A War Time Love Story

By Melissa Loeppgy- Life Enrichment/Marketing Manager - Rosewood Erie Glen

Editor’s note: Melissa recently interviewed Rosewood Erie Glen resident Marion Thompson about being a veteran of the Second World War, where she met her husband Arnold, a Leamington-born farm boy. Here is their story…

Meet Marion and Arnold Thompson. Marion Leckie grew up in Alberta, and was getting into a little trouble when she decided to enlist in the army. She just knew she had to quit getting into trouble and try something new, so she chose to enlist.

Marion Thompson in her Army uniform.

Arnold Thompson in his Army uniform.

She did her basic training in Vermillion, Alberta. The basic training lasted one month.

During this time, she listened to all commands, and learned route marches — which were rather hard for many women — but Marion caught on fast.

“I also remember it was a very cold winter and we dressed in layers to stay warm,” she said.

In the meantime, her soon-to-be husband, Arnold Thompson was working on his family farm in Leamington, when he received the call to the army. Families were only allowed one son to stay home and help with the farm so Arnold had no choice — he had to go.

Not knowing each other yet, Marion and Arnold took the long journey by boat and trains and ended up in England for their service in World War II.

Marion worked on the top floor of the Canadian Military Headquarters, where when she looked outside the window, she would see a giant hole in the ground where a bomb landed prior to her arrival.

She worked in the office where she put out Part 1 and Part 2 work orders and then eventually went to the detention barracks to oversee the day-to-day there.

Arnold, on the other hand, wanted to fly planes but didn’t qualify due to issues with one of his eyes, so instead became a Corporal in the army, driving a tank. Arnold did everything in that tank. His job was to get soldiers back and forth safely.

Arnold saw a lot of combat, while Marion did not witness any combat. Neither of them lost anyone close to them during the war but they did both lose people they met through their experiences.

“Arn doesn’t like to talk about his time in the war. It wasn’t pleasant,” says Marion.

In the meantime, Marion met a girl named Lena. They roomed together and became great friends.

“We did a lot together and had a blast. Those were some great times,” she said.

Marion and some friends joined the track teams, where she excelled and earned mostly first place ribbons with one second place ribbon. “It should’ve been a first," she laughs. Her favourite was long jump. High jump was harder, but she could do it and do it well. She hoped to do pole vault but women were not allowed. She loved doing track every week.

During some of their free time, Marion and Lena would go out dancing and eventually, she went on a double date with Lena and met Arnold. This handsome man was Lena’s brother.

Marion Thompson is a current resident of Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington.

“That was one of the best days of my life,” she smiles. They hit it off and started writing letters back and forth. You had to watch what you wrote in those letters as they were all screened and blacked out if the government didn’t like it.

As time went on, Marion kept working in the office and Arnold travelled all over from England to France, Holland, Germany and Czechoslovakia. They continued writing letters.

“I remember one time Arn got in a lot of trouble with a woman for stealing a chicken and eggs. He wanted some real food, not the dry food he only had in the tank,” she laughs.

There are lots of funny stories for sure. But Arnold’s life was a lot different from Marion’s. She lived in huts that were well designed, with four girls per cubicle and very decent food — unlike what Arnold had in his tank.

Neither of them were ever prisoners of war. Marion earned lots of stripes while Arnold earned medals.

“One medal was even taken away from Arn for getting into trouble,” she laughs.

In their free time, they would go dancing and Arnold would go to the pubs, but really there wasn’t a lot of free time.

“Our lives were the war,” says Marion.

In January of 1946, Arnold’s service ended and he went back home. He bought a peach farm from a neighbour with the help of his father and began his own farming life.

Marion was relieved of duty in June of 1946. The two were happily reunited and married soon after.

Arnold and Marion Thompson celebrating their 60th Anniversary. Arnold passed away in 2017.

Marion was 26 and Arnold was 25. They resided at the peach farm. Unable to have children of their own, they adopted two wonderful boys, Doug and Ronald.

“They are good boys,” she says with a big smile.

They all just went on with life as they knew best. Marion continued writing letters to friends she met in the war for many years. Arnold was not a writer and as Marion said over and over, “Arn does not like to talk about the war.”

They played cards and went dancing. Arnold joined the Legion but didn’t drink that much so he didn’t go often. “Life was just too busy, but our life was good,” she says.

Rosewood Erie Glen would like to take a moment to thank Marion and Arnold Thompson for their time served for Canada in World War II, as well as all our past and present Veterans.

May you never be forgotten.