tommypjr / CC

A 93 year old Saskatoon woman who was a Wren during World War II remembers her Navy career fondly.
Ruth Bond-Martinson was stationed in Halifax and was a cook, which she says she had no choice in.
They needed cooks when she signed up, so that’s what she became.
Bond-Martinson was in Halifax on V-E day during the riots, May 7th and 8th of 1945.
She says there was a celebratory mood with bands playing and ships blowing their horns as they came in to port.
The problem was no stores or restaurants were open, so someone broke open the liquor store and that was the beginning of what became the riot with fights and looting.
Bond-Martinson went back to the barracks before it got out of hand and everyone ended up being confined to barracks for 5 days.
She says Halifax looked like it had been through a war.
The 93 year old strongly recommends a military career for anyone interested, saying some of her strongest bonds are with others who have served.