How I Won the War for the Allies : One Sassy Canadian Soldier's Story

Still sassy, Doris Gregory takes the reader back over seventy years to the time when she broke with tradition, first by publicly challenging the University of British Columbia's discrimination against women, and then by joining the Canadian Women's Army Corps. Her memoir allows us to travel with her across the Atlantic at the height of the U-boat infestation and to take refuge in underground shelters while bombs fall on London. Unlike most memoirs of the war that focus on battles, Gregory shows the everyday mundane activities of office life, working under some less-than-brilliant supervisors. Gregory transforms what could have been a dull soldier's life into one of small adventures: cycling along traffic-free roads through southern England, the midlands and Scottish lowlands, hopping on the ferry to Ulster, slipping into neutral, forbidden Eire, and looking into the gun barrel of an angry German sentry. Although at times the war weighs heavily upon her, the author's optimism, enthusiasm and sense of humour permeate this memoir, full of laughter and surprises. Literary Nonfiction. Memoir. Women's Studies. Still Sassy, Doris Gregory Takes The Reader Back Over Seventy Years To When She Joined The Canadian Women's Army Corps During Wwii. Her Memoir Allows Us To Travel With Her Across The Atlantic At The Height Of The U-boat Infestation And To Take Refuge In Underground Shelters While Bombs Fall On London. Unlike Most Memoirs Of The War That Focus On Battles, Gregory Shows The Everyday Mundane Activities Of Office Life, Working Under Some Less-than-brilliant Supervisors. Gregory Transforms What Could Have Been A Dull Soldier's Life Into One Of Small Adventures: Cycling Along Traffic- Free Roads Through Southern England, The Midlands And Scottish Lowlands, Hopping On The Ferry To Ulster, Slipping Into Neutral, Forbidden Éire, And Looking Into The Gun Barrel Of An Angry German Sentry. Although At Times The War Weighs Heavily Upon Her, The Author's Optimism, Enthusiasm And Sense Of Humor Permeate This Memoir, Full Of Laughter And Surprises. -- Provided By Publisher. From Student To Soldier -- The Atlantic Crossing -- Introduction To London -- Hospitality In Aberdeen And Torquay -- Non-heroes -- Army Blunders And Air Raids -- Civilians And The International Scene -- Settling Into The Wartime Routine -- Highs And Lows -- The Build-up To D-day -- Summer Fun, Military Muddles, Buzz Bombs -- Flying Hats And Fabulous Coffee -- More Than One Kind Of Wound -- Winter Chills -- Irish Spring -- Exiting Eire -- The Golden Summer -- Going Home. Doris Gregory. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format. Still sassy, Doris Gregory narrates her time in the Canadian Women's Army Corps during WWII. We travel across the Atlantic at the U-boat peak, take refuge from bombs in London underground shelters. Unlike many men's war memoirs focusing on battles, we share mundane office days under slow supervisors, weekend dates with brave men risking life and limb. Chapters are titled to reference small adventures: cycling along traffic-free roads through warm scenic southern England, freezing in damp midlands and Scottish lowlands, hopping on the ferry to Ulster, slipping into neutral, forbidden Eire, and facing the gun barrel of an angry German sentry. Despite seriousness of war, some episodes are downright rollicking funny. Plus photos, footnotes, index, bio.