#BATTALION11: Breaking the Mold - Sgt. Karen Hermiston

Listen up, Battalion! For today's #Battalion11 Remembrance Day project, I'm bringing forward a story that's too damn good not to share.

Back in 1941, our Canadian Army had the foresight to document our role in the Second World War. And they didn't just gather any bloke with a camera. They assembled the cream of the crop, forming the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit. The mission? Tell the world our war story from a uniquely Canadian perspective. To ensure our sacrifices, bravery, and dedication wouldn't be just a footnote in someone else's history book.

Among the ranks of those remarkable 76 photographers was a true trailblazer. Sgt. Karen Hermiston, or as she was affectionately dubbed, 'Hermie'. Now, I want to make something crystal clear. Hermie wasn't just the only female army photographer serving overseas; she was a damn powerhouse in her own right.

When she enlisted in the Canadian Women's Army Corps in '41, she was met with skeptical eyes and patronizing words: "There are some things a girl can't do." Well, Hermie responded in the best way possible. By doing them and doing them damn well.

Whether it was capturing heart-wrenching moments of our boys being flown back as casualties, braving the tense atmosphere inside operating rooms, documenting final resting places for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, or soaring over Europe to capture the undertakings of the CWACs, Hermie was there. Camera in hand, standing tall (all 5'2 of her), she didn't just break gender stereotypes; she smashed them to smithereens.

To Sgt. Karen Hermiston, we salute you. You've shown us that determination, skill, and a bit of grit can tear down any barrier. So, here's to you, Hermie—a true warrior, both behind and beyond the lens.

Keep the legacy alive, Battalion! And remember, history isn't just written by victors but by those brave enough to document it.

For more info on Hermiston, please visit the following link at Veteran Affairs (https://canadianfilmandphotounit.ca/2012/11/11/meet-sgt-karen-hermeston/)

Lest we forget. RSM Riggs,

#RememberingOurHeroes #HermieTheTrailblazer #Battalion11