Francess Halpenny hails from eastern Ontario, where she grew up in the 20s and 30s. The family relocated to the Toronto area early on, and it was there that the young Francess fell in love with books, as she made her way through the Great Depression and built upon her education, which would take her to the University of Toronto. When the war came, Francess saw all the young men around go into the military, and she resolved to the same. She found herself in eastern Canada for most of the war, first in Newfoundland and then in PEI. Her work was in the Meteorological Office, helping with the weather forecasts that were a vital part of Canada’s contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic.
We met Francess in the Sunnybrook Veterans Wing in March 2017, where she was interviewed by Arielle Meyer and Mr. Masters.
Videos
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- 1. Frances Halpenny - Early Life.mp4
- 2. Memories of Family and School.mp4
- 3. Life at University.mp4
- 4. Childhood Life and Activities.mp4
- 5. Reasons for Enlisting.mp4
- 6. The Meteorological Office.mp4
- 7. The Station.mp4
- 8. Prince Edward Island; War Experience.mp4
- 9. After the War.mp4
- 10. Relationships during the War; Safety and Weather in Canada.mp4
- 11. Sense of the War in Europe; Loss of Friends.mp4
- 12. Food Rationing; After the War.mp4
- 13. Friends; Reconnecting with Family.mp4
