CDN Army Film and Photo Unit : Karen Hermiston
On June 19, 1941 the Canadian Army created a special unit to document Canada’s role in the Second World War. The seventy-six still and motion photographers who made up the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit ensured that the war would be told from a Canadian perspective. The unit was tasked with “provid[ing] informational and inspirational material for the maintenance of public morale and the stimulation of recruiting” and keeping “Canada’s war efforts before…the world.”
The seventy-six photographers were recruited from all over Canada and covered every aspect of the war. However, one member of the unit deserves special attention.
Sgt. Karen Hermiston, nicknamed ‘Hermie’ was the only female army photographer to serve overseas. After enlisting in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1941, Hermie was “frequently told that there were some things a girl can’t do.” That would not stop her; she did them anyway.
During her time serving overseas, Hermie covered casualties flown back to Swindon, went inside operating rooms, photographed graves for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and flew all over Europe to document the activities for her fellow CWACs. The petite 5’2 photographer earned the respect of her male comrades and defied strongly held gender stereotypes.
For more on the ground-breaking Sgt, see “Rencontrez le sergent. Karen Hermeston” [sic].
Pour vous plonger dans un récit académique de « l'Unité de cinéma de l'Armée canadienne pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale », visitez «Tirer la guerre» (PDF) (Histoire militaire canadienne 2005 :14 :3 pp.21-38).
Photo principale:Sergent Karen M. Hermiston du Canadian Women's Army Corps tenant une caméra Anniversary Speed Graphic, Londres, Angleterre, 15 novembre 1945 (Source : Lieut. Arthur L. Cole/ Canada DND/ BAC M# 3210381).