Second World War
The Navy Ashore  - Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service

The Second World War saw close to 7,000 women in naval service. Founded in 1942, the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), often called the "Wrens", performed a wide variety non-combatant roles ashore, both in Canada and abroad.

Wrens Listening for German Radio Transmissions

Members of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service at HMCS Coverdale, at Coverdale, New Brunswick, listen for German radio transmissions.

Coverdale, which began operations in early 1944, was built to listen to radio transmissions from German U-Boats (submarines) and determine the direction, or bearing, from which they originated. The operators seen here listened for German radio transmissions and, after picking them up, would alert Wrens operating different equipment who would then determine the direction of the signal. Multiple bearings from bases like Coverdale helped Allied commanders determine the location of U-Boats and take action to avoid or attack them.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19950051-004