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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.