My Grandfather

[PatBC]

My Grandfather was born 11th April 1911 in Sheffield England. While still young age 11 he with his parents and brother moved to Canada in 1922.

In 1931 he join the non--permanent active Militia. He was trained as motorcycle dispatch rider. At some point he was released from the Militia date and reason is unknown but it was before 1936.

In Oct 1939 he left his job with the Canadian Pacific Telegraph whom he had worked for since 1927 and volunteered to join the RCAF.

His hobby before joining was designing, building and flying model aircraft. He wanted to be an aircraft mechanic and was accepted as one.

Because of his maturity and technical ability he was a Flight Sergent 19 months after enlisting. He was posted to Rockcliffe in Ottawa after his training, serving with 118(F) sqn. When the 118(F) squadron moved to Dartmouth NS in 1941 he was posted along as well.

While in Dartmouth NS he was also task to load Hurricanes on CAMs (Catapult Aircraft Merchantman). The orders were that this at night with no lights to prevent any enemy agents to know what was going on. The time he carried this out it had to be done on a Saturday night. His crew was unhappy Saturday nights the bars were pretty lively over in Halifax across the harbour. The Hurricane was carefully loaded on a barge and taken in Bedford basin past the Halifax water front were sounds of the parties came from. Once in Bedford Basin the plane was hoist up on the CAM. By dawn the Hurricane was sitting on the catapult ready for launch hidden under tarps from any prying eyes. The airmen have arrived back across the harbour in Dartmouth were dismissed but the partying would be over so they would head to bed.

On Sundays the workday at the time did not start till after church service so Sunday morning were the only time that the harbour and the basin was quiet. My grandfather awoke in Sunday mid-morning to the roar of a merlin engine. The assigned pilot having got his beauty rest the night before decided he would go out the CAM and make sure the Hurricane was working. That quiet Sunday morning, everybody in both cities and along shoreline knew about the secret weapon to be used against the German Condors following convoys in the Atlantic.

In late 1941 he was posted to back to Rockcliffe where he was a tech instructor. He was also instructor in Toronto from 1943.

In Oct 1944 he was finally sent overseas. As a Flt Sgt and Master Mechanic ("A" group) he incharge of the ground crew in 425 sqn that was maintaining the Halifax's and latter Lancasters.

In June 1945 he volunteered for the Pacific as part of the Tiger Force. He was granted 30 days leave in Canada before he was to be shipped out. His 30 days leave ended on 7 August 1945. Two days later he was still in Canada. On the 6 Sept 1945 he was released.

[cyberia]

Wow, what an interesting tour of duty. To your Grandfather... Prosit!

[PatBC]

I regret that he passed away in 1972 before I was older enough to really know the man. My dad also served in the military and was never posted near my grandfather while he was alive so I have few memories of him.

My Grandfather rarely even spoke to his son, my father about the war. I do not think it really had thing to do with the "horror of war". or anything like that but rather he was just doing his duty and mostly did not see it as interesting.

I have four Uncles, my mothers older brothers who served in WW2 at sea but they never talk about it (except hating the endless mutton). I do not think they say much combat, mostly just the terror of endless trips back and forth across the Atlantic. I know the ships they were on very never torpedoed

[Jim O]

A lot of men and women who served saw it as "doing their duty" and very "ordinary" in that respect. The perspective of time has given us all a better appreciation for what they all did and how their lives were affected and changed by it.

Thanks for sharing your story of your grandfather, Pat. One extraordinary thing is that after nearly six years serving his country he volunteered to go on another potentially dangerous mission. To me that was extraordinarily patriotic.

[Wolster]

Great story Pat, loved the stuff about he CAM Hurricane but then I love anything to do with Hurricanes!!

To your Grandfather!!