Women at War: World War One
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Letters from the members of the overseas forces to loved ones at
home were strictly censored. This book, "Opened by the Censor", is
a compilation of letters received from Elgin County service men and
women. The book was compiled and edited by Jeffrey Booth and is
available in the Museum shop.
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During the First World War women stepped into the jobs that the
men had left behind when they enlisted. This is a role that cannot
be underestimated when one remembers they were doing the work of
hundreds of thousands of men. On the front and behind the lines,
Nursing Sisters serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
required courage and commitment to deal with the mental and
physical casualties of horrendous warfare.
65,000,000 men from 30 nations took part in World War One. At
least 10,000,000 were killed and 29,000,000 were wounded, captured
or missing. A total of 619,636 Canadians men and women took part in
World War One. 66,655 were killed and another 172,950 were
wounded.
More than one of every 10 Canadians that fought in the war did not
return.