Women During WWII

            During the Second World War, typical gender roles were beginning to shake and alter. With the majority of men serving in the war effort in Europe, many voids were left in various occupations on the home front. In order to maintain the society cohesive, women began to take up these empty spots; many of these occupations, such as electricians (occupations that were always filled by men) were taken up by females.

                Women were also allowed to join the military to help out with the war effort. However, most women were not stationed on the battle front; women were given various tasks extending from administrative duties, telephone operators and other occupations. Many women also became nurses.  By taking up these positions, more men were freed up to join in as soldiers. In the RCAF, a special “Women’s Division” was established- 8% of the population of the entire RCAF was comprised of women; by 1942, over 14,000 women were employed. Today we are celebrating some of our Islands' women who are serving, or have served their country.



Meghan Albright, formerly of Freeport is the daughter of Donald Albright and Lana Titus-Leighton. She is stationed out of Halifax on the HMCS Toronto.

Mabel Elizabeth Shortliffe, daughter of Isaac and Sophia (Outhouse) Shortliffe was raised in Freeport. Born in 1881, she travelled to the United States circa 1910 and studied nursing, leaving a dressmaker's job behind. Mabel served from January 19, 1918 until April 12, 1919, and then worked in the private nursing sector in New York City. Moving to Ohio in 1948, she is buried in a U.S. Veterans' gravesite in the Dayton National Cemetery, Section 11, Row 23, Site 31.



Phyllis (Crocker) McLennan was the daughter of George and Lila (Haines) Crocker. Graduating from Acadia University in music, she taught the subject in the school, as well as piano and voice to private pupils. After joining the Air Force, she served in Gander NL for part of her stint, and performed on the radio as part of military entertainment during WWII. Upon leaving the Air Force, she returned to Acadia as a staff member in their Music Department, married and lived out the rest of her life in Wolfville, N.S.

Evelyn Mount and Louise Garron, daughters of Boyd and Cynthia Graham of Westport, were born in 1918 and 1924 respectively. Louise joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (Women's Division) in December of 1942 but was allowed to stay home until after the Christmas holiday, a short time after her sister had already entered the Army. Trained in Rockliffe, a suburb of Ottawa, they worked with the police section of the Air Force. Their Women's Division replaced 14 of the male finger print technicians, and Louise comments that most of their work was classified.

Evelyn left the force in 1945, married Alfred Mount, and lived away from the Islands most of her life. Louise remained in the Army until 1946, returned home, married George Garron and taught school in Brier Island for many years.

Elsie (Titus) Prime was born in Freeport, June 20, 1906, the daughter of Franklin and Susan (Bell) Titus. After working for a short time in Westcott's store, and a year teaching school in Bear River, she entered nursing training at the Children's Hospital in Halifax. With the outbreak of WWII, Elsie joined the Canadian Army and served as Lieutenant Nursing Sister at Camp Hill Hospital for the duration of the conflict. On one occasion she helped accompany a train load of British children from Halifax to Winnipeg and also saw the immediate effects of a new “miracle” drug being used to treat the returning wounded – now the commonly used penicillin. Married to Curtis Prime in 1945, she moved back to Freeport in 1947, raised her family and worked in the family store.

Marion (Prime) Patterson, the daughter of Percy and Melba (Frost) Prime was born December 2, 1923 in Freeport. Except for a small number of years, she lived her entire life on Long Island, where three of her children reside still. Marion served in the Army Corps in Halifax, as a telephone operator.  

We have no photo of Nellie (Delaney) Higgins of Central Grove. If anyone would have one of her in her WWII uniform, we would love to make a copy. 

Nellie (Delaney) Higgins, born in Central Grove, was the daughter of George and Almedia (Powell) Delaney, one of ten children. Moving to Montreal to obtain work, she married, and then later joined the Women's Army Corp and served throughout WWII. After the war, she returned to Central Grove and cared for her father. In the early 1950s, she became a secretary at the Digby Packing Company and resided there until her death.