Mary Cole-Minett was 19 years old when she tried joining the army in 1939 to serve in the Second World War.
She was turned away because she had to be 21.
Two days later 香蕉视频直播� with an angry father by her side still mad over her first attempt to try and serve in the war 香蕉视频直播� Cole-Minett made a pledge with her best friend Flo Ellis to apply for the Women香蕉视频直播檚 Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). They both got in.
According to Forces War Records, the WAAF was formed on June 28, 1939, to help women aid in the war effort and to help change the social status and attitudes of women at the time.
By 1943, the organization employed more than 180,000 women.
Remembrance Day ceremonies planned throughout Central Okanagan
Born in 1919 in Liverpool, England, Cole-Minett still remembers the Air Force decision that would set a precedent for the rest of her life.
香蕉视频直播淚 was mad at all of the people fighting. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 have any idea at the time of what was going to happen,香蕉视频直播� Cole-Minett recalled.
香蕉视频直播淢e and Flo made the decision to help fight what we thought were these terrible people at the time, and that was that.香蕉视频直播�
Cole-Minett was the eldest of seven siblings in her family. She and her brother were the only two family siblings that served in the war.
During her four years with the WAAF, Cole-Minett helped to assemble, package and fix broken parachutes for pilots in the war.
She still remembers her day-to-day tasks while serving.
香蕉视频直播淚 would go to the local airport to meet the guys coming back from their trips and fighting. I香蕉视频直播檇 get all of the broken parachutes and take them back to the maintenance facility to fix them all up again.香蕉视频直播�
Photos of Cole-Minett and her friend Flo Ellis (Connor Trembley file)
Cole-Minett still recalls some of the sadder moments from the war, such as pilots not making it back home.
香蕉视频直播淪ometimes, the men wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 come back after being on duty. You knew all the pilots and everybody. I guess it was kind of sad. Some of them you liked more than others when they came back.
香蕉视频直播淎fter the pilots returned, people would sometimes ask, 香蕉视频直播榳here香蕉视频直播檚 Joe today?香蕉视频直播� I guess he didn香蕉视频直播檛 make it.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
Even 70 years later, Cole-Minett remembers all of the familiar faces she香蕉视频直播檚 kept in contact with over the years.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e managed to keep in with friends with pretty much everyone in that era. I think of different friends at different times, especially Flo Ellis. I remember her so well.香蕉视频直播�
Cole-Minett later joked that she香蕉视频直播檚 pretty much outlived all her friends, including all her siblings.
After Remembrance Day, Cole-Minett said she will carry on plans she has already started to mark her 100th birthday next month.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 going to have big piles of tea. The neighbours are all talking about giving me a party.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e have the nicest neighbours that you could meet anywhere in the world. All of the places I香蕉视频直播檝e lived, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 the nicest.香蕉视频直播�
Cole-Minett is also expecting a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of the celebrations.
