I joined in Calgary in 1943. After finishing basic training and my wireless course HMCS #1Bytown on the outskirts of Ottawa was my only posting. Adapting to Navy life was very interesting and different from anything I had done before. At first humorous until it got all very familiar such as: going to the washroom was called going to the heads. We no longer ate in the kitchen or dining room but in the galley. The living room was the Fo'csle . When we left in a van to go downtown, it was now going ashore in a boat and not a drop of water in sight. Returning we went aboard. The Army and Air force had bunks but we had berths. That's just a few I can remember at the moment.

I met my husband while in the military hospital which was shared by the Army and Navy in Ottawa. He was home from overseas recuperating from injuries while stationed with the army in Scotland. I had my tonsils out. Nine months after I had met him we went on a five days leave to my aunt's place in Pittsburgh, Penn., USA. We had to establish three days residence in the USA before we could marry. My relatives stood up for both of us.

We left on our honeymoon, a trip back to Canada by train and only two days left on our five-day pass. We passed Niagara Falls on our honeymoon but could not see the falls from the train. Have not seen them yet!

I was discharged in Calgary and returned to Ottawa to wait for my husband to be discharged.

I've often said that my Navy Life was my best years- eight hours work, then no meals to prepare, nor housework, except for making our berth.