During the winter of 1941, "D" Company and "A" Company, which had
shared duties in Botwood, exchanged places with "B" Company and "C"
Company in Gander.
Life in Gander was dull with not much to do while off duty. I got a job
answering the telephone in the control tower at the airport. That helped
pass the time, and was rather interesting, because it was at that time that
the Ferry Command was in full swing, with planes landing and taking-off
for England at all hours of the night and day.
The job kept me off the bone chilling Guard Duty on the runways, a job
which Lloyd Doull, then my Platoon Sergeant, still reminds me.
shared duties in Botwood, exchanged places with "B" Company and "C"
Company in Gander.
Life in Gander was dull with not much to do while off duty. I got a job
answering the telephone in the control tower at the airport. That helped
pass the time, and was rather interesting, because it was at that time that
the Ferry Command was in full swing, with planes landing and taking-off
for England at all hours of the night and day.
The job kept me off the bone chilling Guard Duty on the runways, a job
which Lloyd Doull, then my Platoon Sergeant, still reminds me.
While on duty at the control tower I witnessed the takeoff of the plane
which bore Sir Frederick Banting, discoverer of insulin, to his death in the
wilds of Newfoundland on February 27, 1941.
which bore Sir Frederick Banting, discoverer of insulin, to his death in the
wilds of Newfoundland on February 27, 1941.
| Sir Frederick Banting |
Newfoundland, Winter of 1941
Crash Site of Sir Frederick Banting's Last Flight
In the spring of 1941, after spending the winter in Botwood and Gander,
we were loaded onto the Newfie Bullet and moved to Lester's Field
Barracks in St. John's. Quite a change, with the whole Regiment together
again after being split up ever since leaving Sussex in November of 1940.
The excitement of being in a big town after Botwood and then a few
months at Gander Airport, was something we found no trouble taking
advantage of, because there was no town at Gander, only the airport, the
army barracks, the railroad, a few service personnel, and some RCAF
people.
we were loaded onto the Newfie Bullet and moved to Lester's Field
Barracks in St. John's. Quite a change, with the whole Regiment together
again after being split up ever since leaving Sussex in November of 1940.
The excitement of being in a big town after Botwood and then a few
months at Gander Airport, was something we found no trouble taking
advantage of, because there was no town at Gander, only the airport, the
army barracks, the railroad, a few service personnel, and some RCAF
people.
Many stories can be told of our stay in St. John's, so I'll begin with the one
that occurred shortly after we arrived. This concerns a fabulous character
by the name of Edgar. Edgar was from a tiny hamlet known then as little
Montreal. What travelling he had done before joining the Army I do not
know. He was a little older than most of us. He had the art of story telling
and a sense of humour to set them off, sometimes crude, sometimes witty,
but always attention-getting.
that occurred shortly after we arrived. This concerns a fabulous character
by the name of Edgar. Edgar was from a tiny hamlet known then as little
Montreal. What travelling he had done before joining the Army I do not
know. He was a little older than most of us. He had the art of story telling
and a sense of humour to set them off, sometimes crude, sometimes witty,
but always attention-getting.
Edgar was in "B" Company. He was in Botwood just before we moved to
the city. He showed up on Parade one day needing a haircut. Lieutenant
Woodside* who was Orderly Officer that day, told him to make the
necessary adjustments. Sure enough, Edgar went out on Parade the next
day with a new haircut. Woodside bawled him out and told him to get a
real haircut. The following day Edgar showed up with his scalp shaved
clean.
the city. He showed up on Parade one day needing a haircut. Lieutenant
Woodside* who was Orderly Officer that day, told him to make the
necessary adjustments. Sure enough, Edgar went out on Parade the next
day with a new haircut. Woodside bawled him out and told him to get a
real haircut. The following day Edgar showed up with his scalp shaved
clean.
We Move to St. John's
Soon after we arrived the good ladies of St. John's sought to welcome us
by inviting us to afternoon tea at the "Caribou Hut", the St. John's YMCA.
Imagine the scene. Dainty, sophisticated ladies, from the goodness of their
hearts, attempting to entertain us, serving tea and cakes to a group of
soldiers who were fresh from the boondocks, semi-literate, and certainly
devoid of social graces.
by inviting us to afternoon tea at the "Caribou Hut", the St. John's YMCA.
Imagine the scene. Dainty, sophisticated ladies, from the goodness of their
hearts, attempting to entertain us, serving tea and cakes to a group of
soldiers who were fresh from the boondocks, semi-literate, and certainly
devoid of social graces.
The tinkling of the piano rendering such classics as "In An English Country
Garden", soon bored the audience, whose musical tastes favoured the
songs of Hank Snow, and Wilf Carter. Someone shouted, "Labrecque!
We Want Labreque!" Now Labreque was good, nay, he was expert at
reciting the poems of Henry Drummond, "Leetle Bateese, The Stovepipe
Hole, and especially, Jean-Batiste Trudeau, and had amused us on many
an occasion.
After much catcalling and shouts of "C'mon, Edgar," he finally got up on
the stage. He began by rubbing his cleanly-clipped head and apologizing
for his lack of hair. Then he said, "I'm not in the mood to recite
Jean-Batiste Trudeau today, but I'll tell you a story." What follows is the
story he told ....
Garden", soon bored the audience, whose musical tastes favoured the
songs of Hank Snow, and Wilf Carter. Someone shouted, "Labrecque!
We Want Labreque!" Now Labreque was good, nay, he was expert at
reciting the poems of Henry Drummond, "Leetle Bateese, The Stovepipe
Hole, and especially, Jean-Batiste Trudeau, and had amused us on many
an occasion.
After much catcalling and shouts of "C'mon, Edgar," he finally got up on
the stage. He began by rubbing his cleanly-clipped head and apologizing
for his lack of hair. Then he said, "I'm not in the mood to recite
Jean-Batiste Trudeau today, but I'll tell you a story." What follows is the
story he told ....
In the prison camp,I shared a room with Edgar and some others for a
while. He kept us amused with recitations of Drummond's poetry, and
tales of his early days in Beau Glen. His humour and up-beat attitude
during our days as POW's helped me to forget my miseries and to survive
until 1945. Edgar also made it back home but he died many years ago.
while. He kept us amused with recitations of Drummond's poetry, and
tales of his early days in Beau Glen. His humour and up-beat attitude
during our days as POW's helped me to forget my miseries and to survive
until 1945. Edgar also made it back home but he died many years ago.
Picture not to be copied without permission
St. John's, and Edgar
* Woodside, Arnold, Lt. kia.Dec. 19/41