Jenny Whithead – RCN Photographer

Only Overseas Camera Girl For Wrens Returning Home

Soon to arrive in Canada after 13 months service in London as the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service’s only photographer overseas is Leading Photographer Wren Jennie I. Whitehead, of Winnipeg, naval headquarters said, Thursday night. After leave at home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Whitehead, 728 Talbot Avenue, she will be stationed in Ottawa as a photographer on the staff of naval information.

In her year of wartime assignments her camera took her to the invasion ports, to social functions featuring Admirals, to royal investitures at Buckingham palace— assignments which added zip to her darkroom work.

But Leading Wren Whitehead remembers best the days and nights in the Press Relations section of the Canadian naval mission overseas where last June the darkroom staff worked nights as well as days to get news pictures of the invasion developed, censored, and on their way to Canada, to scoop the work on pictures of troops going ashore in landing craft.

Replacing her in the photographic section overseas is, Leading Wren Lorna Stanger, of Ottawa, previously stationed in Ottawa.

SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press – Saturday, April 21st, 1945.

Wren Photographer – Home From Overseas

A Winnipeg girl, the only Wren photographer overseas, was welcomed home Monday after being overseas for 14 months. She is Leading Wren Jenny Whitehead of 728 Talbot avenue. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Whitehead, and friends, greeted her when she arrived over CPR lines. Leading Wren Whitehead expects to take a post at Ottawa with naval headquarters.

SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press – Tuesday, May 1st, 1945.