Fonds 265 Martha Jensen, RCAF, WD fonds

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Summary information

Administrative history / Biographical sketch

Martha was born on September 6, 1922 to Elna and Johannes Jensen in Redcliffe, Alberta. She moved away from home to complete high school while working for her room and board, and afterward took a job at the Royal Bank in Standard, Alberta.

Despite her parents’ protests, Martha enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943. Without their permission, she “borrowed” her father’s naturalization papers to prove they were Canadian citizens. It was only when he needed the papers himself that Martha confessed what she’d done. Martha trained in Montreal and then was stationed at the Linton Air Base near York, England where she worked as a wireless operator. Two Canadian squadrons (Goose and Thunderbird) were stationed at Linton. There was so much work to be done that the women worked eight hours on, eight hours off, seven days a week. A highlight of Martha’s time at Linton was the visit of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and their daughter Princess Elizabeth.

Martha stayed in England for four months after the end of the war to help with demobilization and ensuring that prisoners of war made it home. During this time, she was based at Allerton Place. After being discharged, she returned to Alberta and her job at the bank in Standard.

While there, Martha met and married Charles Kimmett. They had five daughters – Velvet, Valerie, Victoria, Virginia, and Veronica. Charles died in 1959. Martha and the girls moved to High River.

In 1961, Martha married Alfred Head, who had also served at Linton. The family eventually moved to Dimsdale. Martha and Alfred had a daughter Laurie in 1962.

After Alfred died in 1978, Martha moved into Grande Prairie and worked for a year at Holroyd Drugs before retiring. In her retirement, she traveled extensively (Europe, New Zealand, Australia, the Caribbean, across Canada, and along the Alaska Highway). She was involved in the Royal Purple, the local trailer club, and volunteered at the Swanavon School. Martha also enjoyed dancing, baking, gardening, and various crafts.

Martha died at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie on August 13, 2014.

Custodial history

The records were deposited by Martha Jensen Head in the South Peace Regional Archives in 2006.

Scope and content

The fonds consists of ten photographs relating to Martha Jensen’s career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women’s Division. They include two of her in uniform, six taken at Linton Air Base, and two of the work of demobilization.

Notes

Title notes

• Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.

Conditions governing use

These photographs were donated as digital copies and are only suitable for reproducing up to 8×10 in.

Access points

• Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
• Military (subject)
• Women (subject)

Series descriptions