By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

11 Days Of Remembrance: Home Front Support

Nov 1, 2016 | 5:57 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Throughout the 20th and 21st century Lethbridge and surrounding area has shown great support for war efforts.

In particular, both World Wars engrossed the whole nation, and the “home front” became an essential part of Canada’s effort.

While many Canadian men were fighting in Europe, back at home women contributed in both traditional roles and in new arenas. For example tens of thousands of women helped to fill the shortage of medical workers at home and overseas. These women volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross during the Second World War. Canadian Red Cross volunteers used their skills to help make up for the shortage of medical workers at home and overseas.

After a generous response of approximately 856,000 units of blood collected for use in military hospitals during the last leg of WW2, Canada launched Canadian Blood Services.

Here in Lethbridge and across the country many women joined the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire raising funds for equipment and sending care packages. This group was also in charge of the first military cemetery in Lethbridge.

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The war effort affected more than just women however, families were directly impacted during WW2 by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board which prepared major rationing schemes for the distribution of meat, butter, sugar, oil and gas, and other goods. As many consumers’ goods were rationed, Canadians in both World Wars financed war efforts through higher taxes and war saving stamps.

Out in the field, during WW1, farmers broke new land and mechanized their operations as a way of making up for the shortage of farm help. Undoubtedly children and adolescences helped fill gaps by assisting with harvest.

In Alberta cities efforts were made to absorb worker shortages, especially in factory settings.While there were no booming war factories in Lethbridge, there were ammunitions factories in cities such as Medicine Hat and Edmonton. In desperate need of skilled tradesmen, women and immigrants who were often unacceptable for military service because of nationality stepped up and took factory work.

This is only a fraction of the contributions made by southern Albertans on behalf of their country.

On the days leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, Lethbridge News Now will deliver a “11 Days of Remembrance – Did You Know” feature segment discussing topics of interest which illustrates Lethbridge’s direct and indirect involvement in military pursuits.