Home on Leave
I went home on leave from Sussex in November, 1940, and while I
was there I came down with Scarlet Fever. For the next four weeks I
was quarantined at home. Although I enjoyed being with my parents, I
was unable to leave the house, and found the time long. One day I told
my Mother I was thinking of joining my cousin in the Air Force. She
said, "Stay where you are. You're in enough trouble now!" Spoken
like a true Mother.
When the quarantine period was over, just before Christmas, I was
told to report to Quebec City, since the Regiment had moved to
Newfoundland in the meantime. There I met, among others, Leo
Murphy, who died only recently, and his brother, Reynald*, who,
sadly, was killed in action in the defence of Hong Kong. I spent a
memorable Christmas in Quebec, being treated excellently by several
families that I met there. Little did I realize that I was passing up the
opportunity of spending the last Christmas for four years with my
father and my mother.
was there I came down with Scarlet Fever. For the next four weeks I
was quarantined at home. Although I enjoyed being with my parents, I
was unable to leave the house, and found the time long. One day I told
my Mother I was thinking of joining my cousin in the Air Force. She
said, "Stay where you are. You're in enough trouble now!" Spoken
like a true Mother.
When the quarantine period was over, just before Christmas, I was
told to report to Quebec City, since the Regiment had moved to
Newfoundland in the meantime. There I met, among others, Leo
Murphy, who died only recently, and his brother, Reynald*, who,
sadly, was killed in action in the defence of Hong Kong. I spent a
memorable Christmas in Quebec, being treated excellently by several
families that I met there. Little did I realize that I was passing up the
opportunity of spending the last Christmas for four years with my
father and my mother.
*Murphy, Reynald E/30639, December, 21/41
Newfoundland
Early in January, 1941, the group of us there in Quebec City, were
sent back to the Regiment, which was then stationed in Botwood and
Gander, Newfoundland. We travelled by train to North Sidney, Nova
Scotia, and from there to Port-aux-Basques on the old ferry Caribou
which ran a regular schedule between the two points. The Caribou
later became a casualty of the German U-Boat activity in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and her remains have lain on the bottom of the Gulf,
somewhere out there, all these many years.
sent back to the Regiment, which was then stationed in Botwood and
Gander, Newfoundland. We travelled by train to North Sidney, Nova
Scotia, and from there to Port-aux-Basques on the old ferry Caribou
which ran a regular schedule between the two points. The Caribou
later became a casualty of the German U-Boat activity in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and her remains have lain on the bottom of the Gulf,
somewhere out there, all these many years.
I joined my Company, "D" Company, in Botwood, glad to meet the
friends I had made since joining the Army. Life in Botwood was rather
quiet, since it was a small town with very little in the way of recreation,
with the exception of ping-pong in the Salvation Army canteen. The
guys used to amuse themselves by getting loaded on payday and
busting up the Chinese restaurant in town.
friends I had made since joining the Army. Life in Botwood was rather
quiet, since it was a small town with very little in the way of recreation,
with the exception of ping-pong in the Salvation Army canteen. The
guys used to amuse themselves by getting loaded on payday and
busting up the Chinese restaurant in town.
One incident that took place while "D" Company was in Botwood
involved a number of our lads. I'll not swear that it is true because I was
not present at that particular time.
The Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, a pulp and paper
company owned a railroad, the A-N-D Railway, which ran from the
mills in Grand Falls and Windsor to the port of Botwood, some twenty
miles distant.
Occasionally we were permitted to hitch a ride to Grand Falls to spend
the evening. The story goes that a couple of our stalwarts who's names
shall, for the moment, remain hidden. It seems, as the story goes, that
they poured enough "Screech" into the engineer and the fireman, that
they were able to persuade them to let them take over the controls and
drive the train back to Botwood.
One of them, who had been a railroader, undertook to drive while the
other shovelled the coal, and between the two of them brought the train
to Botwood in record time. I am open to verification, corrections, or
even denials of this tale. At any rate if true, it's a good story, and the
same if it is not.
involved a number of our lads. I'll not swear that it is true because I was
not present at that particular time.
The Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, a pulp and paper
company owned a railroad, the A-N-D Railway, which ran from the
mills in Grand Falls and Windsor to the port of Botwood, some twenty
miles distant.
Occasionally we were permitted to hitch a ride to Grand Falls to spend
the evening. The story goes that a couple of our stalwarts who's names
shall, for the moment, remain hidden. It seems, as the story goes, that
they poured enough "Screech" into the engineer and the fireman, that
they were able to persuade them to let them take over the controls and
drive the train back to Botwood.
One of them, who had been a railroader, undertook to drive while the
other shovelled the coal, and between the two of them brought the train
to Botwood in record time. I am open to verification, corrections, or
even denials of this tale. At any rate if true, it's a good story, and the
same if it is not.
This picture was taken inside an H-Hut Barrack at Gander,
Newfoundland, in the winter of 1941. I believe that this side of the H-Hut
shows the space occupied by 17 Platoon in the foreground and 16
Platoon at the far end. What you see is one wing of "D" Company hut. 18
Platoon and 18R Platoon occupied the other wing, with the washrooms,
laundry room, toilets, and drying room in between. This side of "D"
Company hut was situated about twenty feet from the main railway line.
Newfoundland, in the winter of 1941. I believe that this side of the H-Hut
shows the space occupied by 17 Platoon in the foreground and 16
Platoon at the far end. What you see is one wing of "D" Company hut. 18
Platoon and 18R Platoon occupied the other wing, with the washrooms,
laundry room, toilets, and drying room in between. This side of "D"
Company hut was situated about twenty feet from the main railway line.