Shortly after arriving in Valcartier, in early August, 1940, Lieutenant Elmer
Denison summoned me to his quarters and asked me if I would like to act
as his batman.
Elmer Denison had been my Grade VIII teacher. Looking back, he
probably thought he was doing me a favour, since I was a small and rather
immature 18 year old. I thank him now for that, but my mind was set on
being a he-man. I accepted the offer, but when I found out that the job
included shining his shoes, making his bed, I was not enthused. The first
time my name came up for quarter watch guard duty, I eagerly accepted,
neglecting to explain that I was a batman, and would therefore have been
excused from such mundane chores as quarter watch and kitchen fatigue.
Needless to say, that was the end of my batman career.
Denison summoned me to his quarters and asked me if I would like to act
as his batman.
Elmer Denison had been my Grade VIII teacher. Looking back, he
probably thought he was doing me a favour, since I was a small and rather
immature 18 year old. I thank him now for that, but my mind was set on
being a he-man. I accepted the offer, but when I found out that the job
included shining his shoes, making his bed, I was not enthused. The first
time my name came up for quarter watch guard duty, I eagerly accepted,
neglecting to explain that I was a batman, and would therefore have been
excused from such mundane chores as quarter watch and kitchen fatigue.
Needless to say, that was the end of my batman career.
That night I had a midnight snack of bread and honey in the Company
kitchen and came down with a case of hives I remember to this day.
We had, in the early days of Valcartier, an officer by the name of Captain
McLeod. Where he came from and where he went is still an unanswered
question for me.
He was tough. He gave us lectures on the perils of venereal disease, and
how to avoid same. He taught us deportment as a soldier, and other
behaviour that marks a good soldier.
While he was lecturing, if he thought your attention was wavering in the
slightest, his punishment was swift and severe. He made Reg Taylor stand
at attention for a half-hour in the blazing sun for absentmindedly plucking a
blade of grass while the good Captain was making a point on some
important policy, such as, why the puttee should be wound clockwise
instead of otherwise.
Art Duggan suffered a similar fate for admitting he was tired at the
beginning of a lecture on the merits of personal cleanliness. Fortunately,
Captain McLeod was left behind at Valcartier, and we never saw him
more.
kitchen and came down with a case of hives I remember to this day.
We had, in the early days of Valcartier, an officer by the name of Captain
McLeod. Where he came from and where he went is still an unanswered
question for me.
He was tough. He gave us lectures on the perils of venereal disease, and
how to avoid same. He taught us deportment as a soldier, and other
behaviour that marks a good soldier.
While he was lecturing, if he thought your attention was wavering in the
slightest, his punishment was swift and severe. He made Reg Taylor stand
at attention for a half-hour in the blazing sun for absentmindedly plucking a
blade of grass while the good Captain was making a point on some
important policy, such as, why the puttee should be wound clockwise
instead of otherwise.
Art Duggan suffered a similar fate for admitting he was tired at the
beginning of a lecture on the merits of personal cleanliness. Fortunately,
Captain McLeod was left behind at Valcartier, and we never saw him
more.
Sussex, Quarter Guard
When we moved to Sussex, NB, from Valcartier in October, 1940, the
huts to which we were assigned were brand new. So new, in fact, that
some, "D" Company's included, had not been electrically wired, and
many did not even have glass in the window openings.
The toilets were working, but there were no stalls, just a row of crappers.
In fact, the whole room was bare except for a few essentials. In addition
to that, some of the toilets in our hut were continually getting plugged, and
the contents thereof sometimes overflowed to the floor.
One Saturday, in early November, Lance Ross, who was then a
Corporal, was assigned to command the Quarter Guard. Now, Lance like
all of us, liked a good time, and still does in spite of his ninety years. On
this particular day, Lance got a day pass to go to Moncton. He was
supposed to be present at 6 pm, to take care of the Changing of the
Guard.
When Lance didn't show up at six, yours truly, Good Samaritan, meddler,
take your choice, and a buck private to boot, undertook to save a buddy
from trouble, and not being able to locate another NCO, it being Saturday
and all, I decided to change the Guard myself. I should add that Lance
had earned the respect of all of us, even though our military career's had
been short. I was just doing what a buddy would do to help another
buddy. Anyone in No.17 Platoon would have done the same for him. I
located all the guys who were supposed to go on Guard Duty and got
them posted.
huts to which we were assigned were brand new. So new, in fact, that
some, "D" Company's included, had not been electrically wired, and
many did not even have glass in the window openings.
The toilets were working, but there were no stalls, just a row of crappers.
In fact, the whole room was bare except for a few essentials. In addition
to that, some of the toilets in our hut were continually getting plugged, and
the contents thereof sometimes overflowed to the floor.
One Saturday, in early November, Lance Ross, who was then a
Corporal, was assigned to command the Quarter Guard. Now, Lance like
all of us, liked a good time, and still does in spite of his ninety years. On
this particular day, Lance got a day pass to go to Moncton. He was
supposed to be present at 6 pm, to take care of the Changing of the
Guard.
When Lance didn't show up at six, yours truly, Good Samaritan, meddler,
take your choice, and a buck private to boot, undertook to save a buddy
from trouble, and not being able to locate another NCO, it being Saturday
and all, I decided to change the Guard myself. I should add that Lance
had earned the respect of all of us, even though our military career's had
been short. I was just doing what a buddy would do to help another
buddy. Anyone in No.17 Platoon would have done the same for him. I
located all the guys who were supposed to go on Guard Duty and got
them posted.
About six-thirty I went in to the washroom and I heard a low moan
coming from the far end of the room. It was dark, of course, so I couldn't
see who was there. I decided to get a flashlight and investigate, but
something distracted me, and I forgot about it.
Lance came in about eleven-thirty, with his crooked grin a little more
pronounced, and after getting a report from me, went into the washroom.
When he came out, he said, "there´s someone in there." That reminded
me, and armed with a flashlight, we went in for a look.
coming from the far end of the room. It was dark, of course, so I couldn't
see who was there. I decided to get a flashlight and investigate, but
something distracted me, and I forgot about it.
Lance came in about eleven-thirty, with his crooked grin a little more
pronounced, and after getting a report from me, went into the washroom.
When he came out, he said, "there´s someone in there." That reminded
me, and armed with a flashlight, we went in for a look.
Valcartier
