Women in War Part 4: Ann Screiber of Cambridge
Posted Nov 10, 2015 05:00:23 AM.
Last Updated Nov 10, 2015 07:53:20 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Grace Schmidt Room at the Central Branch of the Kitchener public library is filled with photos, stories and audio of Waterloo Regions past.
The library is in the process of digitizing cassette interviews of some heritage members of the community. That includes 50 interviews with the men and women who served, contributed and witnessed the first and second world war.
570’s Joe Pavia has produced a 5 part series on the stories of the local women who served. In this segment he tells the story of Ann Screiber of Cambridge.
“I really enjoyed it. Like you know it was an adventure”
She initially joined the navy because she says she liked the uniform. In the end she would serve as a Canadian WREN in the Motor Corp, driving an ambulance and eventually make it to Greenock Scotland before landing in London England.
Ann Screiber of Cambridge was one of over 7 thousand Canadian women who served in the second world war. Basic training would begin for the 22 year old in what was then known as Galt.
“They gave us a medical and then we went to quarters to get our uniforms and things like that.”
When training ended many of the women were sent off to be stationed in western Canada, Toronto or Halifax. She would spend a year completing her Motor Transport course in Galt before landing in Cornwallis Nova Scotia where she drove ambulance. A choice that wasn’t hers.
” Cause I was the last one there and no one else wanted it. There were other wrens who were already down there. Like there was a pool. You drove a bit of everything. No one wanted to stay on sick bay and the newer one that came in you took what was left. the older ones took the job they wanted.”
Death was something the air force officers openly talked about.
” if it happens its going to happen. but you didn’t think anything of it. thought you were going to be one of the lucky ones.
knew down in Cornwallis they had to go out. remember them coming back and talking…is it going to be tonight or tomorrow.”
In the next segment of ‘Women in War’ Nurse Darlene McClennan would never forget one soldier; “he had the most beautiful smile on his face.”
