
did not show OK on the gauges
I had to tell the operators and
they were never happy.
In Ajax, the few men
employed were foremen, or
loaded and transported the
product. More men were
employed at York Arsenals to
operate the larger machines.
These men were ineligible for
military service due to age or
health problems.
The York Arsenals
uniform was a short-sleeved
coverall in navy or grey. I
had mine for years and wore
it out gardening on the farm.
We were required to wear
a cap to keep our hair away
from the machines. We had to
punch a time clock. While the
workers at Ajax were from all
over, I think we were the only
prairie girls at York Arsenals.
Those workers came mainly
from Toronto and surrounding
area. There were quite a few
older women. We made many
casual friends and some life-
long friends.
The pay at York Arsenals
was 60 cents an hour, for a
daily wage of $6. Compared
to $10 a month as a hired girl
in Saskatchewan, this was a
fortune. We regularly sent
money home to our parents who
were having a difficult time.
Our Dad’s health had failed and
our brothers had to take over
farm work as young teenagers.
Although we enjoyed our
boarding place, it was too
crowded. We found a “light
housekeeping” apartment at
138 Northcliffe Boulevard
near St. Clair Avenue, further
from work and so we rode the
streetcar. We had a kitchen,
bedroom, and living room
with hide-a-bed. We took turns
sleeping on the hide-a-bed.
Our time in Toronto was
good, a huge change from our
previous lives. We worked
long hours but we were young
and full of energy. There was
a lot to do and see. We went
to movies two or three times
a week at nearby theatres
and sometimes to the big
theatres downtown. Shopping
was excellent at Eaton’s and
elsewhere. We had our Uncle
and Aunt to visit. We visited
museums, High Park and Casa
Loma, and occasionally went
to Centre Island or Hanlan’s
Point to cool off on a hot
summer day. We made two
trips to Niagara Falls, one by
boat through the Welland Canal
and one by bus. We three did
many things together but also
went our own way with our
own friends.
By early 1945 the world was
weary of war and hoping for
peace. As the months passed it
was becoming evident the end
was in sight. On May 7, 1945,
I came off night shift and when
I reached St. Clair Avenue
the street was full of people
cheering and celebrating. I
went home and to bed.
May 8, 1945 was declared
official VE Day (Victory in
Europe). There were speeches
on the radio by King George
VI, Winston Churchill, and
U.S. President Truman. We
celebrated with a dinner at
Mrs. Ireland’s, then went in
to work the night shift. Few
people showed up to work that
night.
The war with Japan
continued and work went on
as usual at York Arsenals with
a smaller work force. Many
Toronto people were moving
on to peacetime jobs. VJ Day
(Victory in Japan) was declared
on August 14, 1945. We were
back in Saskatchewan by then.
The York Arsenals plant was
shut down on July 2, 1945.
Joey continued at General
Electric until July 20, then
we packed up and boarded
the train for home. On July
27, 1945 we arrived back in
Leslie. It was good to see our
parents and brothers again
after almost three years away
and a great adventure.
Memories of War Work During World War II
Part II
Kristine Goodman
Wynyard, SK
The three Olafson girls from Leslie who worked in munitions
factories in Ontario during World War II – Lauga, Joey and
Kristine
The layoff notice
The wartime residence at Ajax, near Toronto
Greetings from
Gordon J. Reykdal
Honorary Consul of the
Republic of Iceland
17631 - 103 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5S 1N8
Tel: (780) 408-5118
Fax: (708) 443-2653
E-mail: gord@csfinancial.ca