Ralston
Joseph Ralston Hardy died on April 8, 1994. He was my boyhood chum,
schoolmate, and comrade-in-arms.
schoolmate, and comrade-in-arms.
I can't remember when we first met. We were probably just out of
diapers.We lived about aquarter of a mile apart, he at the end of a long lane
and I at the other.
diapers.We lived about aquarter of a mile apart, he at the end of a long lane
and I at the other.
In our childhood days,there were few artificial amusements to be had, so
we had to invent our own.We did what I suppose most kids did in those
days.
we had to invent our own.We did what I suppose most kids did in those
days.
We rolled hoops with a stick, we made carts out of whatever materials
could be found, we swam in the waters of the Baie des Chaleurs, we
made tree houses, we carved wooden soldiers out of cedar shingles,
coloured them blue and red with wax crayons, and killed each other's
armies with long-range artillery, powered by rubber bands.
could be found, we swam in the waters of the Baie des Chaleurs, we
made tree houses, we carved wooden soldiers out of cedar shingles,
coloured them blue and red with wax crayons, and killed each other's
armies with long-range artillery, powered by rubber bands.
At school we got the strap for calling the teacher a screech-owl when we
thought she couldn't hear us. We listened enchanted to ghost stories at a
neighbour's house and then were too scared to go home in the dark.
thought she couldn't hear us. We listened enchanted to ghost stories at a
neighbour's house and then were too scared to go home in the dark.
We played shinny in the backyard rink, often as not with a wooden puck,
and sometimes with a frozen horse-ball.
and sometimes with a frozen horse-ball.
When we grew a little older we played a more organized type of hockey,
he in the goal and I somewhere out front. From the first he was a fearless
goalie, and after the war he graduated to the senior team where he proved
his ability again and again.
he in the goal and I somewhere out front. From the first he was a fearless
goalie, and after the war he graduated to the senior team where he proved
his ability again and again.
When the war came along we were both a little young, but the end of
1940 saw us both in the Royal Rifles of Canada.
1940 saw us both in the Royal Rifles of Canada.
Ralston spent much of his captivity working in the dockyards in Japan, and
after the war he returned home, scarred like all of us by the years of
deprivation.
after the war he returned home, scarred like all of us by the years of
deprivation.
Each of us dies a little with the passing of one of our Hong Kong buddies,
and for Ralston the sentiment for me was keenly felt.
and for Ralston the sentiment for me was keenly felt.
Major Maurice Parker
Major Parker was the only company commander in the Royal Rifles who
didn't have the benefit of battle experience, as did the others, who were
all veterans of World War I.
didn't have the benefit of battle experience, as did the others, who were
all veterans of World War I.
I became closely attached to him because of my position as company
clerk at my desk outside his office door.
clerk at my desk outside his office door.
Because of his kind and gentle nature, he was well regarded by the men
of "D" Company. He called me "Philip".
of "D" Company. He called me "Philip".
One event will forever be in my mind. We were preparing to attack a
Japanese-held position when he spotted me with my head bandaged.
Japanese-held position when he spotted me with my head bandaged.
Even in the excitement of the moment, his compassionate nature
prompted him to turn to me and say,"Philip, are you all right?"
prompted him to turn to me and say,"Philip, are you all right?"
That is only one of the reasons that he has been held in my high esteem.
That he would consider my well-being in a moment of high excitement is
an example of his concern for his men.
That he would consider my well-being in a moment of high excitement is
an example of his concern for his men.
I will not forget him. I am ever so grateful that I met him in Victoria
before he died.
before he died.
The End
Now I come to the end of this tale. I had for a long time hoped to put my
story together in one form or another. After struggling with my
conscience, delaying, postponing, agonizing over how to put my thoughts
together -- finally, a solution!
story together in one form or another. After struggling with my
conscience, delaying, postponing, agonizing over how to put my thoughts
together -- finally, a solution!
Ron Parker
Out of the blue I received an
e-mail from Ron Parker, son of
Major Parker, who suggested
that I have a look at a web site
that he had set up for me.
e-mail from Ron Parker, son of
Major Parker, who suggested
that I have a look at a web site
that he had set up for me.
Through the medium of the
chat line, from Cancun,
Mexico, he guided me through
the process of building the site.
chat line, from Cancun,
Mexico, he guided me through
the process of building the site.
For months we chatted several times a day, and he led me virtually by
the hand, adding text and pictures, and advising me as to form and
format.
the hand, adding text and pictures, and advising me as to form and
format.
To Ron I owe the existence of this web site. Without his help it would
not have been possible. Arigato, Ron.
not have been possible. Arigato, Ron.
