Canada had now been engaged in World War II for almost three years. Many men

and women had joined up and were now in the theatres of war. In 1940 young men

of a certain age bracket were ordered to register at designated depots. Nick and I

traveled, on August 20, 1940, to Medicine Hat to comply with that order. My

"Dominion of Canada, National Registration Regulations, 1940, Registration

Certificate" is below.

During harvest time in 1942 I received a brown envelope marked boldly with the

words "On His Majesties’ Service". The letter contained instructions to report for a medical

examination to be performed by an army medical officer in Lethbridge. To make it easy for

farm people to comply, the medical office was thoughtfully open in the evenings.

On the appointed day, Nick took me to Lethbridge for the examination. It was a very

quiet drive to Lethbridge. Neither of us spoke a word. War was a frightening thing. There

was nothing to be gained by fighting it seemed, and at this point in the war the enemy

appeared to have the upper hand. England had been brought to her knees.

it has been such a divisive measure during WWI. Every effort was made to rely on

volunteers to staff the armed forces – at least initially. However, it was apparent quickly

that Canada would not have enough volunteers to meet the expected need. The National

Resources Mobilization Act was therefore passed in June 1940, which compelled

Canadians to register and make themselves available for military service for homeland

defense. Overseas service was still voluntary. The N.R.M.A program thus had the effect

of releasing General Service soldiers to go overseas. Conscientious objectors were

"compellable to do non-combatant duty". Overseas service was allowed to be a maximum

of 18 months, but home defense service could be indefinite in duration.

By 1942, with Japan now in the War, the Government sought to obtain release from its

commitment against compulsion for overseas service. A plebiscite was held in April that

year which asked the question: "Are you in favour of releasing the Government from any

obligation arising out of any past commitments restricting the methods of raising men for

military service?" The result was a decisive (64%) "Yes". An Act to this effect was

passed in August 1942, but the Government held this new power in reserve until

November 1944 when draftees were sent to Europe for the first time. By then, it had

become apparent that there was no other way to replenish the depleted ranks, caused by

heavy fighting earlier that summer.

In 1966, C. P. Stacey published his comprehensive three volume history of the

Canada in the Second World War. He introduced his great work with an insightful

assessment that is still true to this day.

Reference A

The following day harvest work went on as usual. I had received no indication from

the medical officer on the next move, so I continued life as if nothing had changed. I made

plans to attend Prairie Bible Institute (PBI) for another term.

The next letter, dated August 21, 1942, from Alice was written from Edmonton,

another letter also from Edmonton.5

Harvest work was completed and it was time to travel to PBI to enroll for my third

year. This was a time of great learning and spiritual growth for me. I had learned much

about the Bible, the Christian life, and Christian community, and I had matured significantly

as a Christian. Old friends were back, and there were new ones to make.

The school was like a large family. The staff and teachers worked for the Lord with

no stated salary. They had faith in the Lord’s provision for their material needs. For me, this

was a new world with new experiences. I loved the study, the classes, the 1 ½ hour per day

gratis work, and even the extra jobs that became necessary.

The call for army service became secondary in my mind. That was to change very

soon. In November, a number of young men and I received our brown envelope marked

ominously with the words "On His Majesties’ Service". The letter inside instructed us to

report to a recruiting depot on a given date.

The evening before we were to leave, one of our teachers, who was a WWI veteran,

had a friendly and very frank talk with us. His wise counsel to us young men was not to be

ashamed to witness for Jesus Christ, to show our Christian life early, and to be strong in the

Lord. He told us to specifically open our Bible and have our time of prayer prior to retiring

on our barracks. He said, "If you fail to do that, you will fail to witness for Jesus Christ, and

4 See APPENDIX B - Second Letter from Alice, August 21, 1942

Sam’s

NRMA

Certificate

.

Personal

Archives

you will experience defeat in your Christian life". He then committed us to the Lord in

prayer, as did the whole staff and student body at the Institute.

Now, it was a matter of getting packed and moving out. I was able to pack my

belongings in a trunk which was to be left in storage in the school storage room. A

forwarding address was placed in the trunk.

John Ambin, Charles Nethercott, and I traveled to Mawatha Barracks in Calgary.

Mawartha Barracks is on Eighth Avenue in Calgary and was at that time at the extreme

western end of that avenue. It was a short walk from the barracks to downtown where the

Bay and Eaton’s stores were located.

When we were assigned to our army huts it seemed as if we were being transformed

into different people. A new chapter in our life was now beginning. As I entered my new

living quarters I saw four older soldiers at a table in the center of the room playing cards.

They sat near a long gas heater. The whole hut was lined with bunk beds spaced closely

together. The place was full of blue smoke, that you could smell, feel, and see. I selected a

bed at the west door, taking the lower level of the bunk. On the bed was a bare khaki covered

mattress rolled up at the head of the bed. What a change from my room at PBI!

First World War veterans were there to guide us through our change from civilian to

military life. They took charge as the recruits began to arrive. Now we were under strict

orders and rules. At meal time we formed into a marching formation in front of the hut –

three abreast. Then, we all marched to the mess hall. After our meal we marched to our next

assignments.

For the first evening in the hut there was a strange quiet atmosphere. We were all

strangers to each other in a strange military world. Each of us was occupied with our own

thoughts. Those men who smoked always seemed to have a cigarette in their mouth to quiet

their nerves.

At bedtime the table in the center walkway was occupied by men playing cards.

Others were getting settled into their beds. I was glad to have chosen a bed at the end of the

hut, rather than the center where traffic has higher, leading to the washroom area.

Before the retreat bugle sounded and the Union Jack was lowered, I quietly knelt by

my bed with my open Bible for a period of personal devotions. Immediately the hut became

quiet. I slipped into bed and had a good sleep. At 10:00 pm the bugle sounded to end my

first day.

5 See APPENDIX B - Third Letter from Alice, September 21, 1942