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REMEMBRANCE
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McCraeʼs “In Flandersʼ Fields” remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is a lasting legacy of the terrible battle in the Ypes salient in the spring of 1915.
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In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
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Saturday November 11, 2017
The 99th Annual Remembrance Day Service at Mosaic place starts at 10:45 am
We ask that everyone be seated by 10:30am Sponsored by the Moose Jaw Branch 59 of the Royal Canadian Legion this will be the 58th annual indoor service held in the city. The service will be conducted by Reverend Doug Sheppard, Padre, Legion Branch 59 Lunch served at the Legion following the ceremonies. Provided for adults only.
279 HIGH ST.W
The 99th Annual Remembrance Day Service in Moose Jaw
REMEMBRANCE DAY OPEN HOUSE
Remembrance Day, Saturday , November 11, 2017
We appreciate your support
Saturday November 11, 2017 11:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
LIGHT LUNCH SERVED
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COME JOIN US EVERYONE WELCOME! SH
ARRIVAL OF COLOURS AND GUESTS 10:45 O’CANADA INVOCATION HYMN SCRIPTURE HOMILY ALL PRAYERS LAST POST, SILENCE, ACT OF REMEMBRANCE, REVILLE CHOIR ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION POPPY FUND COLLECTION LAYING OF OFFICIAL WREATHS LAYING OF ORGANIZATION AND INDIVIDUAL WREATHS BENEDICTION GOD SAVE THE QUEEN DEPARTURE OF COLOURS AND GUESTS The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #59 lounge will be open following the service. Lunch will be available. Adults only. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
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Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans MOOSE JAW No. 252
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History of “In Flanders Fields” The most popular and most quoted poem from the war, “In Flanders Fields” was written during WWI by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. On May 3, 1915, McCrae was inspired to write it after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially dissatisfied with his work, discarded it. “In Flanders Fields” was first published on December 8th, 1915 in a London magazine. On Saturday November 9, 1918, two days before the Armistice, Moina Michael was on duty in the reading room at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries’ headquarters in New York—a place where U.S. servicemen would often gather with friends and family to say their goodbyes before they went overseas. After reading McCrae’s poem, Moina made a personal pledge to always wear the red poppy of Flanders Fields as a sign of remembrance and for “keeping the faith with all who died.” As a result of its immediate popularity, parts of the poem were used in propaganda efforts and appeals to recruit soldiers and raise money selling war bonds. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the Remembrance poppy becoming one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. In 1920, Anna Guérin—the French Poppy Lady—attended the national American Legion convention as a representative of France’s YMCA
Secretariat. She was inspired by Moina Michael’s idea of the poppy as a memorial flower and felt that the scope of the Memorial Poppy could be expanded to help the needy. She suggested that artificial poppies could be made and sold as a way of raising money for the benefit of orphaned children and others who had suffered greatly as a result of the war. In 1921, Madame Guérin visited Canada and convinced the Great War Veterans Association of Canada (predecessor to the Royal Canadian Legion) to adopt the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in aid of fundraising; which it did on July 5th of that year. The poem and poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada, where “In Flanders Fields” is one of the nation’s best-known literary works. Today, the Poppy Campaign continues to be one of the Royal Canadian Legion’s most important programs. The money raised from donations provides direct assistance for Veterans in financial distress, as well as funding for medical equipment, medical research, home services, long term care facilities and many other purposes. Take time this year to remember the sacrifices of those who fought and those who continue to fight for our country’s freedom, on Remembrance Day. Attend the local service held here at Moose Jaw at Mosaic Place, on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Please be there well in advance to be seated prior to service time.
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What makes Canadians unique? Mayor Fraser Tolmie
This year’s Remembrance Day marks a special day for Canadians as we remember young soldiers who fought at Vimy Ridge 100 hundred years ago. This battle is often the battle that defined us as a nation. Those who fought in subsequent battles and wars are continually reminded of that victory as one that sets Canadians apart from our European forefathers. We will remember all Wars in which Canadian soldiers have fought and died. Their sacrifice is unique. As Canadians, we value a free and just Democratic Society. What makes us unique is that, through our sacrifice, we try as a nation to export those values. The nations to which we deploy troops see Canadians in a very different way. We are not there for financial gain or to impose our values but to liberate so that others may live free and
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are able to decide their own destiny. Many who witness our missions make the choice to immigrate to Canada, seeking the freedom we have. Many of those then choose to serve in our Armed Forces, wanting to share the same kindness that was shown to them. Canada at 150 years old is still a young nation. We are growing and as we grow we still have a responsibility to the world to export those same values that our forefathers did who went before us.
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City of Moose Jaw Veterans’ Week Proclamation
(l-r): Royal Canadian Legion Branch #59, 1st Vice President Sharon Erickson; Anavets Unit #252, President Dave Low; Mayor Fraser Tolmie; and Legion President Roy LaBuick
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not old that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. From Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen, written in September 1914
Butt the freedom fr that they fought for, and the count country ry grand grand they gra for, wrought for, is their monument to-day, and for aye.
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Living Heroes I walked the toy store aisles with my grandson by my side. We chatted as we talked and walked, his gift card clutched with pride. What fun we had together as we looked at many toys… The kind of things that tug at the heart of little boys. And then we saw a gentleman just a few steps away, He looked a little sad, and his hair was tinged with gray, He touched the tiny toy cars, as he wiped away a tear, And I wondered if somehow we could bring him a spot of cheer. But then he chose a red car with flames painted on the hood, He brought it to my little boy who thanked him, as he should. Of course, he gave some money too, to pay at the cashier, And then he told the story of his son he’d lost last year. He’d bought Hot Wheels for his boy, too, when he was just a lad. The years flew by, he grew up; he too became a dad. But though he was a father, he was a warrior too, He’d hoped to train his sons as well, to be strong and brave and true. Because he was a soldier, one day he had to go Off to a foreign country, to fight against the foe. He gave his life for freedom, and his father lost his son; His children lost their father/ in this crazy world undone… I paused to say thank you to this gentleman so sad, Who told stories to his grandsons so they’d remember Dad. One life is lost but many feel the pain of sacrifice; Take time to thank the living too; they paid a ghastly price. J. H. Klotz c. 2016
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Background:
One day shortly after his third birthday, I took my youngest grandson, to the store to purchase his chosen birthday gift. (I love to give them each gift cards, which together we then take to the store so they may select their own gift, yet I receive one-on-one time with them, after which we go for ice cream or smoothies or other special treats of their choosing). “Living Heroes” tells the story of an incident that occurred while we were enjoying our outing. Though my grandson was too young to understand this gentleman’s story, I wanted it to be a remembrance for him; thus I wrote it down as a poem and took several pictures of him with this little Hot Wheels momento. What a special reminder to all of us that many people are hurting on the inside because they too paid a sacrificial price and continue to do so by staying strong for the sake of those left behind after the loss of a son, a father, an uncle, a brother. Remember them and thank them!!
Joan Klotz, originally from Moose Jaw, currently lives in Naples, Florida. The poem is written about her Uncle Albert Lloyd Hannah and World War II. Joan recently wrote and self-published her first book, which includes several of her poems. She is passionate about encouraging others to record their own story.
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Remembrance Day
My earliest recollection of Remembrance Day was attending the annual Service of Remembrance at the town hall in my hometown of Lipton, Saskatchewan. Sitting with our Mom, we watched the Legion Members parade into the hall in military ceremony; followed by the Ladies’ Auxiliary, then members of the Air Corp. from the squadron centered in Street Cadet West • 306-692-8884 the neighbouring town. wnorthmla@shaw.ca My Dad was among those parading Legion Members. This was a respected day for him to get together with his comrades of service from the war past. Dad served in the Second World War. He would tell us of events that took place which had tremendous effects on his life, even though as an aircraft mechanic, he never saw action on the front lines.
on
Warren Michelson, MLA From the many related memories, I came to understand the camaraderie established by these young men who were brought together through volunteer recruitment for a cause; to the point of giving up their farms, their jobs, being away from family and friends and willing to give of their very life for a cause they believed in. It was this camaraderie that remained after the war ended, that spanned across provinces and lasted for their lifetimes. In as much as there were tragedies on the training base from homesickness, loneliness and even loss of life during training exercises; these friends were there during such troublesome times to support and comfort each other. On Remembrance Day each year, they joined together with similar comrades to reflect the experiences they held in their hearts. To me, Remembrance Day is a day of respect and appreciation; respect and appreciation for the men and women that gave much for democracy and freedom. Most of us will not know the sacrifice made by these people, nor
the cost incurred for the love of their country and the freedom for all mankind. Many of us cannot realize this because we cannot fully understand the sacrifices that were made, nor the feeling of comradeship those women and men established. Each year on November 11, I think of my Dad and recall the names of those he would speak so highly of, even after 70 years. I also think of the women and men that today live and work to protect our freedom and the quality of life we enjoy. On Remembrance Day, take some time to show respect, and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who serve and protect. From the women and men in danger on the front lines, to the women and men who work on the ground, in the training sessions, the supply channel and all who work together for our security – thank you. To the veterans who sacrificed so much; words of appreciation can not express the gratitude for your service; may we never forget.
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We will never forget
Greg Lawrence, MLA Remembrance Day is a time for each of us to reflect on the battles of the past; battles that secured our freedom. It is a time to remember the battles in which young Canadians fought not only for our security and freedom in Canada but the security and freedom of those abroad. Valour, courage, hard work, determination and commitment are the qualities that were on display amongst the Canadian men and 10/24/2016 2:40:56 PM women serving close to home and around the world. These same qualities are also on display each and every day in today’s Canadian Forces. In my role as Military Liaison for Saskatchewan, I am honoured to participate in events recognizing our Military personnel. It is a privilege to meet with them and their families. Thank you to the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, their spouses, children and extended family. The burden families carry while loved ones are away is recognized always. We owe it to them that their sacrifices are acknowledged and don’t go unnoticed. We also owe it to veterans and members of our Military family to ensure that the memory of their efforts will live on in all Canadians. Pinning a poppy close to our hearts is a small, symbolic way to show respect for our Armed Forces. The first poppy presentation of the 2017 Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign was pinned on Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor during a special event at Government House October 24th. I encourage everyone to support the local legion by seeking out and purchasing a poppy. I ask that everyone wear the poppy with pride, considering what it represents. And I ask that you reflect on the great sacrifices that have been made to protect and preserve our way of life. The Annual Service of Remembrance for the Public Service is taking place at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building Wednesday, November 8th at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend. On November 11th, I encourage everyone to join me at Mosaic Place for Moose Jaw’s Annual Remembrance Day Service. This is a time to honour and pay tribute to the women and men who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Please arrive early as this event is always well-attended. Too often, we take for granted our values and institutions, our freedom to participate in cultural and political events and our right to live under a government of our choosing. It is with this in mind that I offer my deepest gratitude to all the members of our Armed Forces past and present. Lest we forget.
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8 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2017
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We Will Never Forget
Lest We Forget Greg Lawrence, MLA Moose Jaw Wakamow 404B Lillooet Street West Moose Jaw, SK 306-694-1001
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First Nations Contributions to the Canadian War Effort
Rem Day, Oct. 24, 2016.indd 1
10/24/2016 2:40:56 PM
Gisele Perrault and the Grade 7 ELA class at Ecole Gravelbourg School
Sgt. Tommy Prince (center) served in both the Korean War and WWII. He won a dozen medals.
Francis “Peggy” Pegahmagabow was the most highly decorated First Nations person in WWI.
During the first years of WWI, First Nations people were turned away when they tried to enlist in the military. In 1915, when more soldiers were needed because of high mortality rates, the government began allowing them to serve. Because of their skills in hunting, scouting, navigating and tracking, and because of stereotyping, they were often given the dangerous duties of sniper or reconnaissance scouts. Two Aboriginal battalions were formed: the 114th battalion, known as “Brock’s Rangers” and the 107th Timber Wolf battalion. Because there were not enough
soldiers to form full battalions, Canadian soldiers were added. This proved to be an advantage, because by serving alongside Aboriginal soldiers, Canadian soldiers came to better understand Aboriginal people, and to overcome many negative stereotypes. Aboriginal soldiers were seen as some of the most valuable and well-liked members of their units. At least 3,000 First Nations people, including 72 women enlisted during World War II. The number of Metis and Inuit soldiers is unknown, because they were not registered. Many were decorated, including: Chief Joe Dreaver, of Mistawasis Cree Band in Saskatchewan. He served in both World Wars. He was too old, at 48, to serve overseas during the second conflict, so he remained in Canada with the Veteran’s Guard, watching over prisoners of war in Alberta. Charles Byce, the son of a Cree woman,
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joined the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor). He won the Military Medal in the Netherlands and the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the Rhineland Campaign. His citation for the latter was impressive: “His gallant stand, without adequate weapons and with a bare handful of men against hopeless odds will remain, for all time, an outstanding example to all ranks of the Regiment.” David Greyeyes also served overseas and earned many commendations. He became the Director of Indian Affairs in the Maritime and Alberta Regions. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1977. The brave Indigenous men and women who left their homes during the Second World War to contribute to the struggle for peace were true heroes. The extra challenges that they had to face and overcome makes their achievements all the more notable.
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Moose Javian’s heartfelt reflection on Vimy Ridge Memorial
Garth Hampson, who grew up in Moose Jaw, has expressed great gratitude that Private William Milne was honoured and a memorial stone erected in his honour for the sacrifices he made for Canada. Hampson and his son, Brad were invited in April to take part in this year’s Vimy Memorial activities across Canada and other countries, that also honoured Pt. Milne. Hampson who now resides in Ottawa says it has not only been an eye-opening experience but one that he will forever remember. Hampson reflects on the 100-year Vimy Memorial commemorated on April 9th: (edited for space) “My son Brad and I were informed in late winter that we would be part of the Canadian delegation going over to France to commemorate the Centennial of Canada’s great victory at Vimy Ridge. I grew up in Moose Jaw hearing stories from my father, Sid Hampson, who spent five years at the Great War before being wounded, gassed at Hill 70. He talked about mud, snow and the discomforts of living in the trenches with lice and rats. He also taught me some of the songs the soldiers sang to relieve them of boredom and just for a change of pace. I have brought those songs forward over the years performing them at war commemorations here in Ottawa and other locations in Canada, the United States and Europe. “Our journey began with all 150 members of the delegation representing various regiments and groups across Canada meeting in Ottawa on April 4th. On April 6th we paid our first visit to the Memorial at Vimy where we toured the tunnels and trenches totally blown away with the carvings that the soldiers of 100 years ago had carved in the chalk walls in the tunnels. I was intrigued how close the German lines were to those of the allies. I could visualize what my father said about hearing the German troops singing Christmas carols from their trenches. “April 7th we visited Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery where 22,000 Commonwealth soldiers are buried. A Service of Remembrance was held… the graves around us were all unknown soldiers with the marker reading “Known only unto God”. There were many rows of unknown soldiers. Following our visit we journeyed to Arras, another area where my father fought. “Brad and I had been given special invitations to attend the dedication of the war memorial at Lens for the significant battle at Hill 70 where Canada garnered 6 Victoria Crosses with great losses of life. “The big day for all of us was April 9th, the exact day 100 years before when
Brad Hampson of the Ottawa Police Marching Band, left, and his father, Garth Hampson, formerly of Moose Jaw and a long-time vocalist with the RCMP Band, visited Vimy Ridge for the 100th anniversary of the First World War battle. Here they point out the name of William Johnstone Milne of Moose Jaw on the memorial wall. Canada defeated the enemy at Vimy Ridge. “April 10th, we journeyed to Belgium, the heart of Flanders which saw much fighting with the Canadian Corps in WW1…the most poignant ceremony was held in the dawn hours in front of the great memorial with the reddish moon setting as we awaited the sunshine of the new day. Aboriginal soldiers, in traditional gear made a smudge fire honouring the spirits of all the soldiers who died at that spot so many years ago. “A lasting memory for me was preparing a remembrance of a Canadian flag and two poppies which I placed on the name of Private William Johnstone Milne, Moose Jaw’s brave soldier who earned the Victoria Cross on April 9th, Vimy Day, 1917. His name is one of thousands on the memorial as having no known grave. I so appreciate that Lyle Johnson and his friends in Moose Jaw erected a memorial to Milne on April 8th in front of the old fire hall on Fairford Street . Moose Jaw should never forget their hero of WW1. This journey was planned for 2017 by the Department of Veterans Affairs to commemorate the Battle of Vimy Ridge.”
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Captain (Flight Lieutenant REMEMBRANCE DAY
Compiled by Richard
Canadians supported war effort at home by rationing, conservation, Al saving… Seward is 92 and lives By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express
Living on a soldier’s pay
Through menu suggestions, nutrition tips, and budget advice, this booklet aimed to help a soldier’s wife make the best use of her husband’s assigned pay and dependents’ allowance. Canadian Welfare Council, Budgetting for the Soldier’s Family (Ottawa, 1943) © 2017 · Wartime Canada · All Rights Reserved The box in the upstairs spare room of our farmhouse held some little booklets with coupons. I was about six years old when I found them and asked my mother what these booklets were all about. They were ration coupons used just years before I found them during the Second World War. I didn’t realize at the time I was holding a significant piece of wartime history in my young hand. While Canadian soldiers, sailors and air force members put their lives on the line to defeat Adolph Hitler and the Nazis, ordinary Canadians were asked to sacrifice the use of consumer goods from food and clothes to autos, alcohol and ice cream. The rationing program came to an economy just pulling out of the Great Depression of the 1930s, with consumers ready to start buying stuff. With all resources put into the war effort, the federal government needed to conserve all resources, thus a nation-wide ration program. Once France fell in 1940, Canada played a vital role growing and shipping food to Great Britain. By war’s end, Canada supplied 57 per cent of Britain’s wheat and flour, down from 77 per cent at the peak. In late 1941, price controls were put on food and rent, following stiff price increases. Canadians were issued ration books in 1942 covering sugar, tea, coffee and meat. Later, the standard ration booklet contained coupons for 10 common foods. The booklet had 48 coupons each for butter, bread, and a similar number for sugar and other foods. The butter ration was one-quarter pound a week. Meat was restricted to two pounds a week per family.
FORTHEM FORNOW F R REVER
Jaw. His motto: “I fear not the fu love today.” Unused coupons had to be destroyed when the booklet and expired. On active A brisk black market trade developed in coupons, especially for service booze flying a Bottwood, Newfoundland and really hard to get items like tires and cars. Flight Sergeant Seward, A Doctors and others needing cars for work received preference. Farmers burne) wrote a letter to hi had to prove they needed that new tractor. nedy, Arrow Park, British C To boost the war effort, Canadians were urged to eat Excerpt “patriotic food” last little job over the that was in surplus. Apples and lobster were the most The common “patrithat I was on will probabl otic foods.” Media campaigns suggested serving apples daily. many more from now on til Housewives were encouraged to curb waste and save scraps. Fat blew fromall day. W shone, and meat was promoted and many mothers saved fat for usedripped in cooking. on us and all arou It is November RCAF of home, places with the Households were 1942...Squadron told they could be their Canso own munitionssmallest maker at Practice. Photo courtesy of Seward Collection. my ‘Teddy saving fat and bones for collection. One ad read: one pound of fatBear’ sup- (insulated sort of furry stiff plies enough glycerine to fire 150 bullets a Bren gun, two poundsit gave th Retired Captain Al Seward, RCAF has justfrom completed wet puppy I’ve ever seen. In ita he included letters he wrote to fihis redAuto-biography. 20 cannons from Spitfi re fighter plane. pouring so hard at times th his sister Eileen Kennedy Arrow Park,featuring BritMore than 200(Murphy) cookbooks wereatpublished wartime food rain and ocean and a big co ish Columbia. give a good description themes. FederalThey publications included Howofto events Live in War, Budgetting lap. This is getting to soun during World War Two. Parts of two are included here. take off was a little unusua for Soldier’s Family and career How to Waste. Al aSeward began his flying on Curb October 3, 1941 at a bigger thrill than u The edition ofFlying the Canada Guide came out ofwharf the war, partly No. fi5rst Elementary TrainingFood School at High River, of unusual sensation thoug inAlberta. response to ajoined surveythethat revealed vitamin defi ciencies in diets, partly He’d RCAF in Vancouver in June Luna) gets bounced off a b 1941 fromrations Hollyburn HightoSchool in is up. She hovers undecided out of upon a needgraduation to determine needed live healthy. West Vancouver. Called Canada’s Official Food Rules, the guide identified a healthy again, maybe diet hard, maybe He became Catalina PBY-3 and PBY-5A Boat fruits, the prop seems to grab the required six afood groups — milk, cereals Flying and breads, vegetables, pilot, a very rare career. He fought in the Battle of the At- and you know everything’s eggs meat/fish. lanticand shadowing Convoys – he flew a Sunderland Flying again. Today, the Canada Food in Guide the Asia. second federal Boat against the Japanese SouthisEast He most flew requested Everything happens rather publication, after forms aircraft for income a measure DC 3 Dakota transport with tax 435— Squadron as temporarily more or lessintroroutine; settin part ofinthe Occupation duced theArmy FirstofWorld War. in Europe after the war. on “George” (auto pilot), Afterrationing deliveringwas his the DC3most Dakota to Uplands Air Force you cancivilmaybe sight i Food pervasive wartime programwhat affecting Station at Ottawa on April 12, 1946 he was demobilized. different things that have h ians, but not the only one. His flying career began again with the RCAF in 1951 about. You often think abou Victory in back yards and front when hegardens returnedtotogrow activevegetables service as popped a flying up instrucpossibly doing there. Afte lawns across the country. The gardens became so popular that officials tor on Harvard and T-33 aircraft. That career saw him drops because the sound discouraged cityAlbatross gardeners planting because of the flying Searchunskilled and Rescue outfrom of Comox and soothing. Sostrain you do one of Trenton – DC3 Dakotas spray – Caribou Buffalo in Maybe you ask one of the c on fertilizer, chemical andand garden toolaircraft supplies Canada to andspend in South EastCanadians Asia. He retired in June their 1970 savings handling the controls, the Unable freely, subscribed to Victory with 9648.9 hours of flying. one of the Bond campaigns and helped fund the war. Also a First World WarWireless vehi- Air Gun Not content with both feet on the ground he returned possibly may turn out to be cle, the Victory morphed intowater the Canada Savings Bond program. to flying CansoBonds (Catalina PBY6-A) bombers in are much better than other. The Canada Savings Bond program is being discontinued this month. Canada and Norway. He finally retired from flying Sep- nerves. Maybe you take a s The bonds once accounted for 12 per cent of federal debt. tember 2, 1982 with 11211.1 total flying hours. His next or help make dinner or fire ammo. rationing career was cabinetindicated making – 90 andper he cent was really good at believed Post War surveys of Canadians Sometimes a tired spell do that too. was a fair way to handle the shortage situation.
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THE LAST PATROL
Less than a kilometre away, behind a straggle of Lombardy poplars, stood a cluster of red-brick houses, the Belgian hamlet of Ville-surHaine. To Private Goodmurphy of the 28th Canadians, they looked suspicious, especially the nearest house, only 15 metres from the iron bridge the battalion must cross. Bricks had been knocked out of the gable, a likely place for German machine-gunners. Half a mile behind him, the village of Havre, east of Mons, was in joyous tumult as Belgian villagers welcomed their liberators, the 28th Northwest Battalion of the Canadian Corps. Goodmurphy had abandoned the festivities to do his own reconnaissance of the suspicious-looking hamlet across the Canal du Centre. His platoon had been told by Captain ‘Blondie’ Ross to halt on the west bank of the canal. Art Goodmurphy, a former glazier from Regina, was a veteran despite his twenty-one years. He had been through a lot with the 28th -- the Somme in 1916, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, and Passchendaele in 1917, and already this year -- Amiens, the D-Q Line, Canal du Nord and Cambrai. Now at last the Allies were on the move, pushing the Germans steadily eastward. Casualties had been a lot lighter over the last ten days. It looked like the end of the war was near, but it didn’t pay to get confident. Yesterday a shell had ploughed into the ground beside Goodmurphy and four of his chums. They should have been goners, but it failed to explode. Now there was this suspicious bridge. If anything looked like a trap this was it. He advanced along the road towards the ominous bridge crouching like a gigantic iron grass-hopper over the canal. So intent was he that he jumped when a soft voice called from beside him, “Murph, where you going?” It was Private Price, an A Company runner, crouched behind a shrub. George Price was a native of Port Williams, Nova Scotia. One of very few Maritimers in the Saskatchewan battalion, he had been working in Moose Jaw when he enlisted. “Looks suspicious to me,” said Price. “I think we should go across there and see what’s in those houses. Let’s get a couple more guys to go over with us.” Within minutes they had found three more ‘Norwesters’ to make the recce. All were Privates and Lewis-gunners, but as no one wanted to lug the heavy weapons on a reconnaissance patrol, each was armed with only a pistol. If any had thought to look at their watches, they would have discovered it was almost eleven o’clock on the most important day of their lives -- 11 November, 1918. At 05.00 that morning, in a railway car on a siding in the Forest of Compiegne, the German and Allied delegations had signed the documents arranging the Armistice. All fighting would cease in six hours -- at 11.00. An hour and a half after the signing, at 06.30, Canadian Corps Headquarters had received the news. From there it had been dispersed to the four divisions, then to the twelve brigades, then down to the forty-eight battalions and support units. From battalion headquarters it had become more difficult to disseminate the glad tidings. The last weeks’ rapid pursuit meant that numerous platoons, sections and even individuals, were scattered over a wide area, all isolated and hard to find. The foremost unit was Saskatchewan’s 28th Northwest Battalion, advancing south of Mons against increasing enemy fire. It had been 09.30 while clearing the Bois la Haut that Headquarters of the 28th had received Marshal Foch’s communiqué accompanied by this terse addendum: “Attacking battalions ordered to push on with all pos-
James L. McWilliams
sible speed in order to gain as much territory as possible before 11.00 hours.” An officer astride a captured horse was sent to notify the platoons stretched along the line of advance. In Le Havre the word had arrived around 10.30. “The street was plugged with people shouting, ‘Germans kaput!’ We reached a corner with five roads and a big building marked with bullets and shrapnel from 1914 when a staff officer appeared and said there was going to be an armistice,” recalled Dick Herrod of Moose Jaw. “What the hell’s an armistice?” we asked after he was gone. Then word came from somewhere to ’Give ’em hell till eleven o’clock.” Meanwhile, half a mile ahead, the five privates, alert and watchful, were advancing on the ominous bridge. They had just reached the west bank of the canal when they spotted a German machine-gun crew setting up on a knoll on the far side, but to the right of the houses. Without a moment’s hesitation they all dashed across the bridge into the hamlet of Ville-sur-Haine…Sheltered by the houses, Price and Goodmurphy stepped into the street to check on the bridge. Goodmrphy recalled. “There was no way anybody could cross that bridge now.” The five ’Norwesters’ gathered to plan their next step. At that moment, five minutes before eleven, these young Canadian privates were the tip of the entire Allied advance. However, they knew nothing of that, nor that the rest of the world was going mad with joy at the impending cease-fire. They just knew their recce patrol had sprung the suspected trap, and they were stuck on the wrong side of the canal. Because there were no windows overlooking the canal, Price and Goodmurphy decided to have another look at their escape route while the enemy blasted away at the back wall of the house. The two stepped out onto the cobbled street. The bridge was still under heavy fire, with ricochets whining in all directions... By now more of the 28th had arrived on the far bank of the canal and had taken what little cover they could find. From there they watched the final scene unfold. Even closer, across the street, was another eye-witness, Mademoiselle Alice Grotte, a twenty-three year old nurse with dark, flashing eyes. She saw the two young Canadians step into the street. “George was facing me,” recalled Art Goodmurphy, “and I was saying something to him when all of a sudden, BANG! He fell forward into my arms. I could have cried. It was not an accidental shot. It was a sniper from way up the end of the street.” Alice Grotte darted into the street heedless of the sniper as Goodmurphy dragged his comrade to shelter behind a brick wall. Together they carried him into the end house. Everyone tried to help. Alice Grotte made Price as comfortable as possible. She recognized that he was mortally wounded. Within a minute or two Private George Lawrence Price was dead, the last battlefield casualty of The Great War, the “War To End All Wars”. All at once the machine-guns stopped their savage chatter. No rifle shots sounded. In the distance church bells rang. The four Canadians decided to chance recrossing the bridge carrying their comrade’s body. In silence they crossed, while from the distance came sounds of jubilation. On the far side they met Captain Ross and told him what had happened. “But the war is over! The war is over!” the shocked Captain kept repeating. “Over?” exclaimed Goodmurphy incredulously. “Over? How the hell did we
know that? No one told us. It sure as hell wasn’t ‘over’ across there!” It was only later that George Price’s four comrades pondered the irony of those last few minutes: They had deliberately let a lone German soldier slip back to safety, but one of his comrades had deliberately murdered one of them two minutes before the Armistice. The villagers of Ville-sur-Haine pleaded to be allowed to provide a coffin and bury their fallen hero, but George Price was buried in the nearby cemetery of St. Symphorien. Like every Canadian soldier killed in action, he was laid to rest wrapped in a blanket. By one of those ironies of war, the last casualty was buried beside the British soldiers killed near Mons during the first battle of the war. This article was written in 1979 by James L. McWilliams for Readers’ Digest. It was entered
in a literary contest at that time. Private George Price was a resident of Moose Jaw when he enlisted in the army. George Price’s comrades met again fifty years later, on 11 November, 1968, to erect a monument to his memory on the spot where he died. With them to unveil the plaque on the wall of the Stievenart’s house was the last commanding officer of the 28th ‘Norwesters’. Also present was the girl with the dark, flashing eyes who fifty years earlier had tried to save the life of Private Price, the last casualty of The War To End All Wars. The plaque states in both English and French: “TO THE MEMORY OF 256265 PRIVATE GEORGE LAWRENCE PRICE 28th NORTH WEST BATTALION 6 th CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE 2 nd CANADIAN DIVISION KILLED IN ACTION NEAR THIS SPOT AT 10.58 HOURS NOVEMBER 11TH 1918 THE LAST CANADIAN SOLDIER TO DIE ON THE WESTERN FRONT IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES NOVEMBER 11TH 1968” SIDEBAR Today the bridge still crouches like a gigantic iron grass-hopper, but it is dwarfed by the larger structure that spans the modern and wider Canal du Centre. Upon crossing the two bridges to Ville-surHaine one can no longer find the Stievenarts’ house on the corner, nor the house from which Alice Grotte ran to his aid. Both houses became victims of Progress when the canal was widened. However, just ask anyone in the hamlet and they will tell you the story of Private George Price and take you to the monument constructed from the bricks of the Stievenarts’ corner house. On it you will find the plaque unveiled by his comrades on Remembrance Day, 1968. Ville Sur Haine has remembered George Price by naming both a street and a school after him. Just days after the Armistice there were already many variations of the story of Private George Price’s last morning. Most of these came from comrades who watched the climactic last moments from across the Canal du Centre. In the years since, many have attempted to interpret Price’s thoughts and actions. Recently a Toronto newspaper article even included a statement by the Canadian Commander-InChief belittling Price‘s actions, contrary to the facts. This account was taken from the author’s personal interviews with two actual participants, Art Goodmurphy and Dick Herrod in 1979 and 1980. James L. McWilliams
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Moose Javian Vernon Traill was a Navy Seaman from 1942-1946 Lisa Abbasi for Moose Jaw Express
Vernon Traill was born December 6th, 1925 and enlisted in the Navy when he was 17 years old. For four years, he made his home on the HMCS Halifax, a corvette vessel and integral part of World War II convoys which were deployed to chase and detect German submarines. Traill, who was born south of Moose Jaw in Crane Valley and who was a resident of Moose Jaw at the time of his enlisting, served for four years as a Seaman on the North Atlantic as an Seaman Vernon Traill (anti-)submarine detector. He received ground training and ship during WWII. training prior to deployment, beginning in Regina and then later in Halifax. Once on the ship, he worked on the upper level, setting up with the range recorder and the bearing recorder seamen. Together, the three of them helped the ship’s crew successfully carry out any required attacks on submarines. Traill described WWII on the Atlantic saying that the United States and Canada formed convoys of over 100 ships, soldiers, airplanes and “all the things [they needed] to fight a war, and the German submarines were out there, as well; they didn’t want [the convoys] to cross.” There were Navy Veteran Vernon Traill nine submarine detector ships to support the convoy and those submarine detector ships would cruise up and down the ocean to ensure that the convoy crossed the Atlantic safely. And they never wanted to be positioned sideways with a submarine coming at them; they always tried to get in front of or behind the submarines, if they could. Anytime the ship rang it’s siren, the guy on duty had spotted a submarine, the HMCS Halifax would have to circle around through Halifax, Newfoundland(NFLD), Scotland, all through the North Atlantic, protect convoys from the submarines, and sink them if they could. Traill’s wife and longCarrying out the first attack on a time sweetheart Lois German submarine was Traill’s most who sadly passed away a memorable service experience. The few months ago. convoy was travelling overseas with
ten other ships to London, England. Fortunately, there weren’t casualties in Traill’s unit although he did see combat and the memory of it appeared to bring tears to his eyes. “One among all” was the motto he recited when reflecting upon the importance of Remembrance Day and what the war taught him. WWII had a tremendous influence on Traill and his Vernon & Lois Traill and their chilthinking, in particular, dren Brad, Diane, Leslie and Gord. teaching him that “you weren’t no big shot; no one was special” and that people must “do what had to be done everyday and get it done.” Remembrance Day brings back many memories of those who gave their lives, but overall, Traill said his experiences “spruced up” his life. Traill has seen every port in the North Atlantic during his service, including Halifax, NS; NFLD; Murmansk, Russia; Glasgow, Scotland; South America; Ireland; London; England; and more. When asked why he enlisted, he simply said, “Well, I was a young kid, war was on and people were going, so I thought I’d go and help.” When asked whether there was anything special he did for luck, Traill responded by saying, “No, we didn’t rely on luck; we had to do it, get it done.” During WWII, the seamen kept busy working, but even if they hadn’t been busy working, there were little options for entertainment because television, telephones and radio weren’t available. Neither was corresponding with anyone on land – not at least until the seamen were on shore leaves, which happened only approximately once each month when the seamen were able to contact family and loved ones waiting for them back at home. Back at home was Traill’s sweetheart, Lois, the woman he had known nearly all his life. Traill used to take his wife to school on his bike in grade eight, and she, in turn, later waited for him to return from the war. Approximately six months after the war ended, Vern’s service came to an end. That’s when he returned home, and subsequently began his career working for the National Light and Power company. He got to see his dad again, marry his sweetheart and went from submarine detecting on the sea to towering above the land, bringing people light, as he went straight to work climbing power poles. Vernon Traill, the seaman who had helped bring freedom to our country, became the same man who initially helped introduce power to the southern part of our province. Thank you, Vernon Traill, for being such a beacon of light in our community!
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“This was discovered among my father’s papers on his death in 1976. Staff Sergeant T. O. Stow served in WWI in France from 1915 to the Armistice in 1918. I have no idea who wrote it, nor do I know where it was published, but I suspect the paper was from England.” Arthur Stow, Moose Jaw
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CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THE FRONT The following interesting letter has been received in Maidenhead by a friend of Private F. C. Batting, of the Canadian Army Service Corps, of the Canadian Army Service Corps at the front: I have a scene in mind which I participated in on Christmas night and in which I feel you may be interested. To be brief, we had a little dinner party and it came about in this way. We were lucky to discover an empty room in a house inhabited by Belgian Refugees, and for a mere trifle these people agreed to let us have the use of it, and furthermore were kind enough to help us with the cooking. Christmas, as you may know, is primarily the great festival of the British Empire and these people seemed to realize almost by instinct, as it were, how much we had set our hearts on this little event and went to a great deal of trouble both in preparing the room and looking after all the little details which go to make an event of this kind a success. The menu was as follows: Whiskey and Perrier Sour (French Style) Sardines on Toasat Roast Chicken and Boiled Ham Mashed Potatoes. Mashed Turnips. Claret (Bordeaux) Roast Beef Brown Potatoes Champagne (Moet Chandon) Xmas Pudding and Rum Sauce Fruit and Nuts (Port Wine “Nothing doing.”) Coffee and Cognac Cigars and Cigarettes Rum Punch We were seven. The table was lit by candles which threw a safe and shaded light on the meagre cutlery and table appointments, but left the remainder of the room dim and shadowy. In the background beside the big open fire-place stood an old spinning wheel and loom made of what appeared to be oak but worm-eaten and black with age. One could not help feeling the influence of the time and place; it was not hard to imagine the ghosts of well nigh 200 years peering out at us through the shadows. There was
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very little sign of war, or rather at first sight one would think so, but we had music at dinner too, music of a sort that one’s ears soon get attuned to in Flanders. The low sullen mutterings of guns which rose and fell, now in loud crashes and now in distant confused rumblings, the latter being the response of the foe to our batteries. We only had to look out of the window into the moonlit Christmas night to notice a mile or so away every now and then a weird green light shedding a ghastly radius over the countryside; these were the flare lights of the enemy seeking to discover any movement in our lines. And to this our rifles stacked in the corner of the room with bayonets fixed to immediate use and you will see that war intruded her head at our feast. The toasts were three: “The King,” “The Success of the British Arms,” and “Absent Friends.” What better toasts could have been and though I may say in passing that no one of us held any higher rank than private, yet the toasts and responses thereto afforded in every instance (low of reason and a fest of soul that I may say with pride were well worth listening to.) At a comparative early hour the party disbanded and evacuated the room, returning to our dug-outs through the muddy watersoaked fields of Flanders, each one of us realizing in all probability that the Christmas of 1915 was to us the weirdest we were ever destined to experience.
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Lest We Forget Lyle Stewart, MLA Lumsden-Morse Constituency Phone: 306-693-3229 Fax: 306-693-3251
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It is November 1942...Squadron RCAF Canso Practice. Photo courtesy of Seward Collection.
DAY
Al Seward is 92 and lives at Providence Place, Moose Jaw. His motto: “I fear not the future for I’ve lived yesterday and love today.â€? On active service flying anti-submarine patrol out of Bottwood, Newfoundland and Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Flight Sergeant Seward, A. L. – RCAF Station (Shelburne) wrote a letter to his sister Eileen Murphy Ken75-3rd Ave., NW nedy, Arrow Park, British Columbia. 306-692-4026 Excerpt The last little job over the pond (Convoy-ocean patrol) thankbe those thatlessgave their that I was on will probably more or similar to many more from now onlife till the spring. It rained, poured, for our freedom shone, and blew all day. Water dripped in front of us; dripped on us and all around us. It comes through the smallest of places with the air pressure behind it. I had my ‘Teddy Bear’ (insulated flying suit) on and it being sort of furry stiff for it gave the most perfect imitation of a Lisa Abbasi Moose Jaw Express wet puppy I’ve ever seen. I was warm though. It was was soso scarce, “So,that I thought ‘to tell hellbetween with pouring hard at times you couldn’t it,’and I joined thea army. Justlanded like in that!â€? Moyrain ocean and big cod fish the engineers lap. is getting sound like hard luck story. The seyThis shared. “I towalked tenamiles to [enlist]; take off was a little unusual but gave the fellow on the I walked from my farm over to Bethune. I wharf a bigger thrill than us. You do get a funny or sort stayed [with] my brother-in-law, [and] my sisof unusual sensation though when the aircraft (Leaping ter ‌for two or three days‌ I got to Luna) gets bounced off a big wave anyhow, before flying speed and joined the army from there. The isRegina up. She hovers undecidedly, maybe touches the waves again, hard, maybe not, then she’s the air and year maybe was 1942.â€? Following two or in three days the prop seems to grab the air, and the controls stiffen, in Regina and a winter of training at Mount and you know everything’s okay. Those on shore breathe Royal in Montreal, Moysey got shipped overagain. seas, where the majority of his service took Everything happens rather quickly. From then on it’s place more or in lessBelgium. routine; setting course; putting the aircraft on“Belgium‌that’s “Georgeâ€? (auto pilot), scanning white for where I got the hit by thecaps snipwhat you can maybe sight in the water and musing about er,â€? Moysey reected, “right near the Leopold different things that have happened or what may come Canal.â€? He shared that home thereand were people beabout. You often think about what everyone’s ing killed all there. around him, which he head knewmaybe had possibly doing After awhile your drops because the sound of thecontinue throbbing forward, motors is to happen, so he would soothing. So over you dothe onesoldiers of many things to stay attentive. stepping the Germans had Maybe you ask one of the crew to come up and practice killed. Amid the 25-pound artillery shells handling the controls, the engineer possibly or maybe and Moysey and hisItsix-other platoonone of tanks, the Wireless Air Gunners. is sometimes fun and members trying cross a Dutch ďŹ eld to possibly maywere turn out to be to very useful some time. Some are much better thanGermans other. Oh my tattered and shattered confront some when he got shot at nerves. Maybe youfrom take athe sextant andtaking practicecover sun shots and separated others, in or help make dinner or fire off a few rounds of practice a shell hole for around 36 hours. The German ammo. sniper had been aiming Sometimes a tired spell doesn’tfor lasthis veryright long temple or else a
shot sleep is not needed. One pilot is in the ‘office’ at all times, the 1st pilot should never leave it for long in any case. One dominant aspect of a bomber crew is the realization of dependency on each other, one for all and all for one. There is not so very much distinction between ranks. A bomber crew is democratic, a fighter pilot more plutocratic. I admit I always wanted to belong to the latter. (The Fighter Pilot world) One thing since coming here is the introduction to the practice of carrying pigeons. We carry two of them in a closed basket. Around their leg there is a clasp to which a message can be attached. This is in case of an accident and your radio is out of operation. They possess an amazing sense of homing in order to return hundreds of miles to a small pigeon loft. The loft hence houses 300 birds andto is the the coast. bearers thebiggest army onheadquarters in action;
Never Forgotten
Frank Moysey, Lance Corporal during WWII from 1942-1946
Retired Captain Al Seward, RCAF has just completed his Auto-biography. In it he included letters he wrote to his sister Eileen (Murphy) Kennedy at Arrow Park, British Columbia. They give a good description of events during World War Two. Parts of two are included here. Al Seward began his flying career on October 3, 1941 at No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School at High River, Alberta. He’d joined the RCAF in Vancouver in June 1941 upon graduation from Hollyburn High School in West Vancouver. He became a Catalina PBY-3 and PBY-5A Flying Boat pilot, a very rare career. He fought in the Battle of the Atlantic shadowing Convoys – he flew a Sunderland Flying Boat against the Japanese in South East Asia. He flew DC 3 Dakota transport aircraft with 435 Squadron as part of the Army of Occupation in Europe after the war. After delivering his DC3 Dakota to Uplands Air Force Station at Ottawa on April 12, 1946 he was demobilized. of Canadian – lance bomHis Royal flying Regiment career began again withArtillery the RCAF in 1951 bardier (pre-1968 army rank) when he returned to active service as a flying instrucMedals Frank include:That career saw him tor on Harvard andearned T-33 aircraft. Left to right photo Albatross out of Comox and flying Search andinRescue The – Dutch government the aircraft 1945-2010 Trenton DC3 Dakotas – Caribouawards and Buffalo in Thank Canada Allied ForcesinMedal to vetCanada andYou in South Eastand Asia. He retired June 1970 who helped liberate the Netherlands during witherans 9648.9 hours of flying. Second World Notthe content with both War. feet on the ground he returned to flying Canso (Catalina in The 1939-1945 Star isPBY6-A) a Secondwater Worldbombers War medal Canada and Norway. He finally retired flying Sepawarded for six months service onfrom active operations tember 2, 1982 with 11211.1 total flying hours. His next for Army career cabinet – and he was really at Thewas France andmaking Germany Star, which was good awarded thatfor too.one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 06 June 1944 (D-Day) and 08 May 1945. The Defense Medal for overseas service extending beyond six months in areas which were threatened by the enemy or subject to bomb attacks The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal His World War Two Medal, which was awarded for serving for 28 days+ between 03 September 1939 and 02 September 1945. Dog tags included name, rank, number and address. Moysey explained that “when you pick up a guy’s tag, you take one, and leave the other one on, that (the one you picked up) goes to the authorities, and the other stays with the body of the deceased soldier.�
“not just the headquarters sitting in an ofďŹ ce; not that kind of HQ. They’re out in the open, there’s a big difference.â€? From there, he got into an airplane in the battleďŹ eld, “a big old Hudson Bomberâ€? and went back to England. Landing at Swindon, England, and once admitted into an English hospital, Moysey shared, “The ďŹ rst thing I got was a glass of beer. That was alright! Nothin’ wrong with that.â€? From there, Moysey went to stay at Lady Astor’s estate, an army hospital for about two weeks, then from there down to Basingstoke, one of the biggest military hosThe photo was taken aboard the S. S. Manela, the RAF pitals in England he had surgery Floating Base for 230where Squadron, RAF,plastic off Rangoon in midand recovery his noseProvince for twopho1945.subsequent The photo was taken by on a Vancouver tographer.following. Al Seward is in the middle. The two officials are months there identifying the house Al owned in West Vancouver, and Moysey didn’t have time for entertainment, then letting him vote in the 1945 Canada General Election. nor didwith he Japan writewas letters toAlhis The war not yethome over and and family his Sunderwhile he was serving abroad. He would of- the land Flying Boat crew were still flying missions against Japanese. ten help some of his fellow soldiers write love Al was proud to saygirlfriends, he voted for Mackenzie-King, Liberletters to their one of thosethe solal, in that election. Not long after the photo was taken Al and diers married girlfriend butboarded sadly the two his crew flew backhis to India where they a ship for the later died towhen the London UK. Hetragically later transferred 435 Squadron, RCAF house and flew in Europe. of the Algot Seward Collection. in whichPhoto theycourtesy were living bombed. Moyand missed, instead taking out the bridge of sey’s story is a happy one, however, despite his nose. the tragedies wreaked by the war. “Well, when that happened, I didn’t get any After he returned home to his family at the medical help to start with...you’re crawl- end of his ďŹ ve years of service, Moysey reing along. All of a sudden, they shot at me; turned a married man with his nose intact (exI didn’t know they were doing it, but there cept for the nasal bones and cartilage). Withwas blood coming on my face and got into in two or three weeks of his trip home on the my eyes and I couldn’t see, so I put my hand Queen Mary, Frank’s wife joined him on the up there and I felt this hole on my nose where family farm at Tuxford. As he said, “It was it had been shot away, the bone was gone, it February when I joined, and it was February was all bloody and l bloody all over, and I when I discharged.â€? didn’t know what the hell to do, so I didn’t And when asked whether his Army experido anything, couldn’t do anything; I was all ence inuenced the way he thinks about war, by myself; the rest of the guys had gone, took he responded, “Yes, it did! It’s so damn wickoff out of there. I got left behind. I’m not the ed it’s hard to talk about. There’s some nasty only one that’s had that happen in the army. things that goes on. Nobody wants to see Lots of people get left behind in the army; that; nobody wants to hear about it either.â€? they got to get the heck out of there and for People need to hear these stories so they can some reason, I didn’t go with them. I don’t give their respects and hopefully glean a Chillers Brew Pub know, that’s the way it was, anyway.â€? deeper the sacriďŹ ces Moysey t XXX DIJMMFSTCSFXQVC DB 510 Home Street, South Hill, Moose Jaw appreciation for www.chillersbrewpub.c Eventually, Moysey got carried by stretcher and so many others have made.
We Remember
Frank Moysey was born September 27, 1917 and enlisted in the Army when he was 24 years old. He lived on his family farm east of Tuxford and had spent time during the thirties hunting and trapping to make money, and so the war was an opportunity to make money. It was February and it was winter, but money
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William James Millhausen Lest We Forget Wrights Delivery Moose Jaw born Army Vet Heritage Courtesy of William Millhausen, The Memory Project (transcript), Historica Canada.
“My name is William James Millhausen and I was born on the 10th of January, 1918 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Well, we sailed south and then across through Gibraltar towards Sicily. And one night, we got strafed by a German aircraft and they hit one ship, which didn’t go down but it limped into Phillipeville [now the Algerian city of Skikda] and it had a hospital unit on it [that had] lost all their equipment. So we landed in Sicily [in the context of the Allied landing during summer of 1943] and we were taking our billets up to Taormina, which was on the top of the mountain. Very nice spot. And we were there, well, for a couple of weeks and then a group of us were sent up to join the Eighth Army [a British Army formation composed of British units and units from various countries of the British Empire, the Commonwealth and other countries who fought in North Africa, in Sicily and in Italy] and have a taste of what it was like. So we drove up there and we would [be] about a third of the way up Italy I guess at the time. And I was attached to the chief engineer’s office all the time I was up there. And then we came back to Sicily and then the whole corps of troops moved up. And from then on, we were an integral part of the Eighth Army. Many of times, we had to sleep outside and of course, it rained and you get wet. We went from, I guess it was Reggio to Messina, or Messina to Reggio, I’m not sure, across from Sicily to Italy. And then we were in a convoy along past Taranto and up by Forgio and up the Adriatic coast until we met the army at San Vito [Chictino], which was just south of Ortona, which was having the big fight there at the time [the Battle of Ortona, December 20th – 28th, 1943]. And then we just went along with the army from there on, moved it back and forth, went across to the Hitler Line near the side of Italy and took part in it [the Hitler Line was a German defensive line in central Italy breached by the Allies in May 1944]. And went from there back to the other side again up to the Atlantic and took part in a lot of, well, and I transferred from [1st Canadian] Corps troops to 1st [Canadian Infantry] Div[ision]. Engineers. And I was with the Fourth Field Company [4th Canadian Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers] and a lot of the time was spent in building bridges over the rivers because there’s so many rivers coming down from the mountains into the Adriatic. And the
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Germans of course would blow them Just in a new formall up. Delivering letters,parcels,parts & fasttoo, food And then that was our job, well, mines from 9am-6pm call Brian 306-684-0073 we laid some mines, we up some mines aftertook hours 306-690-6610 and, well, looked after roads. Then when I went to the Fourth Field Company, my platoon and I built a Bailey Bridge [a pre-fabricated, portable, truss bridge] over the river one night, starting at 8:00 and finishing at 3:00, which is a 110 foot Bailey Bridge in the dark. Yeah, every so often, the Germans would send some shots down the road. So we’d duck out of the way while they were coming and then get back to work. And their bridge was supposed to have been 90 feet which was a Bailey Bridge, 90 feet will take a tank. At 110 feet though, they were a little bit too long so had to go back the next morning and shore it up at 90 feet because the tanks went over it that afternoon with the infantry and captured a building ahead of where we in Bagnacavallo. And shortly after that, I was sent to the Third Field Company [3rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineer] as 2IC [2nd in command] with the rank of captain. And we weren’t there too long before we were told that we were going over to Europe [at the time where the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was transferred from Italy to Northwest Europe at the beginning of 1945]. So we took all our identification down from our trucks and our battle dress so that nobody would know that the Canadians were moving. Well, that was very tough because it was a country that was good for defense but not for offensive because you were always running into these rivers. And then you had to make, the infantry had to set up to make another attack across the river and the Germans would be on our side. So it was a slow and laborious time and of course, we lost a lot of men because of the Germans…a few Germans could stop a whole bunch of Canadians because of the way it was, when you’re trying to cross a river. The attacks weren’t always successful and quite often, well, yeah, quite often you’d have to make two attacks and try a different tactic to get forward. Because if you were doing it head on, they could hold you for some time, so quite often we had to outflank them, come around and come at them from the sides. But it was stressful.” William James MILHAUSEN, WWII Veteran, Royal Canadian Engineers from 19411945 passed away peacefully on January 31, 2016 in his 99th year.
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Officers of the Royal Canadian Engineers attached to the 1st Canadian Corps. Picture taken on July 26th, 1942. Bill Millhausen is on the middle row, 2nd from left.
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Oliver Golden Southernwood served with the 46th Battalion Moose Jaw
The box of keepsake letters written by Oliver Southernwood during the war/
Rod Southernwood of Moose Jaw’s Grandfather Oliver (Olie)Golden Southernwood served in WWI with the 46th Battalion Moose Jaw and later was sent to the 13th Battalion in England where they went to France to engage in battle. Letters from Oliver Southernwood written were sent back home and are now in Rod’s keeping; they are very delicate considering their age so Rod has transcribed them all for reference and information. Through these and the stories passed on through to this generation, Rod came by the Express to share a few items of interest of his grandfather’s, as well as some poignant information about what ‘Olie’s ‘ life was like in the war. Other family members also served in the same war. Oliver’s brother-in-law was
The bullet and the piece of shrapnel.
killed at Vimy Ridge; he was originally in the 152nd Battalion from Saskatchewan and transferred to the 5th Battalion. Oliver Golden Southernwood was 19 years of age when he enlisted in the army. He served on the front lines in every major battle except Vimy Ridge, before and after, because he was injured prior. Throughout his service, he was injured three times. He was wounded at Somme on the 4th of September, 1916. Through his letter from Brookdale Hospital, Cheshire, on the 17/10/16, Oliver says, “I was hit in the knee by a shell, it is nearly better now. The piece of shrapnel is still in my thigh, they’re not able to take it out so it will be a great souvenir. In the same letter, Oliver laments about all the lives lost in the battle saying, “…the loss of life is terrible. I sincerely hope it will soon come to an end. My chums are nearly all killed.” During another incident, Southernwood was buried alive at Passchendaele but was dug up. Records say he was admitted to hospital on the 8th of November, 2017. In a letter to his friend #426962, 13th Battalion R.H.C. France, Southernwood says, “I think myself, peace isn’t far off, sooner it comes the better, believe me we are all proper fed up with it: This is my third issue from Frity, I got wounded & buried in the taking of Passchendaele on Nov. 7th it was some warm hole, water and mud being our greatest enemy.” On the 2nd of October, 1918, a gunshot bullet took him out of service. He said the bullet left a rather large hole in his hand. When Oliver Southernwood returned back to Saskatchewan, he married his sweetheart Doris Jepson from Estevan and settled there. The chunk of shrapnel that was lodged in his thigh was removed in Regina and is now a piece of history. Oliver Golden Southernwood died in 1957.
Olie Southernwood, as he was known, is pictured here with some of his comrades. For some unknown reason, they switched their hats around for this photo.
Olie’s beret, a WWI tank badge, the symbolic poppy and a 48th Highlander’s Badge (owner unknown). The thought is that the Highlander’s Badge must have been a friend’s.
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