I had been granted thirty days leave which was scheduled to end about
December 20. After being locked up for nearly four years, I treated the
idea of returning to barracks just before Christmas as a huge joke.
December 20. After being locked up for nearly four years, I treated the
idea of returning to barracks just before Christmas as a huge joke.
So, after the New Year, and things had quieted down a bit, I thought that
I should return and open the pages of the next chapter of my life.
I should return and open the pages of the next chapter of my life.
Lo and behold! What happened when I reached Lauzon, was that I was
placed under open arrest and charged with being Absent Without Leave.!
placed under open arrest and charged with being Absent Without Leave.!
Still thinking it was a joke, I laughingly presented myself to the orderly
office to be paraded for my crime. I sat wait in the outer office for my turn
behind another miscreant.
office to be paraded for my crime. I sat wait in the outer office for my turn
behind another miscreant.
I listened to the whole procedure. He had been AWL for seventeen
months. The trial went as follows: "How do you plead?" "Guilty". "Do
you accept my punishment?" "Yes". "Seven days CB."
months. The trial went as follows: "How do you plead?" "Guilty". "Do
you accept my punishment?" "Yes". "Seven days CB."
I was dumbfounded! Seven days CB! This man was a DESERTER! He
should have been given a stiff prison sentence and a dishonourable
discharge!
should have been given a stiff prison sentence and a dishonourable
discharge!
My turn next. "How do you plead? "How do I plead! I was guilty as
charged. So I answered, "Guilty". "Do you accept my punishment?"
"Yes", believing that the little colonel would laugh along with me. "Seven
days CB."
charged. So I answered, "Guilty". "Do you accept my punishment?"
"Yes", believing that the little colonel would laugh along with me. "Seven
days CB."
Again I was dumbfounded!. Dumbfounded? I was appalled! Four years in
a Japanese prison camp and then be handed seven days CB for staying a
few days over my leave!
a Japanese prison camp and then be handed seven days CB for staying a
few days over my leave!
I made no comment, but left the little colonel's presence, went to the
barracks gate, hailed a cab, and spent my seven days CB in Quebec City.
That was the last I heard of it.
barracks gate, hailed a cab, and spent my seven days CB in Quebec City.
That was the last I heard of it.
After getting most of the euphoria of being a free man out of my system, I
began to think about getting back to school.I for get the details of the
process that finally took me to the refresher course for veterans at Sir
George Williams College, but I do remember meeting several interviewers
who tried to discourage me from attempting to re-enter school.
began to think about getting back to school.I for get the details of the
process that finally took me to the refresher course for veterans at Sir
George Williams College, but I do remember meeting several interviewers
who tried to discourage me from attempting to re-enter school.
Back to School
Some of the civil servants at the Department of Veterans Affairs were
more than rude and abrupt. They gave me the feeling that I was asking for
favours that I didn't deserve!
more than rude and abrupt. They gave me the feeling that I was asking for
favours that I didn't deserve!
What a difference today, when a veteran is treated like a gentleman, and
given every consideration to his requests.
given every consideration to his requests.
So I braved the taunts and insults levelled at me by those minor officials. I
bear them no malice, but judging by the behaviour they displayed in
dealing with me, I doubt that any of them went very far in diplomatic
circles.
bear them no malice, but judging by the behaviour they displayed in
dealing with me, I doubt that any of them went very far in diplomatic
circles.
I was finally authorized to use my re-establishment credits to further my
education, and was accepted at Sir George Williams. Having been away
from school for eight years, I hadn't the slightest idea of what to expect.
education, and was accepted at Sir George Williams. Having been away
from school for eight years, I hadn't the slightest idea of what to expect.
I had toyed with the idea of studying pharmacy, a seed that was
probably planted when I was dispensing potassium permanganate and
sulphur lotion in the hospital in prison camp.
probably planted when I was dispensing potassium permanganate and
sulphur lotion in the hospital in prison camp.
I wisely chose the twelve-month refresher course, being pretty certain
that it would take all of a year to bring me up to par and entrance to
McGill.
that it would take all of a year to bring me up to par and entrance to
McGill.
Our classrooms were on Claremont Avenue in Westmount, and our
laboratories were in the YMCA Building on Drummond Street in
downtown Montreal.
laboratories were in the YMCA Building on Drummond Street in
downtown Montreal.
The very first lesson was in high school physics, and the whole
experiment was based on converting a fraction to a decimal. I hadn't a
clue what to do!
experiment was based on converting a fraction to a decimal. I hadn't a
clue what to do!
I often wonder now what force kept my nose to the grindstone all those
twelve months, starting in April, 1946 and ending the following spring. I
am grateful now that I persisted, and didn't succumb to the temptation to
quit and use my credits in the same way that many other veterans did.
twelve months, starting in April, 1946 and ending the following spring. I
am grateful now that I persisted, and didn't succumb to the temptation to
quit and use my credits in the same way that many other veterans did.
I'll not bore the reader with the details of my erratic journey from Sir
George to McGill, to the University of New Brunswick, ending finally in a
Bachelor's degree and a Class I Teaching degree.
George to McGill, to the University of New Brunswick, ending finally in a
Bachelor's degree and a Class I Teaching degree.
The path I took has given me much satisfaction.I have been supported at
every step by my wife, Edwina, who had faith in me and allowed me to
choose what I thought was the right way to go.
every step by my wife, Edwina, who had faith in me and allowed me to
choose what I thought was the right way to go.
Without her sympathetic support, and her willingness to share the hardships
of living in need while raising a family, I could never have made it.
of living in need while raising a family, I could never have made it.
In July, 2009, we will be 62 years married. She still upholds me in all
important decisions, and comforts and encourages me when I feel low.
Without her I could never have made it. God bless her.
important decisions, and comforts and encourages me when I feel low.
Without her I could never have made it. God bless her.
Edwina