Attended Church Services at the Church of the Nazarene. Attended fireside Hour at

the First Baptist Church in the evening. I was asked to read a passage of scripture.

On guard duty at the Detention Compound all day. Received a letter from Alice.

Went downtown Calgary in the evening.

On guard duty at the Detention Centre. Downtown in the evening. Mailed a letter to

Alice.

On guard duty at the Detention Centre all day. Attended the weekly prayer meeting at

the Gospel Hall.

Charles Nethercot went on furlough today. On guard duty at the Detention Centre.

The men haul dirt in wheelbarrows. Received a letter from Alice, wrote a letter to her. Went

downtown. Then, John Amlin and I went to visit my sister. Arrived home very tired.

On Detention Guard duty all day. Received a pair of socks from Alice. Mailed a

parcel home containing my glasses, watch, and socks. Stayed in camp. Very little sleep as

the men played cards all night.

Detention guard in the morning. In the afternoon John and I are in Calgary. Attended

the soldiers, sailors, and airmen’s association radio broadcast. There we met Jean and Henry

Lievers. Stayed overnight at the service men’s center.

Went to base in the morning to attend a church parade. Attended morning church

service at the Nazarene Church. Attend church service at the Gospel Hall in the evening

where we saw Jean and Henry. John and I had dinner with Victor and Francis and their

children.

Getting ready for an overseas draft. Received a letter from Alice. Attended a farewell

party for Jean and Henry who were leaving for a posting in Ottawa. Sold my camera to John

Ablin for $1.25.

Prepare for draft to overseas. We had a farewell chicken supper. An orchestra played

during our meal. Attended a young peoples’ meeting at the Prophetic Bible Institute. I was

asked to give a testimony of my trust in the Lord. John Amlin has left for Borden, Ontario.

It seemed to me that there needed to be a commitment to Alice in our relationship.

Giving her an engagement ring would be the right thing to do. But how could I select the

right size? I asked her in a letter to return to me a string, knotted at the place where it

overlapped when wrapped around her ring finger. There were no Eaton’s catalogs that I

knew of at Currie Barracks, so here is what happened.

Alice enclosed a white string with knots tied indicating the right ring measurement.

The jeweler had no trouble selecting the right sized ring from this measurement. The ring

was purchased, packaged, and set to Alice by parcel post. I was sorry I could not be there to

slip it on her finger myself.

Many young Canadians, who found themselves in similar situations, were married

before being posted for overseas duty. The married spouse at home would then be eligible

for a Government Allowance. This did not seem to be the right thing to do.

When it was clear that our contingent of trained men could be going overseas, some

private matters needed to be dealt with. Each soldier was asked to make out a will and

appoint an executor of that will. I named my sister Francis as executrix, with my mother as

beneficiary.

Money matters also needed to be arranged. When overseas we would be issued only

one half of our regular pay. The other half would remain in Canada. I named my sister

Annie in Lethbridge to receive the monthly pay cheque and either save the money in an

account or purchase Canada Savings Bonds. Francis was also chosen to handle a portion of

my savings to invest it in Canada Savings Bonds, if she wished. Both of them gladly

assumed this responsibility.

On weapons training all day. Wrote a letter to Alice. Wrote a letter to J. M. Murray,

one of my teachers at P.B.I.

Various jobs today. Drew winter clothes, such as a cap, scarf, and winter leather

mitts. Ventured twice over the hardening (obstacle) course. Received letters from mother

The program (front and inside) from the Au Revoir Dinner at Currie Barracks.

Note that cigarettes were on the menu until someone decided to charge for them.

Personal Archives

and Alice. There was an uproar at supper when the meatloaf was undercooked.

Currie Muster Parade in the morning. Ran about two miles on physical training. Had

pumpkin pie for supper. Had a quiet evening and went to bed early.

Received a 36 hour pass. Went into Calgary to do some shopping. Purchased a five

year diary to send to Alice. Purchased personal supplies for replenish my kit. Attended a

fireside service at the Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen Association service club. Attended the

radio broadcast. Stayed overnight at the club.

Attended church services at the Nazarene Church, morning and evening. Victor was

at church. Listened to the Fuller Radio Program at the service men’s club. Attended Fireside

Hour at the Full Gospel Church.

Received letters from Nick and Alice. Wrote a letter to each of them. A and B

companies are on draft order today. Bound for Deburt, Nova Scotia. We boarded the C.P.R.

train in the evening.

Traveled all day. Stopped at Moose Jaw so the train could resupply. We

disembarked and were taken on a march around the town. I took on a job of washing dishes

in the cook car at a wage of two dollars a day.

Traveled all day. Still washing dishes with Gruman as a helper. We stop at Fort

William to resupply. We sleep as we can in our own seats. Some don’t sleep at all.

Traveled through Ontario. Passed through Ottawa and Montreal. Bought four pounds

of grapes and 3 buns for an extra treat.

An officer and a private have a wrestling match in one of the cars. We travel through

Quebec, then the State of Maine, and on to New Brunswick. It is now 8:20 pm. Got paid

$5.00 for washing dishes. The soldiers are stocking up on cigarettes.

Arrived at Deburt at 9:00 am. Mailed six letters. Tried to get settled in the hut.

Washed some clothes. Rained in the evening. I went to bed at 8:00 pm for some much

needed sleep.

Worked for the first time on Sunday. Had a dental parade in the morning. Received

our rifle issue in the afternoon. Wrote a letter to Annie. Rained lightly today. (Spent 12 ¢)

We were up at 6:00 am. On parade in battle order. Began a training course on six

pounder anti-tank gun. Had a kit inspection in the evening. (Spent 32 ¢)

Drove a truck pulling a six pounder gun around. In the afternoon watched a Royal

Canadian Engineers mine demonstration. The explosion threw up dirt as it blew up a tree.

(Spent 61 ¢)

Maintenance training on six pounder gun in the morning. Obstacle course and gun

drill in the afternoon. Received a letter from mother and Alice. Wrote letters to them. Were

taken through a gas chamber. (Spent 24 ¢)

a letter from Margaret. (Spent 65 ¢)

Training with anti tank gun. Fan belt broke in truck. I got stuck in a mud hole.

Rained for a bit. Organized sports in the afternoon. Lectures on the organization of a platoon

in the evening. (Spent 27 ¢)

In the morning were shown a movie on mine laying. Had a talk with a padre.

Worked on trucks in the afternoon. Filled radiator with antifreeze. Had a company picture

taken. (Spent 53 ¢)

We are at church parade in the morning. Received a letter from Annie. Wrote letters

and stayed in the rest of the day.

We are out on Deburt firing ranges. Received pay of $9.00. (Spent 26 ¢)

Maintenance in the morning. Over the obstacle course. Practiced camouflage of

equipment. Lecture on the use of a PIAT6 anti tank one person weapon. (Spent 25 ¢)

Gun drill in the morning. Maintenance of trucks in the afternoon. Attended Padre’s

hour. Worked on motorcycle for the first time.

Witnessed a casualty evacuation demonstration in the morning. Saw a mine

explosion demonstration. Gun drill in the afternoon. Received a letter from Harry and one

from Alice. (Spent 62 ¢)

Gun drill in the morning at the #3 area. Sports in the afternoon. Out on a convoy

drive. Traveled on a very muddy road. Received a letter from Annie.

This morning we were each photographed and finger printed. Gun drill in the

afternoon. Received a letter from Alice. (Spent 45 ¢)

Church parade this morning. It is a rainy day to stayed indoors. Wrote letters to

Harry, Annie, and Alice. Received a registered letter from Francis. (Spent 27 ¢)

On convoy exercises on a muddy road. Truck gets stuck in mud holes. One unit ran

off the road. Received a photo and $4.00 from Francis. Had a lecture in the evening. (Spent

45 ¢)

6 SEE APPENDIX –A, for a description of the PIAT

On six pounder gun drill in the morning. Map tracking in the evening. Almost

landed in a river. Received a letter and parcel from Alice. (Spent 65 ¢)

A company is on field battle training. Convoy travel in the afternoon. Travelled 43

miles. Kit inspection in the evening. Received a Christian parcel which contained cookies.

(Spent 30 ¢)

Out on the firing range training all day. My truck is in for repairs.

Six pounder actually fired for the first time. Saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

Received a parcel from Annie. Wrote letters to Annie, Harry, and Alice.

Field battle practice in the morning. Maintenance in the afternoon. Preparing for a

three day battalion exercise. Received a letter from Alice. (Spent 50 ¢)

Out on battalion Scheme exercises. Slept in the back of a truck with little sleep.

Practiced digging trenches. Placed on guard duty for four hours.

Out on Battalion Scheme exercises. Slept in the back of our trucks.

Arrived back at camp at 0930 hours. Spent time cleaning up and washing clothes.

Went on pay parade. Turned in our rifles. Snow fell at least 5 inches. Received a letter from

Alice. Wrote to Margaret and Alice.

We had a clothing parade and a medical parade. Tool inspections as well. Wrote

three letters on the afternoon. Packed for a move to transit camp.

Moved to transit camp. Scrubbed the hut. Had a muster parade and kit inspection.

Wrote a letter to Nick.

Had a clothing exchange and repayment. Parade on a route march all day. Spent a lot

of time in a coffee shop. Wrote a letter to Alice.

We had a lecture this morning, then an obstacle course exercise. Went to Truro for

some Christmas shopping. Received letters from Margaret and Alice. Wrote letters to them.

On church parade in the morning. Wrote letters. Stayed in camp all day. Mailed

twenty Christmas cards.

We are on a route march, then an obstacle course. We are on a map training exercise

and lecture. Received parcel of chocolates from Alice. Mailed a parcel to Margaret. Cost

$2.00. Received stationery from Annie.

On parade square all day. Received letters from Bill and Alice. Wrote letters to both

of them. Heavy rain –turned to snow.

Moved to different huts. On muster parade. Cleaned huts. Warmer today. Mailed

letters to Winnie and one to Alice. Purchased some hand soap and razor blades to take

overseas.

Pay parade in the morning. There are signs of a move again. Received a letter from

Annie. Wrote a letter to Margaret. It is a rainy day.

We had a lecture on security. On dental parade. It is a mild day. Packaged my

shaving kit, writing pad, books, pajamas, etc. to send to my home in Saskatchewan.

On hut orderly duty. Had the hut scrubbed. Sent the parcel home. Washed clothes.

Received a letter from Alice. Wrote letters to mother and Alice. Mild with light frost.

Muster parade. Received identification card. Packed ready to leave to overseas.

Purchased a carton of Life Savers and chewing gum. Snow and very frosty today.

Medical parade in the morning. Muster parade – received our pay books. We are

ready for overseas draft. Received a letter from Margaret. Snowing today.

Moved from Deburt to Halifax. Arrived in Halifax at noon. Temperature - 15º F.

embarked on a ship called the Mauritania. Below deck, we sleep in hammocks.

Received a letter from Harry. Set sail for England at 0930.

Placed on detail to carry boxed supplies from a lower deck. While climbing down

into the hold, I became seasick, so scrambled on deck for the obvious reasons. This is my

first "taste" of seasickness.

Sailing the North Atlantic. It is very cold, and I am on the upper deck – very seasick

and not able to take any food or drink.

Sailed the North Atlantic in a zigzag pattern to avoid being torpedoed.

Sailed in calmer waters.

Sighted land. Still sailing. Feel a little better.

Sighted the land of Scotland. We docked in Liverpool in the dark around midnight.

Even the harbor buildings were black with accumulated soot from coal fired steam ships that

docked at the harbor over the years.

Disembarked during the night on to passenger trains half the size of our Canadian

trains. I am over my seasickness. Arrived at a military barracks in Aldershot. We are

billeted in a horse stable. We had a short welcoming lecture.

On parade this morning. Trying to get things straightened out in our quarters.

Sent two cablegrams to Canada. We have a half day holiday because this is

Christmas Eve. See below.

Christmas Day in England. We had a nice Canadian turkey dinner. Went to the town

of Melford.

We were on church parade in the morning. Attended a church service at a Salvation

Army in the town of Gillford.

a walk with Harold Chard, a Christian soldier that I met in Liverpool.

On T.O.E.T tips all day. Attended a prayer meeting at an Artillery Military Camp.

On T.O.E.T tips all day. Passed the test. Am on two weeks advanced military

training.

On pay parade. Received $1.00 pay. Had a trades test today and passed the test.

Friday, December 21, 1943. Moved to different huts. Had a half day holiday. Went to

Godolming. Purchased two flashlight batteries.