At Gordon Head we were interviewed, given a cursory medical
examination, and declared fit to travel. I was amused a few years ago,
when I received a copy of my documents from Ottawa, to learn that one
of the interviewers had scribbled a note to the effect that I would not likely
amount to anything.I would like to compare notes with him now!
examination, and declared fit to travel. I was amused a few years ago,
when I received a copy of my documents from Ottawa, to learn that one
of the interviewers had scribbled a note to the effect that I would not likely
amount to anything.I would like to compare notes with him now!
Five days after arriving in Victoria, we were loaded aboard a special train
and sent off east. Someone had painted the words, "Hong Kong Special"
on the side of the cars.
and sent off east. Someone had painted the words, "Hong Kong Special"
on the side of the cars.
After stopping to let ex-POWs off along the way, the Hong Kong Special
terminated at Park Extension Station in Montreal
terminated at Park Extension Station in Montreal
Montreal
Park Extension Station was crowded with people who came to welcome
us. On the platform I immediately spotted two friends who had been in the
war in Europe and who had recently arrived back home.
us. On the platform I immediately spotted two friends who had been in the
war in Europe and who had recently arrived back home.
The first night after I arrived, a group of us went to the Diana Grill on the
corner of Peel and Ste. Catherine streets and raised a rumpus.
corner of Peel and Ste. Catherine streets and raised a rumpus.
What the war had done to us! Here we were, five young men from the
New Richmond-Grand Cascapedia area, three who had served in
England and Europe, who had seen the terror and devastation of the war
on the continent, and the bombing and destruction of cities in England, one
who had been in the Merchant Marine, ferrying supplies and men to
England, while dodging German torpedoes, and myself, just back from
Japanese prison camps,
New Richmond-Grand Cascapedia area, three who had served in
England and Europe, who had seen the terror and devastation of the war
on the continent, and the bombing and destruction of cities in England, one
who had been in the Merchant Marine, ferrying supplies and men to
England, while dodging German torpedoes, and myself, just back from
Japanese prison camps,
It has caused me to wonder what may have happened to us five and other
thousands of young men and women, if the war had not come along.
thousands of young men and women, if the war had not come along.
For myself, I think that I may not had the inspiration to go back to school
and earn something of a formal education. I may not have had the
opportunity to lead a full and satisfying life as an educator, instead of
pursuing some mundane and dead-end job, a destiny I was otherwise
headed for.
and earn something of a formal education. I may not have had the
opportunity to lead a full and satisfying life as an educator, instead of
pursuing some mundane and dead-end job, a destiny I was otherwise
headed for.
So, did the war help me? In that sense it did. In spite of the horrors and
deprivation, the endless days of languishing behind barbed wire, the
hunger, the disease, the insurmountable hopelessness, the waiting and
longing; the outcome for me was a change of direction in my life and a
chance to do something better. For that I am grateful.
deprivation, the endless days of languishing behind barbed wire, the
hunger, the disease, the insurmountable hopelessness, the waiting and
longing; the outcome for me was a change of direction in my life and a
chance to do something better. For that I am grateful.
Carousing in Montreal while waiting on bureaucracy was enough to make
me anxious to see the folks at home, the ones I had left so abruptly just
before Christmas in 1940 after my sick leave.
me anxious to see the folks at home, the ones I had left so abruptly just
before Christmas in 1940 after my sick leave.
Arnold Ross and I had overstayed our time in Montreal, and thus had
missed the free ride home. We somehow got to Quebec City with all our
gear.
missed the free ride home. We somehow got to Quebec City with all our
gear.
I had my "liberated" Samurai sword strapped to my belt and what was left
of a sixty-carton case of Camel cigarettes, purchased on the Hugh
Rodney, slung over my shoulder.
of a sixty-carton case of Camel cigarettes, purchased on the Hugh
Rodney, slung over my shoulder.
Not knowing that the Quebec Army Headquarters had been moved from
the Citadel in Quebec City, we headed up the hill to get a railway pass for
the trip home.
the Citadel in Quebec City, we headed up the hill to get a railway pass for
the trip home.
By that time it was evening, and not much was stirring at the Citadel. We
found an officer, God bless him, who scurried around, telephoned, and
searched, and finally got authorization to write passes for us to board the
train at Levis at midnight. Arnold offered him a drink from a bottle of rye
that he was carrying under his tunic!
found an officer, God bless him, who scurried around, telephoned, and
searched, and finally got authorization to write passes for us to board the
train at Levis at midnight. Arnold offered him a drink from a bottle of rye
that he was carrying under his tunic!
Arnold, John St.Onge, and I got off the train in Campbellton the next
morning to be met by my father and my brother, and an old friend from
boyhood days.
morning to be met by my father and my brother, and an old friend from
boyhood days.
Home at last!
When we arrived at our house, Mother was standing in the doorway, sixty
years old, looking pink and healthy. A tearful reunion!. Strangely, I don't
remember very much about it.
years old, looking pink and healthy. A tearful reunion!. Strangely, I don't
remember very much about it.
On reflection, I don't think I exhibited much emotion of any kind. Had I
become hard and unfeeling? What had prison camp done to me?
become hard and unfeeling? What had prison camp done to me?
At any rate, I had come home. It was October 16, 1945, four years less
four days since I had been home on embarkation leave.
four days since I had been home on embarkation leave.
Now what to do? There were parties a-plenty, almost every night,
everyone celebrating the end of the war, and each day welcoming late
home comers from Europe and elsewhere. The rest of the 1945 autumn
passed in a haze.
everyone celebrating the end of the war, and each day welcoming late
home comers from Europe and elsewhere. The rest of the 1945 autumn
passed in a haze.