A Glimpse into the Home Front: Care Packages from Ridgetown

This artifact, shared by Helen Danby, IODE Ontario Archivist, offers a powerful snapshot of life on the home front during the First World War.

It lists men serving overseas who received parcels from the Kent Chapter IODE Ridgetown—simple in form, but deeply meaningful. Each name represents a soldier remembered, supported, and connected to home. Many of these individuals are featured in hero profiles on this website.

Formed in 1914 at the outbreak of war, the Kent Chapter IODE Ridgetown was part of the broader work of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. Its members organized, fundraised, and sent essential supplies overseas—ensuring soldiers knew they were not forgotten. The chapter remained active in the community until 2014.

The artifact also references the “Children of the Empire,” an IODE program that helped disadvantaged British children relocate to Canada—highlighting how wartime efforts were closely tied to broader social initiatives.

In addition to the names it records, the document captures a moment in IODE history, listing national officers and the location of its head office at the time.

Together, these details offer a reminder that the story of war is not only fought overseas—but sustained at home through dedication, compassion, and community.

Here is their story –

The First Special Services Force (FSSF) — commonly known as the Devil’s Brigade — was a joint Canadian-American military unit of 1,800 highly-trained soldiers.

They were a group feared by enemies and were dubbed “the Black Devils” by the Germans.

Four men from Wheatley, four others from Chatham-Kent and two from Kingsville were part of the famous Brigade during the Second World War.

There is an annual reunion each year, which alternates between Canadian and American cities. This year’s (2025) reunion is in Helena, Montana, where the FSSF soldiers all went to train in 1942.

Roger Lamb of Wheatley, whose father Bill was a member of the FSSF, has teamed up with local military historian Bill Siddall and Wheatley Legion Second Vice President Tom Brown to bring the boulders to Wheatley and have the plaques installed.

The plaques are engraved with the 32 names of FSSF soldiers from Essex and Kent Counties.

The four men from Wheatley — Bill Lamb, Mel McCauley, Mike Cochrane and Clifford Foster – all returned from the war and spent many hours reminiscing about their experiences.

Other men from Chatham-Kent were Ivan Cooper and Jack Davies from Chatham, George Stocking from Thamesville, and Leo Bourdeau from Grande Pointe. Leo Bourdeau was killed in action.

A similar commemoration was erected in Amherstburg last year (2024) and Roger Lamb was there to see it. “It was quite a moment,” he says. “We are just continuing the Amherstburg project with our Wheatley project.”While the Legion is fully behind the commemoration, Lamb says he has to give credit to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for stepping up with the funding. “We knew they were upgrading the Cenotaph,” he said. “That’s when Tom Brown used his connections to get it done.”

The First Special Services Force was innovative and the first of its kind, considered the forefathers of today’s Special Forces Units. It was activated in July of 1942 under the command of Lt. Colonel Robert Frederick, a highly decorated American Army officer, and recruits trained in secret at Fort William Henry Harrison in Helena, Montana, where both Canadian and American governments agreed to provide an equal number of officers and soldiers.

The “Forcemen” would be men who were resourceful, self-reliant and could operate in extreme conditions. Many of them were lumberjacks, forest rangers, hunters and explorers. Training was quick and extensive, and they became qualified paratroopers, weapons experts, demolition experts and hand-to-hand combat experts.

“My Dad never talked much about it,” says Roger Lamb. “But we had a lots of guys from the brigade show up and stay at our place over the years.”

The FSSF won all 22 battles they engaged in and never retreated.

A story about Wheatley’s Mel McCauley is one of those  that shows the tenacity of the Devil’s Brigade soldiers and their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to help their fellow soldiers.Sgt. McCauley’s actions on a winter day in 1944 garnered him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was recommended jointly by Lt. Colonel Gilday of Canada and Lt. Colonel Frederick of the U.S.A.

“On the morning of 27th of February, 1944 on the Anzio Beachhead, Italy, the enemy opened up an all-out artillery and mortar barrage as a prelude to an attack against one of our positions along the Mussolini Canal,” said the report from Gilday. “During the barrage, our LMG (light machine gun) covering the enemy was put out of action. The crew, seeing the enemy within 100 yards, abandoned the gun with a warning to Sgt. McCauley that a break-through was imminent. With two riflemen, Sgt. McCauley immediately ran to the machine gun and in the face of machine gun and machine pistol fire from three sides, stripped the gun, readjusted the headpiece and brought fire to bear on the enemy, who were now within 30 yards of his position.”

The report went on to say that McCauley’s exceptional devotion to duty and complete disregard of his own personal safety was an inspiration to the other members of his company and was a material factor in turning the tide of the battle.

McCauley’s Distinguished Conduct Medal was the only one handed out to a Canadian from the Devil’s Brigade.

The brigade spent 99 days without relief on Anzio Beachhead before clearing the mountaintops and the liberation of Rome.

The FSSF disbanded in December 1944, but their honours still continue today. Those honours take the form of the boulders you see at the Wheatley cenotaph today, which will soon be permanently installed and commemorated with a proper ceremony.

Author:  Bill Siddall, Military Historian, Wheatley ON

May 2025

From: Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509
H.Q. Coy. 3/H.L.I. of C.
C.A.O.F. C.A.O.

To: Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter: March 9, 1946

Envelope
C.A.A.F.

Postmark: Canadian Armed Forces, 18 Mar 1946

To: Mrs. Clarence Marsh, Dresden, Ontario, Canada

9 March 46
Delmenhoust, Germany

Dear Sis,

A few lines to let you know that I am getting along fine and hoping that all of you are O.K. I received your letter about a week ago saying that Jennie was in the hospital and I sure hope she is better by now and able to be around once again.
It is getting so that I almost hate to get a letter anymore, as it is almost sure to have something about someone being sick or else dying in it.
I heard a rumour this morning that we are supposed to start moving the first week in June, so if it is right, then we have not so awfully much longer to wait. Although it can’t be too soon for me now, so you better lay away a bottle or a case of beer for us to celebrate when I do get there.
Well, I finally got some pictures taken so am sending you one of them. The tall fellow is one of our helpers, Bill Ball, George the other cook, and guess who. This was taken back in the last place that we were in.
Well, I have to go to work so will close for now. Write soon.

Lots a love, Allan

From: Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509
A Coy. 3/H.L.I. of C.
C.A.O.F. C.A.O.

To: Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter: January 30, 1946

Envelope
C.A.A.F.

Postmark: Field Post Office, SC 764, 01 Feb 46

To: Mrs. Clarence Marsh, Dresden, Ontario, Canada

Jan. 30/46
Zetel, Germany

Dear Sis,
Well, here I am again to let you know that I am still kicking and hoping that you are all well.
I just came back from the show and thought I had better write to you before I went to bed. Bob Hope was playing tonight in “The Princess and the Pirate”. My sides are sore from laughing. I had a letter form Pat and Laura the other day and they were telling me that Uncle Holly is spending the winter in the South. I sure wish I was there as it is quite cold here now. It is windy tonight and I thought I would freeze coming home from the show.
Has Jimmie Mitchell gotten married yet or when is the wedding coming off? I suppose he will be working with Aaron in the creamery, when he gets out of the Army. I am trying to get some pictures taken so that I can send you some.
Well, there is not much news here so will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon again.
Lots of love, Allan

P.S. Tell Marshy not to shoot off all the rabbits until I get there. Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   January 4, 1946

Envelope

4 Jan 46

Dear Sis,

            I am sending a few little things that I have picked up.  There is a cushion cover each for you, Jennie, Laura and Shirlie.  A small package for Helen and a souvenir for Alex.  The cushion covers are made up from different articles that the Germans used to wear on their tunics.  I am sending it all in the one big parcel as it is easier to pack that way, so when you see the rest of them you can give them theirs. 

            I received your letter yesterday and was very sorry to hear about Grandpa Marsh as I didn’t know that he was even sick.

            Well, I will write more later.

            Lots of love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

A Coy.  3/H.L.I. of C.

C.A.O.F.  C.A.O.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   December 30, 1945

Envelope

Dec 30, 1945

Zetel, Germany

Dear Sis,

            Well at last a few lines to let you know that I am at least still alive and kicking.  Hoping that you are all well and had a good time at Xmas, it wasn’t too bad over here, at least as good as we could expect in the Army.  Although I celebrated a little early myself as I just got back from 12 days leave in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 23^rd of December.  Just back into Germany in time for Xmas, although I had a well time on leave. 

Continued Jan 1/46

I received your parcel just before I left for leave and it was sure swell.  Zetel is just a little village where we are now but they tell us that we are supposed to be moving sometime this month up near Bremen, Germany, so they say.

            I hope that you have still got some nice young girls around there that are not married yet as I can’t seem to find anyone over here on this side of the world. 

            Last night being New Year’ Eve I was out to a little party and was feeling pretty good when I got home in the small hours of the morning.  Well, it will be four years on the 17^th of January since I last seen all of you.  I guess things have changed quite a bit since then.  The picture of Helen and Leola that I got, I had to look twice to make sure it was Helen.  Tell her that I didn’t think it possible for anyone with so homely a looking uncle, could grow up to be so nice looking.  And tell Olive to hold that wedding a bit longer as I still want to be best man.

            I suppose there is lots of skating around there now as it should be plenty cold by this time of year.  It is getting quite cold around here but still no snow as yet.  How are the rabbits this year and can you get enough shells now to go hunting with?

            Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

            Love, Allan

P.S.  Tell Roy to get away from that table as he has had enough for this time.  Allan

Thanks a million for the parcel.

My address is A Coy now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   October 8, 1945

Envelope

Oct. 8/45

Bochhorn, Germany

Dear Sis,

            Received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you.  Except for a sore throat I am getting along fine.  We have moved from the town of Varel and we are in a small village by the name of Bochhorn now, where there is hardly anything to do except a show about every third night.  We had a bit of excitement about the second night that we were here as the cook-house burnt down.  But I even missed that as I was into Varel at the time to a show and when I got back the fire was out, but all that I had left was the clothes that I was wearing at the time.  I lost all of my pictures and even my camera, so if you have any more pictures I would sure like to have some.

            I received the deed to the farm the other day and am trying to get it straightened up and sent back as soon as possible.

            I am still cooking, but getting pretty tired of it as they tell us that all cooks will be held over here until they can get some more trained to take our place.  If it wasn’t for the extra twenty-five cents a day I would quit as quick as was possible.  But then I see in the papers every day where hundreds of men back home are getting laid off their jobs and here at least I don’t have to be scared of losing my job and not getting another one right away.  It is different than when we were in action, now at least we know that we are going to have a place to sleep every night and as long as I am a cook I am sure of not starving, like a lot of the people here are very close to doing.  It is pretty hard to watch little kids pickup up any old scraps that the boys throw away and eating it as if it were the very best of food.  I don’t feel a bit sorry for the grown-ups though as it is their own fault.

            I don’t know if I will be able to get in the suit when I get home or not as I am pretty fat now.  You can tell Roy that I am running him a close second on being fat and tell Clarence that I won’t be able to laugh at his bald head any more.  Also, tell Olive to wait until I get home as I want to be best man at her wedding, but if she can’t wait to at least not forget to send me a piece of her wedding cake. 

            There are a lot of Polish people in camps around here that were brought here in the war by the Germans for to work and have not been able to get home as yet.  We have to place guards on the camps that they are in as they are not getting too much to eat and that we are afraid that they would start trouble if they are not watched. 

            Well, I suppose I had better write Ila Smith a letter although I have written to her several times since she received my last letters.

            Well, I guess that is about all for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon again.

            Love Allan

P.S.  Don’t faint when you get this letter of almost six pages from me. Show Olive and Helen the newspaper clipping.  Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

Coy. 3 Batt. H.L.I. of C.

C.A.O.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   July 30, 1945

Envelope

July 30/45

Germany

Dear Sis,

            At last, I suppose that you will be thinking something has happened to me as it has been so long since I wrote to you, but I am still alive, well and fit.  I guess that it is I am just too lazy or fed up with all this now that the war is all over.

            I have my kitchen set up in a little town in the North West of Germany, by the name of Varel.  The only mail that I have had in the last couple of months was a letter from Catherine “Simmons” telling me that Bert was in the R.C.R.s.

            The weather has been pretty fair around here but cool enough.  How is everyone around there?  Have you been doing any fishing this summer?  We have fresh fish here twice a week and ice cream every Tuesday for dinner. 

I don’t know when I will be getting home as I am with the occupational force now as you will notice by my address at the top.  I also hear that all cooks will have to stay here until the end of October at least because of the shortage in cooks.

            Well, it is almost bedtime so I will close for now as 5:15 comes early.  Hoping to hear from you soon or perhaps see you.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   June 16, 1945

Envelope

16 June 1945

Dear Sis,

Well, how is everyone getting along now?  I am feeling swell myself and hoping to get home soon now that the war over here is all finished.

            I have been taking some more pictures lately and will send you some if I don’t get started for home soon.  Leola sent me some films for my camera the other day so hope to have some more pictures soon.  Did you see the pictures that I sent to Leola?

            I was in London on leave on VE Day and I never saw such crowds in all my life.  You could hardly move on the streets, all the street cars and buses and everything had to stop running because of the crowds.

            Well, I have to get to work and help get supper now so will close for this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon and also see you.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

Headquarters Company

R.C.R.  C.A.O.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   March 25, 1945

Envelope

March 25, 1945

Belgium

Dear Sis,

Well, I finally got around to writing again even if it did take me a long time.  As you can see at the top we are now in Belgium and have been busy moving and so on.  We came  all the way through France to get here, which was very interesting.  Everyone likes it a lot better over here, the people are so much more friendly than they were to us in Italy.  You can buy all the beer that you want in the cafes here and it is not bad stuff at that.

            Thanks a million for the fags which I received some time ago and also the letter and pictures which I got just a couple of days ago.  Tell Olive and Helen that I hope the war ends soon or I will be missing the big weddings.

            I will try and send some pictures soon.  I am still in the cook-house and will soon be a qualified cook, if you can imagine it, but don’t get any ideas about when I get home.  I have seen quite a few interesting things in the last while but am not allowed to talk about them so will have lots to tell you when this is all over.

            Well, I had better sign off as I have got to go to work.  Will try and not be so long in writing again.  Hoping everyone is well.  Write soon again.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

            A Coy.  3/H.L.I. of C.

C.A.O.F.  C.A.O.

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  January 16, 1945   

Envelope

16 Jan 45

Zetel, Germany

Dear Helen,

A few lines in answer to your most welcome letter which I received a few days ago.  Well, I guess by the sound of things I had better hurry home and meet my future nephews “Kenneth and Keith”. 

I am glad to hear that Jimmy made it home.  I’ll bet Jenny is really proud now showing off her son just home from the wars.  I still don’t know when I will make it though, in the spring I hope.

            Well, it was just four years ago tonight since I was last around those parts.  It seems more like forty years though as I have been a lot of places and seen a lot of things since then.

I took some pictures today and if they turn out O.K. I will send you some of them.  I have another camera now, a size 120 so if you can get a couple of films for me I will be able to send you more pictures.

Well, I can’t think of any more tonight, except that it is pretty cold so will sign off for now, hoping to hear from you soon again.

Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   January 13, 1945

Envelope

13 Jan 1945

Dear Sis,

A few lines once again to let you know that I am still kicking and hoping that you are all fine.  I received the Xmas parcel O.K.  Thanks a million for everything.  I am smoking the pipe right now.  I saw Jimmie Mitchell Xmas afternoon and Jim Bedell was there for a while so we had a couple of beers to celebrate on.

I imagine that it is pretty cold over there right now.  We had a bit of snow about three days ago and there is still some of it left.  It gets pretty cold at nights but generally thaws in the day time.  I might be able to send you some pictures before long as I have a camera now and managed to get a couple of rolls of film the other day, if the sun will just shine now. 

Well, I will sign off for this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon again. 

Love, Allan

P.S.  How many hundred pounds has Roy gained this winter?  How many Jack Rabbits has Clarence missed this winter?  How many inches shorter are you?  How many boyfriends has Olive and Helen got and how many girl friends has Grandpaw?

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

C.A.O.  C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  December 8, 1944   

Envelope

Friday, Dec. 8, 1944

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I am still well and hoping that you are all the same.  Tell Helen that I got her letter and was very pleased to hear from her. 

I am sending a picture that I had taken in Rome and a smaller one that was taken just outside of our billets.  I had a swell seven days leave in Rome and went to see St. Peter’s Cathedral on Sunday morning.  It is really marvelous and you cannot describe it in words.  A person has to see it to know what it is really like.  Although Rome is a very old city, I saw more modern buildings there than I have seen in all the rest of Italy.

            I had a letter from Jennie the other day and one from Jean Ball today, with her picture.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for tonight and try and write soon again, and will be watching for your letters.  Be seeing you before next Xmas.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1. Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C. M. F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  November 6, 1944   

Envelope

Nov. 6. 1944

Dear Sis,

            A few lines once again to let you know that I am still well and hoping that you are all the same.  I saw Jimmie Mitchell not so long ago and he is looking fine, as well.  Thanks a million for the Winchesters (cigarettes), which I received a couple of weeks ago. 

I am supposed to be going on leave to Rome in a few days.  I I hope it is right, for everyone says that it is a place well worth seeing, especially the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Cathedral.  So, maybe I will have some more to write about when I come back from leave. 

Well, it will soon be Xmas time again and we are still over here, and come to think of it, I have a birthday coming up in three more days.  Only 23, and I guess I won’t be able to tease old Marshy about his bald spot anymore.  

Well, I will close for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon again.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C. M. F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  July 10, 1944  

Envelope

July 10/44

Somewhere in Italy

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I received your letter and pictures a couple of days ago and was very pleased to get them.  Tell Olive that I showed her picture to some of the fellows around here and they all want to come and visit me when I get home.   Tell Roy that if he gets much bigger there won’t be any room in your house for visitors, and tell old Marshie that I want to see the top of his head in the next picture I get of him, so that I can see whether I still have more hair than him, or not.

            I have not seen Rome and Pompeii as yet but am hoping to get to see them soon.  If and when I do, I will do my best to get some souvenirs to send home to you.

            We were very busy when I received word of Dad so I didn’t get any time off.  But I was just so pleased because it didn’t give me too much time to think about it. 

            Well it is a year today since we landed in Sicily and I hope that before another year is up that we will be home once again.  I received a carton of cigarettes from the Kinsmen Club the other day, the first for quite some time.

            How is Alex and Shirlie and the baby getting along?  I have not heard from them for a long time now so, if you see Alex tell him that I am not going to write to them until I hear from them again.  Well, I guess I had better close for now.   Will write again as soon as I get the chance.  So, for now, Keep Smiling and I will be seeing you soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  May 27, 1944   

Envelope

Italy

May 27/44

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I received word, through the Commanding Officer, about Dad last night.  I received Laura’s letter just a few minutes before then and it came as quite a shock, for the last that I had heard he was in the best health.  When you are so far away it doesn’t seem as if it is really true, I would have liked to have been home though.  Although, I am pleased to hear that he didn’t suffer much and that Laura was thoughtful enough to send some flowers for me.  Well, there is not really much to say, so, hoping that you are all well as this leaves me fine.  I will close for now.  Hoping to see you soon.

Love, Allan

P.S.  I would like Mother’s clear glass water set and some enlarged pictures that were taken by the rock garden, saved for me, as Mother said they were for me when Dad was through with them.  Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C. M. F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  May 21, 1944   

Envelope

Italy

May 21/44

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I received your letter a couple of days ago and also received your parcel, which was very good.

            I am feeling fine myself and glad to hear that everyone is well around there, and glad to hear that Dad has got some company in the house with him now. 

I just got my head shaved this morning and the boys are all calling me ‘Baldy’ and making fun of me.  You should see the bumps on my head.  I am still working at signaling, as yet. 

Save a few fish until I get home again and then we can go fishing together.  I had a box of eats and a letter from Ruth Ward a couple of days ago, also. 

Well, I have to close now, as we are very busy, and I have got to get to work, so will write more later.  So, for now, Cheerio.

   Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  May 3, 1944   

No Envelope

3 May 44

Dear Sis,

            I am sending you a piece out of one of the papers that we have over here.  This is one of the best descriptions that I have seen yet of real Italy.  The last two lines is the way that a lot of us feel about it all. 

Hoping that you are all well, as I am feeling fine.  I will write soon again.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. coy.

R.C.R.  C.A.O.  C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  April 26, 1944  

Envelope

Italy

April 26/44

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I am fine and received all your mail.  I received the Winchesters, “my favourite brand” just about four days ago and I also have 3 or 4 letters from you.  One with the picture of the group of Marsh’s, Bedell’s and Bob Charlton and I got the picture of Helen, the one of Dad, and the ones of the old Town Hall, or what is left of it, also of you, Olive and Helen and of Dad, Clarence and Buster Ward.

            It has been raining all morning so I am lying in my tent writing this and hoping that the tent does not start to leak.  Your Xmas parcel was in good shape when it arrived even though it took so long getting here.  But the one that you said you were mailing at the same time as one of your last letters has not arrived as yet, although I am watching for it.

            I received eight letters last night so I am going to be busy answering them today.

            I am glad to hear that Dad is getting along fine and has got someone in the house with him.  I see Jim Bedell almost every day and was showing him the pictures that you sent to me. 

I am enclosing a bit of propaganda that the Germans left behind for us at one place we were at.  Let me know if you get it OK.  We all had a good laugh at it because it is so silly.

            Well, I can’t think of any more right now, so will close for this time.  Hoping to her from and see you soon.

            Love, Allan

P.S. tell Roy that he looks fatter than ever.  Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of telegram:   March 13, 1944

Envelope

CANADIAN PACIFIC TELEGRAPHS

World Wide Communications

EFM- Imp’ 1.

Sans Origine

March-13-1944

Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Dresden, Ontario

Parcel Received.  Many thanks.  Am well and fit.  Love.

Robinson

3-20-44

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1. Plat. H.Q. Coy.

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas C.M. F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  February 20, 1944   

BY AIR MAIL

Somewhere in Italy

20 Feb. 44. Sunday

Dear Sis,

                A few lines to let you know that I received your most welcome letter last night and was glad to hear from you.  It only took about twenty days getting here, which is pretty good time.  I am glad to hear that you are all well.  I am getting along fine myself.

                I wish I could be there on the 28^th of this month, but I will make up for it next year, so you better get yourself a good big cushion ready.

                I am glad to hear that it was only jaundice that was wrong with Jimmie and not something worse as I was kind of worried, for a while, about him.

                I got 300 fags from Uncle Holly the other day so have got to get busy and drop him a few lines some of these days soon. 

                We are right close to the Adriatic Sea at present and I sure wish that it was summertime so that I could go for a swim once in a while, as the old water really looks nice, but a bit too cold at the present time for swimming purposes.

                I had a box of chocolates from Allan Badder (Wabash) the other day, so I have got to get busy and write to him also.

                Tell Helen that I got her letter last night also, and wish that I were there to go skating with her.  If she keeps on working at the store on Saturdays she will have the guys running after her for her money.  I will be watching for the pictures that she promised to send me also. 

I suppose that with that new shotgun there won’t be any rabbits or anything left for me to go hunting for.  I got a letter from Ruth Ward today.  I hear from her quite often and she writes me a real nice letter.

                Well, I can’t think of any more right now so I will close for this time as I want to do some writing tonight.

                Love and Kisses, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  January 17, 1944   

Envelope

Somewhere in Italy

Monday, Jan. 17/44

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I am getting along fine and hoping that you are all well.  I suppose you will be thinking that I had forgotten about you completely.

            I have got a pile of letters here that looks as if I will never get them answered.  I was in hospital with a bad foot for a few days but am getting along fine now.  Thanks for the pictures, there were some really good ones.  Catherine sent me one of David Ward in his uniform along with a lovely Xmas card and letter.  From the looks of those pictures, I better hurry up and get home or I won’t know anyone when I do get there.

            Tell Helen and Olive that I got their letters and will be watching for some more from them soon, I hope.  I got a letter from Dad yesterday and a parcel from the Dresden Red Cross a couple of days ago.

            That break in the letter was caused by old Jerry, a few shells to let us know that he was still hanging around.

            Thanks for mentioning the roast wild duck and dill pickles.  It will help me to enjoy this lovely bully beef we are having for supper.  Tell Clarence to save a rabbit or two for when I get home.  Well, I want to get one away to Alex and Shirlie tonight, so hoping to hear from you and see you soon.

            My love to All. 

Cheerio, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat.  H.Q. Coy

R.C.R.  C.A.O.  C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  November 23, 1943     

Envelope

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat., H.Q. Coy

R.C.R.  C.A.O.  C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  November 18, 1943   

Envelope

Nov. 18/43

Somewhere in Italy

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I received your letter yesterday, dated August 19.  I also received one from Jennie, the first I have had from home for a couple of weeks, so I was pretty glad to get them.  I haven’t seen any more of Jimmie.  I only saw him the once.  It is kind of hard to get around from one unit to another.  It is not the same as back in Canada or England.  You can’t get a train or bus and go wherever you want to at any time.  I see Jim Bedell quite often though and he is looking fine.

            Tell Clarence that he better get ready to take me on when I get home again, for trading off my favourite horse.  How does Helen like high school?  I suppose Olive is still working at the store and Roy is getting fatter and lazier “as usual”.

            It is getting quite cold here now and the snow on the hilltops makes me think of home and Christmas, which is not far away now.  We have been having it pretty quiet here for the last while now and hope it stays that way. 

            I am glad to hear that Dad is feeling well and hope that Bill is still with him yet.  I hope that you are all well and haven’t been sick with the usual colds at this time of year.  I am feeling swell myself and eating pretty good although a lot of it is “bully” beef. 

Well, I must close now.  Merry Christmas.  Write soon and keep Smiling.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

R.C.R., C.A.O. C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  November 15, 1943   

Envelope

Nov. 15/43

Somewhere in Italy

Dear Sis & Family,

            A few lines to let you know that I am still getting (along) fine and hope that you are all well.  I have been very busy lately and have not had the chance, or place to do any writing.  I haven’t had any mail for a long time now but am waiting patiently for I know that I will be getting some one of these days.  I have been with Jim Bedell the last few days and he is getting along fine now and looking well.  He is driving truck at present. 

I believe tomorrow is Olive’s birthday, so wish her Many Happy Returns for me and tell her not to get married before I get back, as I want to be best man at her wedding.  Have you seen much of Dad lately and how is he getting along?  I hope that Bill is still with him yet.  I haven’t seen J.C. only the once, but wrote to him a week or so ago, so am hoping to hear from him soon. 

Well, I would like to be with you for Christmas but am afraid I would be a little late if I started for home now.  I have sincere faith that before another year goes by that we will be together again.  Well, I must close for now.   

Hoping to hear from you soon.  Say hello to everyone for me.

Cheerio for now.

Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

            No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

R.C.R., C.A.O., C.M.F.

To:       Miss Helen Marsh      

Date of letter:  November 8, 1943   

Envelope

Mon., 8 Nov 43

Dear Helen,

            A few lines in thanks for the parcel, which I received last night, and to let you know that I am getting along fine and hope that you are also.  The parcel arrived just about the right time for my birthday, which is the 9^th as you know, and I will be 22, soon be an old man with grey hair if I have any left by that time.  

I suppose it will be getting pretty cold around there by now.  I have seen a bit of snow on top of some of the hills around here, and I must say there are some hills.  In fact, they are much too big when you have to start climbing them.  I went to see a picture tonight (Deanna Durbin in “Nice Girl”).  Yes, we do get to see one once in a while, when we are not too busy. 

            Well, how do you like high school?  I suppose the next thing I will be hearing is that you have a steady boyfriend.  I guess by the time that you get this it will be Xmas time, so I will wish you a Merry Christmas and close for this time, as I want to do some more writing tonight.  Say hello to everyone for me.  Thanks again for the parcel. 

Hoping to hear from you and see you soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C.M.F

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  October 31, 1943   

Envelope

Somewhere in Italy

Oct. 31/43

Dear Sis,

            Well, finally I got a bit of time to spare and thought that I had better get busy on the letter business again.  I hope that you are all fine and not working too awful hard, but with Olive working and Helen going to school, I know that you won’t have much time to yourself.  Oh well, I will soon be home and then I can come and help you with the cooking.  But you better have something more than bully beef and beans to cook.  The fellow that is cooking for us now got some flour and baking powder the other day and made some pancakes.  They really tasted good too.

            I received the carton of fags from Olive and sent the card the other day but in case she does not get it I want to say thanks a million again.  She must have known my favourite brand (Winchesters), also. 

            Do you remember where we were two years ago tomorrow?  Alex and Shirlie’s wedding.   It was two years ago tonight that I hitch hiked from Kitchener to Windsor.  I guess I had better get busy and write them a letter today, also.  I hope that Bill is still with Dad and stays with him.  I suppose Clarence doesn’t get much chance to go duck hunting and not likely could get the shells anyway.       

            Remember the front tooth that you were always at me to get fixed and I wrote and told you when I was in England that I had it fixed.  Well, a week or so ago old Jerry started firing at us one day and when I dived for cover, my mouth met up with my chum’s heel and the result was I lost a big corner of my tooth and now the filling has also fell out, so about half of it is missing now.  Someone suggested trying to get it fixed with gold if I could.  What do you think of gold in a front tooth?

            Was I telling you that I saw Jimmie the other day?  I was really surprised as I thought that he was still in England, as yet, and then I find out that he had been all the way through Sicily with us.  He had just had a parcel from Jennie and gave me a chocolate bar and some gum which really tasted good.

            You said that you wanted some pressed flowers or something from Italy.  Well, I am enclosing a couple that I had handed to me about the second day we were in Italy, when we were passing through a town. 

            See, here I am on the fifth page, remarkable for me, I think.  I had better close for now though.  Hoping you are all fine.  I am feeling swell myself.  Hoping to hear from you and see you soon again.

Love, Allan

P.S.  Getting to be and old man, be 22 on the 9 Nov, likely have grey hair when I get home.  HaHa.  Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat., H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas, C.M.F.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  September 22, 1943

Envelope

Sept 22/43

Italy

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I am still kicking round the world somewhere, although not the part of the world that I would like to be kicking around.  By the time that I get home again I will be speaking Italian.  I had a couple of letters from Leola last night and one from Alex and Shirlie, with pictures of Alex and the big boy, and also of Shirlie’s mother and Roy.

            We are living under the olive trees and the clear blue sky somewhere in Italy now and still getting some awfully hot weather.  The ants and mosquitoes are thicker around here than they generally are at a Sunday School picnic.  I got 300 fags from the Rod and Gun club a week or so ago.  I was talking to Archie Blackburn the other day for about two minutes and “Chuck” Breaton is in the same company as I am with now and also one of the Tiffin boys from around Kent Bridge.

            I suppose everyone is pretty busy around there now, with the tomatoes and threshing and so on.  Is Olive still working at Weese’s?  I suppose Helen is still going to school and Roy is getting fat yet.  Do you see much of Dad any more or does he stay at home all the time? 

Well, I will close for now.  Hoping you are all well and hoping to see you soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  undated (arrived Dresden September 10, 1943)

Envelope

Undated

Dear Sis,

            A few lines to let you know that I am getting along fine and hope that you are all well.  You will excuse the pencil as I ran out of ink and can’t seem to get ahold of any right now. 

Tell Clarence that I was in a pub a short while ago and was talking to Louis Wilmot from Dresden, Sergeant Wilmot to me.  I was showing him some of the pictures that you had sent to me and we had quite a talk together.

            I haven’t been able to get to see Jimmie yet either as we have been very busy lately.  Have you seen much of Dad lately or does he get down that way very often?  I had a post card from Jimmie, the other day, but have not had any other mail for some time now. 

We are on board a ship now but what for or where we might be going, I couldn’t say.  I will write again soon though and will maybe be able to tell you more by then. 

Well, I hear the bugler blowing last post, 10:30 pm so I guess I had better get to bed.  Give my love to everyone and write soon.

            Love, Allan

(A.C. Davis)

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson (other identifying information blacked out on envelope)

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   August 17, 1943

Envelope

Sicily

17 Aug 43

Dear Sis,

            Well, here is a few lines to let you know that I am getting along fine and hoping that you are all well.  I am roaming around amongst the orange and almond groves here.  The only trouble is that as yet you can only find the occasional orange that is ripe.

            We are getting pretty good eats here.  I received three hundred fags from the Kinsmen Club night before last, which came in very handy because everyone has been very short on them since we landed. 

            Is Olive still working in the store or is she home helping you now?  Tell Helen not to flirt with all those young coloured boys too much.

            Boy, you should see the flies here.  They are trying to eat me alive.  When I get home, I will show you the scars where they are biting big chunks out of me.  I have been carrying a big club around to battle mosquitoes with.

            Well, I suppose Roy and Clarence are busy with the sprinkler and cultivator and Grandpa is using the hoe on everything that looks like a weed.

            Well, you had better get those chocolate cake pans ready for it looks as we won’t be long now until we are all home again.

            Well, Cheerio for now.  Write often.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q.

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  June 7, 1943   

Envelope

June 7, 1943

            Well I thought I had better get busy and answer some of your letters or I would have you climbing right down my neck, although I have been pretty busy lately and there is also a very nice young lady that has been taking up quite a bit of my time.  I guess that is the biggest reason that I have not been writing.

            Well, I suppose the fishing is pretty good in the bay right about now.  I wish that I was there to help you catch a few.  I haven’t been able to get and see Jimmie yet but hope to do so soon.

            Well, I guess Helen will be out of school soon for the summer holidays and the strawberries will soon be ripe also.  How about sending me a big dish of strawberries and cream when they get ripe? 

            I hear Laura and Bob are thinking of building up at the shop if they can get permission to build.  I had a parcel from Laura and three hundred fags from Alex the other day. 

June 8

            I am enclosing a slip from a parcel that I received a short time ago from Dresden.  Will you please convey my thanks, for the lovely parcel.  I can never think of the right thing to say when I am trying to write thanks for a parcel.

            I am taking the girl friend to the show tonight to see “The Glass Key” so I think I had better close this and see if I can get my trousers pressed, as they are getting baggy at the knees.  So, I will close for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon.  Cheerio for now.

            Lots of love, Allan

Ask Roy how Marybelle is getting along.

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

To:       Miss Olive Marsh       

Date of letter:  May 10, 1943   

POST CARD

May 10, 1943

Dear Olive,

            Received the cigarettes.  Thanks a million for them.  I have been slow in getting this away but will try and write you before long.  I have got about twenty letters to get caught up on so it might be some time yet.  Write whenever you get the chance.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  May 10, 1943   

Envelope

10 May 43

Dear Helen,

            A few lines in answer to your most welcome letters which I have been receiving lately and failing to answer.  But I am finally getting around to it at last.  I have been awfully busy lately but am not working too hard now, so want to get caught up on my letter writing.

            I suppose it is getting very much like summer over there now.  I got the pictures of the sleigh ride today.  The one of you on the sleigh, the one of Eileen G. & Olive and the one of Steve & Clarence standing up in the sleigh.  I have got one of the pictures of myself that you were speaking of and I have another one of myself and a fellow from Windsor that I will send to you, the next time that I write.  It was taken on another scheme that we were on. 

Gee, with all that money that you are getting saved up you should have a real time when you go to Windsor.  I had a two pound box of Laura Secord chocolates from Jennie yesterday.  I had a telegram from J.C. quite some time ago but have never been able to get and see him yet, although I am trying my best.  I was to a dance tonight and of course I met a couple of nice young lassies, you know the old Robert Taylor style.  I have to carry a club with me to keep beating them off.  So, I don’t go out very often as I get tired of being chased by them all the time. 

Well, I suppose it will soon be summer holidays again and you will be all through school for another two months.  I hope to be getting another leave before very long.  I want to go see Jimmie, if I can, and I also have an invitation to go to Sheffield and as I have never been there yet, I want to go if possible.  Well, I can’t think of anymore right now so will close for this time.  Write soon.

            Love and kisses, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat.

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:   April 18, 1943  

Envelope

Sunday, April 18, 1943

Dear Sister,

            A few lines in thanks for the letter, picture of the sleigh ride and the lovely parcel.  I have been awfully busy the last few days.  I was working in the canteen yesterday and did some washing in the afternoon and then I did some more today, so tonight I thought I had better get busy at some writing as I have got about ten letters to answer.  I had one from Dad yesterday, one from Lyla Henderson who used to work in the store at Dover Centre, and one from Ruth Ward and I received a thousand cigarettes from the I.O.D.E. in Thamesville, and the other day I got a pen and pencil set from the people around Wabash.  I was sorry to hear that Dad is not feeling so good again and was sorry to hear that Gramma Ellis had died, she was getting to be quite an age though and hasn’t had an easy life either.  Perhaps she is better off than working for and looking after a bunch of her grandchildren all the time, for there was always some of them there with her.

             Tell Helen not to make too much maple syrup or she will swamp the market with it.  I had some pancakes and maple syrup last weekend.  I was up to London and they always have pancakes and syrup at the Beaver Club up there, it is just off Trafalgar Square.  I see by the papers where they are starting to ration you on meat over there.  You will have to raise another pig or a few more chickens this year.  I suppose the men are back working on the land and the town by now.  I had a telegram from J.C. the other day saying that he had landed over here and I want to get up and see him as soon as I can.  He is quite a-ways from here though and I guess it will be a week or two before I can get around to it.  Well, some of the fellows are starting to come in now and as few of them are feeling pretty good and making a lot of noise, I guess I will sign off for now.  Write soon and thanks again for the parcel.

            Love, Allan

From:     Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:          Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  April 5, 1943  

Envelope

Monday, April 5, 1943

Dear Sis,

                A few lines in answer to your most welcome letter which I received while we were out on a scheme. 

                Well, I suppose you are having some pretty nice weather by now.  The weather has been pretty nice over here lately although it is cold at nights yet.  I am glad to hear that Bill C. is back with Dad again for I don’t like to see him out there all alone.

                I just came off leave a week ago yesterday.  I was up to Scotland again and had a very good time.  I want to get a weekend as soon as I can and go up to London to see some of my relatives.  They will be getting sore at me if I don’t soon go up to see them.  The last time I was up there, there was nobody at home.

                I can always use coffee and milk as we can’t buy it over here and we can always make it in our mess tins on the stove here in the hut. 

                I would like to see the play that you are in now, I’ll bet it is really good.  I went to see the show “Babes on Broadway” last night, with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, they had it on in the canteen here and it was really good.  I saw the show “Immortal Sergeant” when I was on leave and it was really tops.  If you get the chance to see it you should for it is really worthwhile.

                I was sorry to hear that Gramma Ellis was so sick but I suppose she is getting so old you can hardly expect her to get better.

                If you think some fried down pork would keep while it was coming over, I would sure like to have some and if you happen to have some of those old-fashioned cookies like Mother used to make, when you are sending me something.  If you made some about the size of an old baking powder can and packed them in something like that I think they would carry okay.  I am sending you a picture that was taken of me when I was on a scheme a short while ago.  This is the only copy I could get of the picture.  The fellow with wireless set on his back is Bowman, one of the boys in the signals platoon.  We had just carried that set about 14 miles when this was taken and they weigh about 35 lbs, so you can imagine about how we felt.  Well, I have got to close and go to bed as it is midnight and I am getting sleepy.  I have been washing clothes all afternoon. 

Well, so long for now.  Write soon.

                Love, Allan

P.S. Let me know if you hear any more about JC coming over here and I will look him up as soon as I can.

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat. H.Q. Coy.

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  March 9, 1943   

Envelope

Tuesday, 9 March 43 (type written)

Dear Sister,

            Well, here is a few more lines to let you know that I received your parcel OK.  You said in your letter that the shirt wasn’t just what you wanted.  I don’t know how much better you would want, for I think that it was just about right and everything else was just swell also.  The guys have been playing with the soldier all day trying to see who could make him walk the farthest without him falling down.  I even had the sergeant trying to make him walk.

            Well, I suppose that Roy will soon have to vacate his roosting place behind the stove and get to work again.  I’ll bet that that will really hurt his feelings.  What is Helen doing getting ready for the summer exams?  I’ll bet and still flirting with Buster WARD.

            Gee, here it is half past twelve at night and I have got to stay awake until after breakfast just to look after a couple of old phones.  One thing, I have got a good fireplace here with a good fire going in it, so at least it is not cold in here anyway.

Wednesday, 10 March 43 (hand written)

Well, I guess I will carry on from last night and finish with a pen.  I was going to finish this morning but as I slept all day I didn’t get around to it.  I think I will send the hankie to Margaret tomorrow, thanks a million for sending it.

            Well, I guess old Jerry must be over tonight.  I can hear the ack-ack going and what sounds like a bomb every once in a while, in the distance.  Some of them came in right over here the other day and dropped a couple about three miles from here.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Thanks again for the parcel.  Hoping to hear from you soon again.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

On Active Service

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:   March 4, 1943

Envelope

March 4, 1943

In 5 minutes, it will be the 5^th.

Dear Sister,

Well, I just finished Helen’s letter so thought I had better get busy on yours which I received yesterday along with Helen’s.  Glad to hear you are all fine.  I am feeling swell myself.  Tell Roy I guess I will have to come home and show him how to catch fish, as you were saying he was fishing through the ice and didn’t catch anything.  Gee, I can’t think of anything to tell you, I guess I told Helen everything. 

I am glad that Dad is feeling fine.  I suppose I should write him a letter tonight.  I guess it won’t be long now until the men will be good and busy again.  I haven’t received your parcel yet but will let you know as soon as I do. 

Well, it was getting cold in the room here so I went to work and have got a nice big fire going in the fire place and it is now 1:30 in the morning.  I wish it was summer time so I could go swimming in the channel which is about a hundred yards from the back door.  Well, I can’t think of any more as I put it all in Helen’s letter and it is lunch time anyway.  I have got a few cakes one of the boys brought me from the canteen tonight.  Write soon.

Love, Allan

From:    Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

#1 Plat. H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:          Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  March 4, 1943  

Envelope

Thursday, March 4/43

Dear Helen,

                Well, I got your letter yesterday and as I am on duty tonight thought it would be a good time to answer it.  It is eleven o’clock at night now and I gave got to stay awake all night to look after the phone here.  I am getting sleepy all ready.  So, by the time morning comes I will probably be ready to go to bed.

                You were talking about going to see “Mrs. Miniver” (the show) in your letter.  I saw it in camp about a month and a half ago and thought it was really good.  I also saw “How Green Was My Valley” which I also thought was very good.  Gee, I wish I had some of that ice cream that you were talking about, when you ate a whole pint by yourself.  Well, I will have to start looking for a Xmas present for Leola now, and I will see what I can do for you also.  No, I am not sorry I joined the Army as I have had quite a few different experiences and look at the different places I have seen.  Anyway, I would be in it now and I would rather be a volunteer than a trainee anyway.  “And while over I am over here I don’t have you teasing me all the time.”  Well, I received the cigarettes from Catherine day before yesterday and they sure were appreciated as I was smoking “Limey” fags at the time and those Canadian ones sure tasted swell after what you can get over here.  I have been writing letters all day long.  I received seven of them yesterday and I had to write and thank Catherine for the cigarettes and I had a letter the other day from one of the Wabash boys (Don Holmes).  He wants me to try and look him up if I can. 

We have been doing a lot of marching the last two or three weeks and my feet have got some big blisters on them which don’t feel so good, but they are starting to get a little better and I think we have settled down for a while now.  I hope so anyway.

                Gee, you should see the house I am living in now.  A great big place with electric heaters, bathrooms up and downstairs, built in bath tubs and everything.  All I lack now is a feather bed and everything would be complete.  I have even got a radio in the office here, it is playing now. 

Well, I can hear the boys up overhead tonight.  Some of them are going over now and must be taking old Jerry over another load of fine crackers, you know the kind that make a big bang.  Well, I will close for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon again.

                Love, Allan                       P.S.  Don’t flirt with Buster too much.

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1, Plat., H.Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter:  February 24, 1943

Envelope

“Keep in touch with the folks at home”

The Salvation Army

On Active Service with the Canadian Forces

A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year….

Wednesday, Feb 24/43

Dear Sister,

                Well, here it is 6:30 o’clock in the morning, evening to us as we work all night and sleep in the day time.  I had breakfast at seven last night, dinner at 12:30 and supper at 5:30 this morning, so I am soon going to bed to see if I can get a good “nights” sleep.  Excuse the writing paper as it is all I could get a hold of.  I tried to buy a writing pad and couldn’t get any yesterday.  I wrote to Olive last night just before breakfast time.  So, I thought I had better get busy and answer yours as I had two of them here.  You said in one of them that Roy was behind the dining room stove having a beauty sleep.  Tell him that I said he needs lot of that alright, but that he better get doing a few exercises and a bit of work or he is going to grow old, fat and ugly and then Mary Belle won’t have anything to do with him.  Well, I suppose it won’t be long now until Jimmy and Jean will be getting hitched, if they don’t send Jim over here first.  I wonder what Jennie does now that her “little” boy has gone.

                I’ll bet that you made a chocolate cake yesterday, you know the kind with the “gooey” icing.  I believe I could smell it cooking, you know I believe I have got a pretty good nose.  Shirlie sent me a picture of the baby which I got just the other day.  Gee, he is cute too (looks a lot like myself I think). 

Well, I guess I had better sign off and go to bed, not that I need my beauty sleep like Roy does.  Tell Helen not to flirt with Buster too much and tell Clarence to save a cotton tail or two for me.  Write soon.    

                Love to all, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 1 Plat., H. Q. Coy

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Miss Olive Marsh 

Date of letter:  February 23, 1943

Envelope

Tuesday, Feb 23/43

Dear Olive,

            Well, I received your letter about a week ago and this is the first chance I have had to answer it, I have been so busy.  I was glad to hear from you and also glad to hear that you like the pin that I sent you.

            Gee, you will soon be a rich old maid if you keep on working at the store.  You will have all the boys running after you for your money.  You will be just like myself – why when I walk down the street I have to carry a club with me to fight off the women, they seem to keep thinking I am Clark Gable or someone like that, I guess.  (Alright – quit laughing).  I wish I could get on a pair of skates like you were saying, that you had been doing a lot of skating. 

We are living in some houses right now.   Another fellow and myself are living in the kitchen.  The only thing that is wrong is that we have to walk about a block to get our meals and you can imagine how that hurts me having to move out of the house at all. 

Shirlie sent me a picture of the baby – I just got it yesterday.  Gee, he is cute (I think he looks like me so he would have to be cute.). I had a letter from Leola also and she was telling me what a lot of snow you had been having.  How about sending some of it in a letter as we hardly ever see any around here. 

Well, I must close as I can smell the grub a-cooking.  Well, say hello to Eileen Gibson or any of the rest of the old gang that you see and write soon.  Here’s a big kiss for you. X

Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson

A4509 Signals Platoon Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  January 13, 1943

Envelope

Wednesday, Jan 13/43

Dear Sister,

            I received two letters from you today, both mailed the 18^th December.  One was an air mail.  You might just as well send all your letters by regular mail as they get here just as quick as the air mail.  Tell Roy and Olive they had better go on a diet or they will be losing their youthful figures. 

I got six letters today – two from you, one from Dad, one from Laura, one from Jean Ball and one from Mrs. Gerald Neely, from Wabash.  So, I am busy with my pen tonight.  I am glad in a way that Alex has got category E.  If he was still single it would be different.  Well, I suppose the old town is pretty dead with all the young fellows gone from around there.  Mrs. Neely sent me the addresses of all the young fellows from around Wabash that are over here now.  There are quite a few of them now.  I guess a lot of them just came over recently.

            Tell Clarence not to kill all of the rabbits around there, but to save some for me when I get home again and get the old single barrel oiled up again. 

Did you get the Xmas card I sent you from Scotland when I was on leave?   I expect to be going on leave again the last of this month or around the first part of February.  I hope so anyway. 

We have only seen snow once over here this winter.  I’ll bet there is lots of it around there now.  I had a cold for a while but it is better now.  I hope none of you have a cold this winter.  Well, I will sign off for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon again. 

Love, Allan

From:   A4509 Pte. A.L. Robinson

Sig’s. Plat. Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  December 28, 1942

Envelope

Monday, Dec. 28/42

Dear Sister,

                A few lines to let you know I am getting along fine and received your Christmas box O.K.  It was really good too.  I almost made myself sick on that fudge and the coffee was really good.  I have been busy lately and I have got a stack of letters here to answer.  I don’t think I will ever get them all answered by the looks of them.  I got a letter from one of fellows from Wabash I used to chum around with (Neil McKerracher).  He is over here now and wants to see me. 

Well, I hope you all had a good Christmas.  I was so tired I lay down after dinner Xmas day and never woke up until breakfast time the next day.  I had a letter the other day from Alex and Shirlie.  I don’t hear from them very often any more.

                I got the letters that Leola, and Layla Stokes and you wrote to me.  You were talking about some peaches, whipped cream and pumpkin pie that you had sent out to Dad.  What I couldn’t do with a pumpkin pie and some whipped cream right now is not worth talking about.  Let me know if Olive got the Xmas present that I sent her, or not. 

                I haven’t seen any snow over here yet.  I suppose there is lots of it around there now and plenty of ice too.  And don’t forget to tell Mrs. Longman that the pineapple marmalade was really delicious and I enjoyed it very much.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now, and any way it is bed time, so I will close for this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon again and thanks again for the parcel.

                Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  October 27, 1941

Envelope

Kitchener, Ont.

Oct. 27/41

Dear Margaret:

            Well, I am writing a few lines to tell you I got back safely.  I got into camp about 11:15 last night.  How was the fishing and did you see Laura and Bob ?  When I was going from Dresden to Thamesville yesterday I saw Alex and the girl friend heading for Dresden but I was in a car and I guess he never noticed me. 

I didn’t get in bed until almost twelve o’clock and at about twenty to one they called us out of bed for a nice little march in the pouring rain.  And you know about how much sleep I got over the weekend.   I just about fell asleep on my feet.  We didn’t get back into camp until a quarter after two. 

Well, I will close for now, as I have some more writing to do and I want to get to bed early.  Write soon.

Love, Allan

P.S.  The pheasant and chocolate pie was delicious.

P.S. Hope you like it.

Tommy

Come on you jolly jokers

And join the Service Corps

You’ll see the sort of army life

That you have never seen before

From early in the morning

Till awfully late at night

You will find us always working hard

But never have to fight.

Rations and Ammunitions

Isn’t all we have to haul

For mules and Petrol

We often get a call

The troops we sometimes carry

As they go into the line

They’ll never have to worry

We’ll always be on time.

Early in the morning

Er’e the Div. is off the ground

The boys throw off their blankets and start stirring all around

Out come the dirty old brew pots

And there will be brews galore

We’re in that sort of army

Where good coffee is no more.

We left dear old Canada December 39

And now it’s 1944, we drink Italian wine

We miss Labatts and Black Horse

And OH that Limey beer

All we can get in Vino

In the army over here.

Three and a half years in England

And training all the time

We wondered if the day would come

When we would cross the Rhine

We all felt very happy

As we left in 43

When they told us we were invading

The shores of Sicily.

We drove our trucks off landing craft

To warm Italian sand

As we knew the First Division

Had the Ities well in hand

We drove up from Pachino

To MOUNT ETNAS loft heights

The roads were rough and dusty

We darn’t use any lights.

The Sicilian Campaign over

We started off for Rome

We came ashore at Reggio

First step to Home Sweet Home

Our trucks sure took a beating

As we travelled up the line

We couldn’t fail the Infantry

We had ti be on time.

While we are still in Italy

And the boys have helped take Rome

We think it’s time McKenzie King

Let us invade our home

It’s almost five years over seas

We think we’ve done our share

Conscript that ZOMBIE ARMY

Let us replace them over there.

Found in the papers of Percy Edward Taylor.  Used with permission.

Transcribed by:  Garna Argenti

29 January 2019

Note:  Possibly set to the tune of “Come All Ye Bold Canadians” from the War of 1812.

By John Rhodes.

On the 19^th of August, 1942 Canadian soldiers making up the majority of the landing force for Operation “JUBILEE” a raid on the French port town of Dieppe would turn into a horrible disaster, what follows is one man’s account of his actions that day.

“Well we left England in the evening and slipped across the channel in the dark. Just at dawn we sighted Dieppe and then the fun started. Aircraft went in first and shot up the defensives besides bombing the town.

About 20 feet out our officer turned and said ‘Let’s go boys, this is it.’ Just then the gate dropped and we charged on to the beach. I was second to hit the beach and our boat was the first one in. The beach was separated from the town by a mass of wire. We dashed up and started to cut the wire. This brought a downpour of fire on us. A sniper spotted me and dropped one bullet close enough to kick dirt all over my face and then whizzed one by so close it felt warm on my cheek as it passed. That was enough to convince me so I moved in a big hurry.

From then on things happened pretty quickly. The Germans began to bomb the beach with four-inch motor shells and also laid down a pretty heavy artillery barrage. About this time the tanks were landed and began rolling up the beach. This was the signal for the shelling to really start. The Germans blazed away from their positions on the cliffs and the tanks blazed back. I was able to get a couple of Bren guns and plenty of ammunition and dug me a little hole and set up a little nest of my own.

You really get a thrill out of seeing the Germans through the sights of a Bren gun. I fired one until it got hot. Then used the other until it was the same way. About this time the first was cool again so I switched back again. A mortar bomb fell behind us and I got a piece in my leg. Another fellow asked me if I needed help and I said ‘sure, go dig up some ammo’.

By this time it was about 11:00 a.m. and we were due to evacuate the beach. We slipped down to a tank carrier where I was hit, first in one arm, and then the other. We got a row boat off the tank carrier and four of us, with one oar, began sculling like mad for England. The Germans fired steadily at us and I stopped a slug with my shoulder. It hoisted me out of the boat into the drink but strangely enough, did not hurt. Just when it looked like we were going to have to row all the way to England, a boat appeared and picked us up. In no time I was perched on a bench with a belt of Navy rum and a smoke, I felt fine. We made England at 8:30 that night.”

Roy Jardine had sustained eleven wounds while involved in the attack and withdrawal from the attack on Dieppe.

Prior to the war Roy played hockey with the Chatham Maroons.

Also, on the beach that day was Captain James Ross Huff who was taken prisoner-of-war by the Germans and would not be liberated until 3 May,1945. For bravery in battle Captain Huff was awarded the Military Cross.

Gathering Our Heroes lists the following C-K names as fatalities on the Dieppe Raid:

ALEXANDER, S. J. A19237 – Royal Canadian Engineers.

DAVIDSON, R. D. A21692 – Essex Scottish Regt.

ERREY, V. G. A3762 – Essex Scottish Regt.

FAUBERT, G. R. A21366  – Essex Scottish Regt.

FOSTER, J. A. A21704 – Essex Scottish Regt.

HALL, A. H. A19167 – Royal Canadian Engineers.

LENNOX, A. A21567 – Essex Scottish Regt.

MILLEN, E. T. B67723 – Royal Regt. of Canada.

RIEDL, V. A22905 – Essex Scottish Regt.

STAINTON, T. A22099 – Essex Scottish Regt.

STEERS, W. J. A22205 – Essex Scottish Regt.

TAYLOR, W. G. A21888 – Essex Scottish Regt.

TOWLE, R.K. A22345 – Essex Scottish Regt.

There were 6,000 Allied troops on the Dieppe Raid

5,000 were Canadian of those:

807 Killed in Action.

28 Died of Wounds.

1,946 Prisoners of War – Taken.

72 Died as Prisoners Of War.

586 Wounded In Action.

1. Hind

Curator – Gathering Our Heroes.

War Cake

In a large saucepan, combine:

2 cups water

2 cups brown sugar

4 tbsp shortening

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground cloves

1 tsp allspice

2 cups seedless raisins

Boil above ingredients for 5 minutes, then cool.

When cool, add:

2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp lemon extract

2-1/2 cups flour

Mix well and pour into a generously greased, 9-inch pan.

Bake at 350F for 1 hour.

Cool and cut into 9-12 pieces.   

(Maria DeBruyne Piron)

1941 – ????

by: J. R. Hind

   I should explain at the outset why it is that an over middle-aged, Anglo-Saxon is writing a story about the Japanese Canadian evacuees of the Second World War. Well it all begins at an auction in Ridgetown, Ontario a decade ago when my wife bought a box in which we found the diaries of one Harry Smith 1891-1927. 

   So how did a farmer at lot 11, on the 10^th concession of Howard township, in southwestern Ontario, who died twelve years before the start of World War Two, have anything to do with Japanese Canadians? He didn’t, however in 1907 he got a “boy from the home”, not just any home but through the Bernardo Homes in England. The boy, Victor George Pyne who, along with his older brother Howard had immigrated to Canada from the Reading workhouse in Great Britain. Victor lived on the Smith farm and Howard on a couple of farms in the area.

   It was during my search for Victor’s story that I discovered that Howard Pyne, was the owner of the Eatonville Road House on #3 Highway (Talbot Trail) in southwestern Ontario,  which in 1942-43 was used to house Japanese Canadians that had come to Kent county to work in the sugar beet crops. I had driven by this old building for years, long closed as a ‘road house’ it has now long been used to house migrants working the summer and fall in the various crops in the area.

   When I went to find out more about the Road House and the evacuees I was surprised at how little information was available, not just on the Eatonville camp but the other camps at Dresden, Dover Centre, Harwich and Valetta, which were all in Kent county. I thought there must be a story to be found I hope you will enjoy my discoveries.

1. H. Hind            

The Issei Cross the Pacific

 Who can say when the first Japanese reached the wave swept shores of Canada’s west coast? It is easy to imagine a Japanese ship, peacefully fishing the waters off the east coast of Nippon when a sudden Pacific storm whisks then out of their familiar sea, perhaps the steering was wrecked, the oars lost or the sail ‘gone by the board’. We know today that container cargoes, washed overboard in the Pacific, have found their way to British Columbia’s rocky shores, perhaps early sailors of fishermen from Japan also made the perilous crossing. Upon finding, or being found by the first nation’s peoples of the time, they might have been taken in or met a less friendly fate.  

The first recorded instance of a Japanese shipwreck off the west coast of what would become British Columbia, occurred in 1833. The two lucky men that were found on the coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands, by men working for the Hudson’s Bay Company who, like good HBC men, sent them on to England. Over the next several decades, many more unfortunates met the harsh rock of this foreign shore, some were returned to Japan, which might have proven harsher than the trip across the ocean, since the Tokugawa government forbid travel to foreign countries. There are reports that some settled into first nations settlements along the Canadian coast.

In 1842 Ranald MacDonald, the son of a first nation’s woman and a white man, traveled across the Pacific to Japan, searching for people who looked like himself after seeing Japanese castaways on the coast of British Columbia. He ended up staying in Japan, learned the language and became an English tutor. So contact between Japan and Canada’s west coast though accidental was becoming an establish link.

So, it was that in 1877 Nagano Manzo, a stowaway aboard a British ship coming from his homeport of Yokohama, abandons his ship in New Westminster and takes up permanent residence in Canada, as the first recognized ‘Issei’. Manzo had started his career as a carpenter’s apprentice in his hometown of Nagasaki, where he was born in 1855. At  the age of twenty two he became involved in refitting ships and it was around this time he decided he would go to Canada.

His first job in Canada was fishing salmon on the Fraser River. As time passed he went on to boss a Japanese-financed lumber mill, later ran an export gift shop, Japanese food store which made him a fortune in exporting pickled salmon to Japan and finally managed a hotel in Victoria. This energetic, entrepreneurial characteristic, so often found in immigrants, would soon be considered a threat by the white business class developing along the west coat of Canada. In later life he suffered from tuberculosis and lost all of his assets in a fire. He returned to Nagasaki a dejected old man, where he died at the age of 70. As is often the case with migration it begins as a trickle.

Large numbers of Japanese began to arrive in Canada between 1896 and 1900, a resource for the industrialists need for cheap labour. During this period some 12,000 immigrated to Canada, mostly staying in British Columbia, earning a living in the fishing, mining and lumber industries.       

 World War Comes Again: 1939 – 1941

After years of building up Germany’s military after the ravages of World War I and grabbing bits of land by bluff and bluster from Europe’s political leadership saying this was all that Germany wanted. The real German ambition stormed across the Polish frontier at 06:00hrs.on 1 September 1939, trumpeting the start of World War II.

By the end of September, Poland had collapsed, the “Phoney War” phase started and Europe began to prepare for the real war expected to start in the spring of 1940. The thunderclap fell on the 9^th of April, first on Norway and although the allied nations struggled valiantly to stem the German onslaught, defeat after defeat followed them. 

In May the German “Blitzkrieg” ripped through Belgium, Holland and France crushing all opposition put into the field to stop it. With remarkable speed, not repeating the mistakes they made in the “Great War”, the Germans were able to conclude this phase of the war by the 25^th of June with the fall of France.

1940 was a dismal year for the allied governments as more and more of Europe and Africa fell into German hands. The only bright spot was in the skies over England. Here the valiant ‘few’, pilots from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with remnants from the fallen European countries met the Luftwaffe, and though they suffered grievous casualties the RAF stemmed the German ambitions of invading England.

Through all of this Canada was supporting the war effort with troops, airmen and sailors to bolster the allied effort. From coast to coast Canadian civilians were beginning to feel the effects of war rationing and government control in day to day matters brought about by restrictions. In general, though, life went on more or less as it did before the outbreak of hostilities for most people.

In the Pacific war had been going on in the Far East since 1931 when Japan aggressively engaged in expanding footholds it had made on the Asiatic mainland, at the expense of the Chinese. Generally the western world paid little attention to this, though the Japanese intervention was to the detriment of the United States and British interests in the sphere. This conflict continued into 1937 while the Japanese consolidated their control over a vast area.

Through the years 1938 to 1941 most of the attention to this came from the Americans who had been aiding the Chinese, without ‘officially’ being involved. This all came to an end on 7 December 1941, America’s first 9-11, when the Japanese attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbour bring the United States finally into W.W.II.

This short history of the start of World War II is necessary to set the stage for what would soon befall the Japanese-Canadians in British Columbia as 1941 came to an end.

The Search Begins

     I had to start this search somewhere, and for no other reason than a note in Yon Shimizu’s book “The Exiles” about the Federal government talking to the BC government in February of 1942, I picked 1 April, 1942 as the date to start. I figured it would take some time for talks between the various governments to conclude and for actions being taking place, even during wartime. 

     My thoughts on how to approach this search were to take the first headline that caught my eye on the front page of the Chatham Daily News of 1 April 1942. Then scan the pages for articles about sugar beets, this being the reason for the Japanese coming to Kent and in a broad sense, any articles to do with the Japanese moving to Kent and the attitude of the local people to this ‘importation’.

    It is my belief that small town, local papers, are a good barometer of local opinion. Unlike big town papers, almost everyone in small town Ontario knows the editor of their paper by face, and are seldom shy about taking them to task on the street over items they have printed. The smaller the town the more likely this is to happen.

 What follows is a synopsis of the articles.

Newspaper articles – Japanese-Canadian Evacuees In Kent County, Ontario.

and related subjects

Taken from the Chatham Daily News – Starting 1 April, 1942

Dresden (Weekly)Telegraph – Starting 16 April, 1942

Blenheim News Tribune, Ridgetown Dominion and Tilbury Times.

  The smoke had not completely settled over the wreck of the United States of America’s Seventh Fleet at Pearl Harbour after the attack of 7 December, 1941 before the Government of Canada began it’s ‘forced evacuation’ of Japanese Canadians from the coast of British Columbia. In today’s lexicon of terms what was to follow would now be called “ethnic cleansing”, a term that has become synonymous with hate and maltreatment of citizens due to their race, colour or religion. Something most Canadians if asked, would say was abhorrent to them.  

THE BEGINNING OF A MASS EXODUS

The first evacuation order was posted by an R.C.M.P. officer in February, 1942.                  

8/01/42                         “Former Tilbury Boy At Pearl Harbor” [TT]

    How small the world was even in 1942 that the small town of Tilbury would have a young man with some connection from there involved in the catastrophe that was the United States loss of it 7^th Fleet at the hands of the Empire of Japan. The, “anxiety of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brown of Detroit was allayed on Monday last”, their son Durwood Brown a nephew of Miss Dola Kent of Tilbury reported home that he was safe. Durwood had attended school in Tilbury, he had joined the U.S.N in 1940. 

 The new war in the Pacific was starting to appear in Kent papers with personal connections to the area’s population. The effect to the Japanese-Canadians in British Columbia would be felt much more acutely.  

29/01/42                    “B.C.s Problem With Jap Fishers” [T.T]

                                   “1,800 Japanese Fishermen Have Been Cut Off From Regular Labor”. Though the Japanese fishing fleet was confiscated the day after the attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbour, December 7, 1941 the effect to the Japanese Canadians is just being reported.

   The article goes on to report that it is fortunate that the loss of their fishing licenses come after the close of the fishing season, “the salmon and herring, representing possibly $10,000,000 or more”. This gives some indication of just how big the west coast fishing industry was in 1941 and how large a piece of it the Japanese Canadian share was. There must have been great happiness for those of non-Japanese decent who would not have to worry about ‘foreign’ competition in the 1942 Salmon harvest.

   The article it points out as a positive that, “the Japanese fishermen have in most cases received the money that comprises the bulk of their year’s livelihood, so that their enforced unemployment will not result in a bread line or relief problem.” The article contends that though the fishermen generate a lot of economic impact for the community, it is in fact a small proportion of the, “24,000 persons of Japanese racial origin within the boundaries of the Province.” 

    “To intern the entire Japanese population as some well-intentioned spokesmen suggested; would entail tremendous cost” the writer goes on to say, that it would be, “a roundup of unprecedented proportions”. It is concluded that, “Obviously no such program is being seriously contemplated at this time.” On 24 February, 1942, Secret Order-In-Council P.C.1486 empowered the Government of Canada to remove all persons of Japanese origin from the 100-mile ‘protected area’, regardless of citizenship. Two days later the forced evacuation began.

29/01/42                     “Canada Will Use Jap Fishing Fleet” [T.T]

                                    In true Canadian fashion, the Government will be, “putting back into production the 1,100 vessels of the British Columbia Japanese fishing fleet.” Actually the number of ships impounded would be closer to 1,300. Since the Japanese fleet played such a big part in fish production, contributing “largely to the food supplies of the Empire”, (British Empire that is), the government, was not going to let a fleet valued at, “between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000” sit idle.     

   To make sure that only non-Japanese could make a living at west coast fishing the government also ruled that, “those of Japanese racial origin would be prohibited in all Canadian waters, and banning Japanese from serving on any fishing vessel”. It seems that those of German or Italian origin were not so restricted?

                     Impounded Boats, New Westminster

                                                  1,200 fishing boats were impounded.

26/02/42                        “Jap-Canadians May Be Used In Beet Fields” [T.T]

                                       It seems that the farmers and food producers in southwestern Ontario were thinking about the quickly diminishing labour resources in the district. Mr. Fred McGill of Middlesex, speaking at a mass meeting held in Chatham’s Harrison Hall, a members of the Sugar Beet Growers Association and Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. discussed the use of Japanese Canadian evacuees in this year’ sugar beet crop.

Alberta and Manitoba would be much quicker submitting requests to the federal government for this cheap supply of farm labour.

1/04/1942              “Japs Beat Captive Canadians” [CDN]

                                With the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the fall of Hong Kong, the Japanese military had been rolling up one victory after another. There was fear enough that the Japanese might strike the mainland of North America, although that was unlikely. Headlines such as this, true or not, fanned anti-Japanese sentiments in the general population, though that was not necessary in British Columbia where there was already a good deal of hostility towards them. The article on the front page, graphically described the treatment of captured Canadians, “The soldiers were stripped to their waist and forced to their knees. Ropes were tied around their heads with knots in their mouths. Their hands were tied behind their backs.” This was clearly not a good time to be Japanese in Canada. It was reported on page 6 of the second edition of this paper that the government in Ottawa was not aware of this report. My only reason for adding this article is that it is representative of what was being printed at the time and would influence the public’s opinion towards anyone of Japanese ancestry.                                   

1/04/1942            “Ontario Bound Japs Reach Winnipeg” [CDN]

                              Dated Winnipeg April 1:- A party of some 132 Japanese from the west coast were on their way to the ‘road camps’  around Schreiber, 15 miles east of Port Arthur (today’s Thunder Bay). While at this camp the young, single Canadian born Japanese would be involved in roadwork on the Trans-Canada highway. A Mr. T. Nishi Jima, from New Westminster BC, spokesman for the Japanese men said, “You must remember that we are Canadians. We were all born in Canada and we feel that our loyalties belong to this country.” Mr. Norman Watanabe, in reference to the RCMP who were guarding the men “They have been very nice to us.” Always wise to not ‘bad mouth’ the guards. It was also reported that Ontario Premier Hepburn recently announced as many as 3,000 Japanese might be moved to Ontario.   

2/04/1942             “Japs Arrive At Schreiber” [CDN]

                              The first of 132 Japanese from BC arrived at Schreiber, a railroad town 120 east of Port Arthur with two RCMP constables in charge of the men. Most of the Japanese men ranged in age from 21 to 30 years. In charge of the young men was 43 year old Mr. Frank Nagavo, a resident of Ocean Falls, BC for the past 30 years. A veteran of W.W.I serving with the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Mr Nagavo declared, ”We’re all for Canada in this war and we want to do our part.” He went on to say, We understand that later we may get jobs in mills at the prevailing wages. They told us we would get 25 cents an hour in the camps.” A KazoKato said he has a brother overseas with the Canadian Forestry Corp. Hiedo Kano said he had tried to enlist but was rejected. 

7/04/1942             “20, 000 Youths Are Needed for Farming” [CDN]

                              It was quickly becoming evident that there would be a serious shortage of manpower on the farms of Ontario in 1942 than earlier thought . In Toronto, Mr. A. MacLaren director of the Farm Service Force estimated that twenty thousand students, aged 12 and up, would be needed to bring in that years crop. It was planned that camps would also be set up for girls aged 16 – 19 who would be paid 22 ½ cents per hour. Boys would be paid $20 for the first month and $25 if they were experienced. Rates of pay for female worker were most often below males doing the same or similar work

7/04/1942           “Canadian Farm Working Force Reduced” [CDN]

                              The Selective Service branch of the federal government reported that the population working on farms had dropped from 38% to approximately 20% since the First World War. Officials estimated that up to 10% of all farm workers in Canada, had left the farm for better paying industrial jobs in 1941. The young farm boys were moving to the factory jobs left by men enlisting in the forces.  J. M. Armstrong, a technical advisor to the Agricultural Supplies Board indicated that an increase in the purchase of farm equipment had help to offset the loss in manpower. Tractor sales in 1938-39 were just over 13,000, in 1941 the figure had jumped to 20,968. The Second World War would bring mechanization to farming in an accelerated fashion during the war years.   

7/04/1942            “Dewan Appeals To Sugar beet Growers” [CDN]

                               Agriculture Minister P. M. Dewan, speaking to sugar beet growers of  southwestern Ontario, urging them to do their patriotic duty and increase their acreage of sugar beets up to 40,000 acres. With a normal yield of 10 tons per acre that would equal 400,000 tons which would yield 100,000,000 pounds of sugar.  The price set by the Prices and Trade Board for 1941 is $7.20 per ton for beets at 14% sugar content and $10.20 for beets at 20% sugar. 

9/04/42                           “Control Board Decides Sugar Beet Prices” [TT]

                                        The Farm Product Control Board, has decided on a price for the 1942 crop reported, the Hon. A. St.Clair-Gordon, M.L.A. for West Kent reported. A minimum guaranteed price of $7.20 a ton for beets testing 14% sugar, up to $10.20 for 20% sugar beets. G. F. Perkins, chairman of the Board said the prices will be submitted to the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, “immediately for it’s ratification.”

1. Harry Wilson, chairman of the Ontario Sugar Beet Glowers’ Marketing Board, commented that, “we must bear in mind that there is a war on and that the prices of all commodities are more or less controlled at the present time.” The prices submitted by the board were: 

14% beets – $7.20 per ton.

15%   “      – $7.70  “    “

16%   “      – $8.20  “    “

17%   “      – $9.20  “    “

19%   “      – $9.70   “   “

20%   “      – $10.20 “   “    

75 cents per ton less for beet delivered to weigh stations.

10/04/1942          “Japs Will Not Vote On Plebiscite” [CDN]

                              A Dominion plebiscite was scheduled for the 27^th of April that if voted for, would release the federal government, “from any obligations arising out of any commitments restricting the methods of raising men for military service.” In other words conscription could and would be used drafting men into service for the war. Jules Castonguay, Chief Plebiscite Officer stated that since “naturalized Japanese are denied the right to vote in British Columbia provincial elections they will be denied the right to vote in the forth coming plebiscite.” The only exception would be for some 40 Japanese veterans who served with the Canadian forces in W.W.I. They must have figure their vote wouldn’t tip the vote against conscription. 

If there were to be a need for evacuees in Kent, the farmers would have to increase their acreage of sugar beets contracted to the Canada Dominion Sugar Beet Co. The only way to encourage them to grow more they would have to make more money on the crop they plant. Despite the war the price negotiated in 1941 for the 1942 crop would not be enough to entice the growers to plant more. If the price for sugar beets went up, then the farmers would plant more and then there would be a need for more evacuees from British Columbia. In the end that is what the Federal government was looking for.    

13/04/1942            “Sugar Beet Men Plead For Higher Acreage” [CDN]

                                Mr. George Perry, member of the Ontario Sugar Beet Marketing Board Negotiating Committee,(he would later become a long sitting MPP)was urging an increase in production of sugar beets to “beat the sugar shortage”. He was encouraging local growers to plant maximum acreage, as their “patriotic duty”.

  Growers and producers had failed to reach agreement a week before so the Farm Products Control Board had decided the matter and the Wartime Prices and Trade Board had given the “Go sign”. 

  It was felt that it would be difficult to reach the full acreage not because of the terms of the contracts but due to the lack of labour require to raise and harvest a crop such as sugar beets.      

13/04/1942            “No Japanese To Be Sent to Kent Area” [CDN]

1. A. Garner,Kent County Agricultural Representative and member of Wartime Agricultural Committee stated that there was no indication “at the present time” that Japanese workers from British Columbia would be working in the crops in this area.   

  Mr. Garner said that he believe all “enemy aliens” would be sent to Northern Ontario to do roadwork and thus relieve other worker to do crop work. Premier Hepburn is also on record as stating that all of the “Nipponese” will be removed after the war. The article went on to say that, “some men have expressed themselves as being in favor of bringing the yellow workers in while others have condemned the plan.”

13/04/1942            “Japs Will Not remain In Ontario” [CDN]

                              The issue of what will happen to the Japanese-Canadians continues in a CP story from Toronto. From this article it appears that the provincial governments of BC and Ontario are going to agree to make some 3000 Japanese-Canadian internees ‘landless- people’ at the end of the war. Ontario want assurances that they will not stay in Ontario and BC’s Hon. Ian MacKenzie in a speech to an Vancouver audience said “the Japanese may never return here”.

  Mr. William Duckworth MPP Toronto Dovercourt, read a newspaper report in the legislature of Mr. MacKenzie’s speech, in which he stated “The (Japanese) came to Canada, drove the English from market gardens through cheap labor. They can live on $350 a year. That the reason the Japs have control of the industries on the west coast. Now they are bringing them to Ontario for one reason cheap labor it is a move under a cloak.”       

  There was some doubt according to Premier Hepburn that Mr. MacKenzie had the authority to make such comments and further more he said, “the Japanese would have to be paid the prevailing rate of wages.” 

15/04/1942             “ Beet Sugar Refiners Ask For Support” [CDN]

                                “Sugar Beets vs submarines” might be the title of the appeal being made by the Canada and Dominion Sugar Company in their efforts to have the acreage increased for the 1942 crop year. They pointed out that every acre of sugar beets harvested, “helped defeat the U-boat menace”.

  This effort is directed at the Federal and provincial governments to strike a new deal on acreage a price for this crop year.  

  In another article, the plan presented would see as much as 40,000 acres planted and a price of $8.20 per ton of 16% sugar beets delivered to the processing plant. This would be an increase of $1.30 from the 1941 price. It easy to see that this is a big money issue for both the farmers and the C&D Sugar Co. 

 16/04/1942             “Growers Act To Obtain Workers” [CDN]

1. H. Wilson, chairman of the Ontario Sugar Beet Glowers Associationrevealed that the C&D Sugar Co. had voluntarily agreed to cancel all previously signed contracts with growers. These would be replaced with revised contracts acceptable to the growers. This revision would require all possible action to ensure an outside labour force for the increased harvest.

  The Federal government had realized the value to the war effort “if sufficient sugar can be produced to serve our needs and thereby release shipping for other war necessities.”

16/04/42                    “Sugar Beet Growers Pass Resolution” [DT]

                                 The Sugar Beet Growers Association at their meeting in Chatham on Monday the 12^th the following resolution. 

“Whereas the Canada and Dominion Sugar Company Limited, are now soliciting contracts for the production of sugar beets in 1942 in accordance with the provisions of a recent order of the Farm Products Control Board, the directors of the Ontario Sugar Beet producers Association as a Patriotic duty to produce as great an acreage of sugar beets as it is possible for them in order that the sugar beet refineries may operate at maximum capacity in 1942.”

   It goes on to encourage farmers that have not signed contracts to do so and that the Association will present this to the Farm Products Control Board.

16/04/42            “Six Japanese on Way To Premier Hepburn’s Farm” [TT]

                                      Six young Japanese Canadians from Vancouver are on the way to Ontario Premier Mitchel Hepburn’s private experimental farm near St. Thomas, Ontario. The men, one a university graduate in arts, another a commerce graduate, a first year applied science student, two professional gardeners and a cook. They will work as gardeners on the farm.

    From the Blake Heathcote book “Testaments of Honour” a collection of personal stories of Canadian World War Two veterans come some reference to the Japanese- Canadians at the Hepburn farm. Dick Corbett, of Toronto recalls that shortly after enlisting in the RCAF in 1941 he did some boot camp at the insane asylum in St. Thomas, Ontario. “They told us the Japanese workers from the local onion farm that belonged to Ontario Premier Hepburn might attack us at any time.”  This indicates the level of misinformation at was prevalent, what they might attack with isn’t mentioned, onions perhaps? Corbett goes on to say that there was a surge in “ethnic discrimination” at the time and that it was also directed towards the German and Italians, as well as, the Japanese. He goes on to reminisce that it, “really bothered me. I thought it was terrible, even at that time. These people were being lifted out of their lives. Even though some joined the Canadian army, they weren’t welcome. It was terrible.”      

   It’s not had to imagine that in the paranoia of the times and the disasters of the early months of the war with Japan that as Mr. Corbett goes on the say, “you tended to become oblivious to a lot of this stuff.”  

16/04/42                         “No Japs To Be Sent To Kent Area” [TT]

                                        Similar to the article in the Chatham Daily News of April 13^th except for Premier Hepburn’s reference to the, “three thousand Nipponese will come here this year and that, it is now definite that all of them will be removed after the war.” This might not have been mentioned to the six men in the article on the other side of the page. The other difference concerns the comments of Mr. J. A. Garner, Agricultural representative for Kent who in this article said, “at the present time it is believed that the enemy aliens will be sent into Northern Ontario to do road work.”

23/04/42                  “District Beet Growers Are Assured Of  Labor” [TT]

                                        The Ontario government has given assurances that adequate labour will be found for southwestern Ontario’s beet growers. It is felt with this guarantee, “has removed the last impediment to farmers contracting for a maximum acreage of sugar beets in 1942.”

   The Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. hopes to be able to operate it’s plants at Chatham and Wallaceburg which can process the beets from acreage of 40,000 to 45,000 in a single season.  

2/05/1942             “Growing Of Sugar Beets Is a patriotic Duty” [CDN]

                                  The financial implications of the renegotiated contracts between growers and refiners were given some dollars and cents. S. R. Noble, sugar administrator of the Wartime Price and Trade Board said in reference to the new contracts. “Assuming normal yields, a ton of beets in the present season will be worth about $8.25 at the factory, which with average tonnage would give a cash yield of $85.00 to $100.00 per acre.” Since sugar beet production did not lend itself to mechanization a very large amount of hand labour would be required, thus the absolute need for the Japanese-Canadians from BC. “Every ton of sugar produced in the factories of Chathaam and Wallaceburg means that much less will have to be brought from overseas at the risk of vital tonnage.”   

2/05/1942    “Report B.C. Japs May Be Taken to Dresden Section” [CDN]

                               Now that the finances and patriotic connection has been established between sugar beets and the war effort, ‘unconfirmed reports’ start to come. This is the first to be reported in the Chatham Daily News. “The report has been circulated that 85 Japs had already arrived and were quartered in the Camden-Dresden agricultural society’s building at the fair grounds.” Though no one had actually ‘seen’ any of these men, there were those who didn’t want them or didn’t care.

4/05/1942               “Growers Fear Decrease In Production” [CDN]

                                A meeting of growers and representatives of C&D Sugar Co. was held due to “fear that the sugar beet acreage in this district would fall below last years 28,000 acres.’ It was important that a decision be made in the next ten days if there would be sufficient manpower to make the increased production viable. G. H. Wilson, chaiaman of the Growers Association reminded growers, “If no other labor is available it will be Japanese from British Columbia.”

5/05/1942               “Jap labor Idea Disliked By City Council” [CDN]

                               What a surprise, the City of Chatham didn’t want the Japanese in their back yard. The farmers might need them and it might be patriotic but not anywhere close to Chatham. Though the city alderman did not want to go on record as opposed to the plan they did state they preferred to, “put up with the Nipponese” rather than having them confined to a particular district in the county where they might be a serious detriment to the war-effort. Whatever that might mean? 

  One Alderman a Mr. Goodman (perhaps at one time) put forward a motion, “that the federal and provincial governments be informed that Chatham wanted no part in the settling of the British Columbia Japs.” The motion failed to be seconded.  

  This article does show the racist attitude that prevailed in Canada at the time. Alderman Goodman seems to be the champion of this opinion with comments such as,” we can get by all right without these sons of the Rising Sun.”  And the hate spreading, “If a Jap meets you on the street in the dark, he would just as soon stab you in the back as look at you.”

  Alderman Humphrey tried to moderate this opinion when he rose to counter these remarks, “A lot of these Japanese are good naturalized Canadian citizens.” Only to be rebuffed by  Mayor Hubbell’s  interruption with, “Do you mean that the Japs are our friends?”

Though political correctness might stop this being said in print today, I believe the undercurrent of racist thought, is not so far below the surface in today’s  world, we learn little over time.

6/05/1942         “Japanese Laborers Will Arrive Here May 24^th” [CDN]

                                Alex MacLaren, Director of the Farm Services Force is reported as saying that by the 24^th of May, 400 – 500 Japanese will arrive in Kent county for the beet blocking season. He said that the Japanese would be, “split up into groups of fifty or sixty.” As for the disposition of these men he said that the group coming to Chatham, “will be probably established on the property of the Canada and Dominion Sugar Company.” As for the others, he said camps would be established at Essex, Wallaceburg, Dresden, Glencoe and Petrolia.”     

7/05/1942          “Canadian Japs Are Analyzed By D. S. Aiken” [CDN]

                               This is an interesting article, if for no other reason, it shows the prevailing attitude held by a large number of English Canadians at the time. It is my opinion that the newspapers of the day were a fair representation of their readers opinions, this is especially true, in smaller communities such as provincial Chatham during the Second World War. 

  This article, printed in some length, concerns an address given to the Chatham Rotary Club by Mr. D. Stuart Aitken, manager of the Chatham plant of Canadian Industries Limited (CIL). It appears that Mr. Aitken does some business in BC and this has provided him with insight into the problem of the Japanese-Canadians, “this small but efficient group of 24,000 celestials from the Land of the Rising Sun”  and the other residents of that province, was the subject of his talk.  

  According to the speaker, “For the past 20 years, Japs have been making inroads into almost every business, partically controlling the fishing industry even owning their own canneries – taking control of the Fraser Valley small fruit production, operating a cooperative jam factory, cold storage plants, and processing all strawberries exported to England.” Imagine even to England!

  And it gets worse. “In Vancouver the Japs gots (as printed) into everything, importing, exporting (those strawberries no doubt) operating their own banks, whole sailing groceries, operating hotels, drug stores and other numerous retail trades.” Imagine that, their own banks, could it be that the ‘other banks’ didn’t want Japanese business?

  In reference to the Japanese, Aitken up holds the standard racist view with comments such as “They are great workers, cold-blooded in doing business” and “I would not take the word of a Jap on anything”. He went on to say how they have schools, churches and social clubs of their own, well who could blame them if the speaker is any indication of the non-Japanese community. Of course to paint the sinister picture, he goes on to say, that these were only fronts, to obtain information which was passed on to, “the Jap Consulate” so they would know the activites of, “ the little people of the Rising Sun.”    

  In regards to the recent internment of the Japanese-Canadians Mr. Aitken offers this observation of his brother who wrote to him of the expulsion, “the Japs are going smilingly into concentration camps and confidently hope to be back on the western coast very soon.” 

7/05/42                          “Growing Sugar Beets Is A Patriotic Duty” [T.T]

1. R. Noble, Sugar administrator of the Wartime Prices and Trades Board, points out that, “it seems very doubtful that the slowness of beet sugar farmers in southwestern Ontario in contracting for a maximum supply of beets is the result of price control.” Farmers need to know that regardless of the contracted price for any commodity they have to have the labour to plant, raise and harvest the crop.

   “Never before has any section of a farming community in Canada had a greater responsibility placed upon them” says Mr. Noble.

8/05/1942               “Cities Have Rights to Rule on Jap Matter” [CDN]

                               Toronto May 8. – The Hon. Humphrey Mitchell, Minister of Labor advised the Mayor of Toronto that “Japanese-Canadians were being moved from the west coast for their own protection.” He went on to say that the federal government had authorized the provincial government to enter into agreements with any province the relocation of these people to another province. 

  The Mayor of Toronto had been approached by a n official of the United Church of Canada to consider the possiblity of bringing,”25 – 30 Christian Japanese from British Columbia to Toronto to take paositions as domestics.”  

   According to the news report, “A conference of patriotic, business and labor organization representatives was held with the Board of Control and it was unanimously agreed that these applications should be rejected.” So much for Toronto the good. 

8/05/1942          “Citizens Object to Japanese Labor Site In City” [CDN]

                               Now here is an article that will ring true with anyone who has had anything to do with having a group home, woman shelter or half-way house located in an urban setting. The “not in my backyard” mentality and near to the ‘well-to-do’ condemned this one.   

   In this article the citizens of King Street West, one of the more affluent areas in the City of Chatham. They are up in arms that the C&D Sugar Co., are planning to have the ‘Chatham camp’, located in the “Farm House” on their property that would be behind King Street West homes.  

  According to the article, “The intense antipathy entertained towards anything Japanese as a result of the atrocities committed by native Japs in the war.” There was talk of a petition to the City Council and the C&D Sugar Co. to prevent this move from going through. The recent construction of new and beautiful homes has made this area one of the select areas in the city. The citizens of the area, “take great pride in their most attractive street, and the fine class of citizens who have made their homes their.”    

   Mr. H. J. Payette, whose home is only two doors from the lane leading to the “Farm House”, raised his objection to this site, “you know how kiddies become terrified of the stories of the ‘Big Bad Work’; and in this war Japanese as almost in the same category as the wolves.” Never hurts to throw “kiddies” being frightened into your argument.

  If “kiddies” are not enough Mr. Payette bumped the bar up when he added old people and women. “older people would not be free from this fear, and my own wife declares she will not rest a minute if this camp is established.” And finally, “at this particular point, it will lower the value of our property”.  

  Henry Stokes, Agricultural Representative for the C&D Sugar Co. confirmed that the  company, was in fact looking at this location to locate about twenty Japanese workers. Mr. Stoles went on to say that, “They are all Canadian Japanese, who have taken out citizenship papers in this country and many of those that come to Kent were born in this country.” 

   Mr. Cecil Leeder , another concerned property owner suggested that, “they consider housing these Japs over by the river, where they housed the Mexicans when they were brought here during the last war.”  

9/05/1942               “Jap Labor Camp At Dresden” [CDN]

                                 The camp for the Japanese workers will be established on the fair grounds at Dresden but only for the summer months when they will vacate the property for the fall Dresden agricultural fair. So much for the patriotic work the evacuees might be doing in the area!!!

9/05/1942           “Farmers Defend Jap Importation Scheme” [CDN]

                                It is reported by the Chatham News, that according to Mr. Alex MacLaren, director of the Provincial Farm Labor Force, the Ontario government has “no intention” of bringing Japanese laborers to Chatham if the people are opposed to the scheme. MacLaren went on to say that, the entire plan is only to help Kent through the worst labor shortage in it’s history. I wonder if the other communities would have the right to veto? 

  Reeve Eugene King, speaking at a dinner meeting held in the Bluebird Tearoom, of the Wartime Agricultural Committee made his opinion very clear. “People of Kent County who object to the importation of Japanese farm labour are merely crying out in the wilderness in a false effort to make people think they are patriotic.” He went on to say that the crops of Kent, “would rot in the fields unless outside labor gangs are able to harvest them.”

  Reeve King reminded the assembled that during the last war Mexican were brought to Canada to help and they did an excellent job. “From what I have heard”, the Reeve went on to say, “the Japanese that are coming are former truck farmers. They could certainly do the heavy work that has to be done.”

   J.A. Garner, Kent County Agricultural Representative said it was expected that from 500-600 Japanese would be sent to western Ontario and would be put up in four camps in Kent at, Tilbury, Wallaceburg, Chatham and Dresden. From these camps they would be sent out in small groups under the custody of the farmers. He went on to say that as many as 3,000 of the BC Japanese would be brought to Ontario. This he said would be mostly workers and their families in residence in the Prairie Provinces. Those with family will be required to assign a portion of their pay for their support. That’s right the Japanese in the camps had to pay for their stay there.

  There was also a strongly worded resolution asking the government to set up a high school boys farm labor camp, in the Blenheim area. 

9/05/1942               “Mayor has Received No Complaints” [CDN]

                            Chatham Mayor Hubbell stated that he has received no direct complaints about the proposal to bring Japanese laborers to a camp in the west end of the city. He went on to say that “This city is anxious to do everything which is reasonably possible to assist the farmers.” He did point out that the Japanese were for the most part second and even third generation Canadians. That being said he was quick to add that, “these Japanese will be here for a limited time and that there is no intention of making them permanent residents of this community.” 

11/05/1942             “B.C. Japanese Chopping highway through Rockies” 

                             (Photo)  [CDN]

     Three photos of Japanese Canadians in the road camps in BC.                                 

 12/05/1942             “Legion Men Refuse to Bar Japs” [CDN]

                                The Chatham Branch of the Canadian Legion was setting for a lengthy debate over a “terse resolution” that if passed would have urged the Federal and Provincial governments to halt at once the importation of Japanese labor into Kent county. This motion was made by Berthune Bingo and seconded by William Emans, last week a similar motion failed for want of being seconded.

  Emans asserted that farmers had told him, “they would sharpen their pitch-forks if the Japs come.” Mr. Bingo declared that, “it was undoubted that the British Columbia Japs, harbored a feeling of loyalty to their home country.” Another member, Mr. Percy Miller also an employee of the C&D Sugar Co. said he supported the scheme to import the Japanese laborers, he also raised the assurance given by both levels of government that, “the Japanese will be removed from the districts soon as their tasks are completed.”

   Emans question if in fact the Japanese were needed at all. The fact he said was that, “the farmers of Kent County are short of labor because all of the farm boys have gone into factories to make big money.” He went on to say that if there was an effective Selective Services System in place they would have the men needed on the farm put there. 

  Ferguson Davidson was of the opinion that “If they (Japanese) like it here, there is no doubt they will find a way to stay.”      

12/05/1942             “Japs Not Wanted At Port Colbourne” [CDN] 

                               It was not just Chatham that voiced opposition towards Japanese workers. The Canadian Press reported a similar opinion was raise by the Port Colborne and Humberstone branches of the Canadian Legions in ON. In this article it was reported that due to the opposition of these branches, the Canadian Corp and Welland council, as well as, other organizations, the Depyt-Minister of Labor Mr. McNamara had refuses the application of Erie Peat Ltd for Japanese workers.

14/05/1942         “Japanese Riot At Vancouver Soon Quelled” [CDN]

                                Canadian Press article from Vancouver, reported on the first outbreak of violence demonstrated by Japanese housed, in big three-story house on Burred Street. According to Austin C. Taylor, chairman of the British Columbia Security Commission the disturbance was, “more playful than anything else.”

   The Burred Street house located only two blocks from the CPR station was being used to house Japanese-Canadians before they were moved to the ‘road camp’ in the interior of BC. It seems that the men were protesting a recent change in the rules that now “barred them from having any close-quarter conversations” with those outside the building. Up till this they could communicate with family and friends through the building’s big iron-barred windows.    

   Though Taylor asserts the ‘disturbance’ was more playful than serious, the military guards used high-pressure fire hoses to quell the ‘disturbance. It is reported that some damage was done to the building, broken glass and the iron-barred window was torn loose and thrown to the street. There was not report of injury.      

14/05/42                     “50 Japs Quartered At Fair Grounds” [DT]

                                     Mr. J. A. Garner and Alex McLaren of the Ontario government met with the local Fair Board and have reached an agreement wherein the government will rent the grounds, “for the housing of fifty Japanese from the West coast of Canada.”

   The plan is to place the Japanese as close to the sugar beet fields of Kent as possible. “No set time has been made as to how long the building is rented but it is possible it will be for the duration of the war.” While the men are at the Fair Grounds, “A Veteran guard will be on duty every night.” The Japanese will be under the supervision of the RCMP. 

   Though their prime responsibility will be to the beet crop the men will be allowed when time is available, to work on other area crops and will be paid, “the prevailing rate of wages for sugar beet work.” 

   The article goes on into a bit of an editorial: “Lately we have heard much talk regarding the bringing of these Canadian born Japanese into our community and nearly all the talk has been bad.” Referencing the articles in the Chatham daily News no doubt.

The writer goes on to say, “we should all look at this undertaking from a broad viewpoint.” “We suggest we give the present plan a chance to work itself out and then if it does not come up to our expectations it will be time to take action to have it changed.” Too bad the political firebrands in Chatham were not this level headed.

   Finally the Fair Board has made sure, “At Fair time the building will be vacated for the week of the fair.”         

15/05/1942           “Plans For Jap labor Camp Taking Shape” [CDN]

                                  A three day conference between many levels and department in government and business representative were busy putting together plans to bring 400 – 500 Japanese workers to southwester Ontario, before 30 May, to work in the sugar beet crop in the spring of 1942. Those present were A. Garner, Kent County Agriculture Representative, Alex MacLaren, director of the Farm Labor Force and  W.R. Reek, Ontario Deputy Minister of Agriculture and representative of C&D Sugar Co. 

   It is planned to have camps at Centralia, Glencoe, Dresden, Wallaceburg, Dover Centre and Valetta. 

   When asked if there was any other plan to get labor for the crops Mr. Reek replied that, “We don’t know where to get any other type.”  

16/05/1942              “Jap Labor Camp to Be Built In Harwich” [CDN]

                                 “Harold English Farm Will Be Location Of Nipponese  

                                 Barracks”. This was the sub-headline leading into the story that the ‘Chatham’ camp would now be in Harwich township instead of on the C&D Sugar Co. property off King Street West as reported only eight days ago. It would seem that perhaps money came to bear and the decision on the location of the camp was modified. Two and a half miles outside of Chatham now seems to be the spot. It was also reported that as many as 350 workers had arrived in Schreiber, Ontario. This might be correct, if you take the 188 working on the roads and 162 destined for the beet camps, as reported 9 June, 1942, by Humprey Mitchel then Minister of Labor to Louis St. Laurent the Minister of Justice.

   The number of camps seems to be still up in the air Alex MacLaren, from the Farm Labor Force said that preparations “Have been drawn up for nine camps”. In charge of the arrangement for the Chatham/Harwich would be a Miss Cruikshank and R.E. McPherson, they expect the camp will be ready within a week.

   United Church Rev. L. S. Albright was in Chatham to begin the task of gaining public support for the labor scheme. Rev. Albright said “I have a big and important job ahead of me.” That might be an understatement based on what has been recently reported. The good Reverend reported that the Japanese coming to Chatham are second generation and “thoroughly patriotic”.

   When questioned about the recent ‘riot’ in Vancouver Albright commented that, they were “Just Canadians who got stirred up because they were being kept from their friends”. Maybe loosing their homes and being sent off to work camps might have upset them too.

   Other camps “definitely decided on for the Japs are at the farm of Frances Oulette in Dover township, at the “Old Oaken Bucket” tourist camp near the town of Essex, at the old refinery owne by the Consolidated Lumber Company in Wallaceburg, at the municipal grounds near Valetta, at the fair grounds in Petrolia, Glencoe and Dresden and at a farm two miles from Centralia.”

19/05/1942               “Harwich Men Stand By Jap Labor Scheme”

                            Seventy men of the Kent Farmers Club refused to go on record as being opposed to the worker importation scheme after three hours of debate. Mr. Jack Leatherdale a prominent Harwich farmer called the meeting to determine the felling of the groups as a whole.

   With the proposal in process to use the farm of Harold English to receive some twenty Japanese farm laborers calls from some rate-payers raising concerns that violence might break out between the Japanese and the soldiers at Number 12 basis Training Base might result. Capt. T. E. Crittle, chief of military intelligence for the district, speaking ‘unofficially’ stated that the situation had been discussed and dismissed. He stated that, ”Our Canadian boys in service are excellent young men and will realize the gravity of this problem.”

   Col. E. M. Ansell and Col. W. Grant Thomson confirmed that the ‘labour camps’ had they had assured the military that there was no reason to anticipate any problems. Speaking on behalf of the C&D Sugar Co. Dr. Harold Brown said, “We either have to put these Japanese in concentration camps and feed them or bring them here and let them work as servants of our war effort.” It was there war too.

1. A. Garner, Kent County Agricultural Representativepointed out that “Mr. English is trying to do all he can to help in this fight for freedom.” That opinion was supported by many in attendance. 

   Mr. Leatherdale, who called the meeting said that it, “was not called to boycott the Jap importation plan.” He has a son going into the army and he wants nothing to do with, “these yellowmen.” That opinion was supported by George Wilson.

   Mr. Garner reported that since september (1941) approximately 130 men had left Harwich to join the forces. An a report Harwich farmers in a survey reported they would need 88 yearly workers and 200 seasonal workers. To clarify the matter of salaries Garner said the workers would receive $22 per acre out of which, 75 cents per day would for each days board and keep. $28 dollars per moth would also be deducted for the support of their dependents.

   Dr. Brown said that Japanese laborers would allow another 4,000 acres to be planted and that, “This addition to the amount being grown is the equivalent of 100,000 pounds of refined sugar.” He said the a trip to Vancouver last year could not find any Chinese to help with the crop or Mexicans, as had been used in W.W.I, they were all being used by the USA. 

19/05/1942               “City Council Concerned Over Japs”

                             Chatham Alderman Garnet Newkirk, (later to be a Mayor of Chatham) expressed concern at the city council meeting regarding the rears that there will be an” infiltration” of Japanese into Kent county after the war. (No doubt due to the warm welcome they received during the war.) This opinion was shared by Aldermen James Harlick and A.E. Goodman. (Mr. Goodman’s opinion was so well put at the Legion meeting of 12 May).

   This all came from a brief discussion of the councils actions not to have the camp located within the city. (The good citizens on King Street West must have been happy at that.) Mr. Newkirk, still not satisfied that the camp will be located in Harwich township reminded the council that, “It should be remembered that these me are citizens of Canada, and when the war is over, it will be a difficult matter to get rid of them. (Oh right, they might have the liberties of other Canadian citizens then.) 

   Both Aldermen Harlick and Goodman spoke in support of Newkirk’s opinion. Goodman in particular showed his opinion when he recalled, “30 years ago, there was an agitation to keep Japanese out of the country. Had such action been taken, there would not be the Jap problem there is today.” “Once a Jap, always a Jap.” He commented.

   Alderman Groombridge reminded council that, “While our boys are there, it is up to us to treat these Japs as human beings.” (What happens after the war?) In conclusion Mayor Hubbel, in regards to the councils protest stated “We have done all we can so far as we are concerned.”  

 19/05/1942               “500 Japanese To Work Farms In West Ontario”

                            Canadian Press Toronto: Alex MacLaren of the Provincial Farm Placement Service said more than 500 Japanese Canadians will be arriving in western Ontario between 25 May and 2 June. 

   Camps will be established at Chatham(Harwich), Petrolia, Dresden, Valetta, Centrallia, Glencoe, Dover Centre, Wallaceburg and Essex.

21/05/42                      “W. M. S. Urged To Be Friendly to Canadian Japs”

                                      Miss Mary Mansfield of Watford Missionary Home from Smokey Lake, Alberta encouraged the ladies of the Dresden United Church to, “show Christian love and friendship to the Canadian Japanese.”

21/05/42                         “Ask Local Legion Aid Recruiting For Veteran’s 

                                  Guard”

                                        A letter from Colonel W. H. Kippen, Department of National Defence, writing to the president of the Canadian Legion branch 206 in Tilbury regarding the decline of recruits for the Veteran’s Guard. The Guard is made up of men up to “50 years of age and down to medical category ‘C2’ are eligible.”

With more and more facilities requiring guarding the DND is falling short to fulfil it duties. Veteran Guards will shortly be required for the Japanese Canadian beet camps in the soutest.

 22/05/1942               “Resentment Over Japanese At Dresden”

                                 It is reported that resentment is mounting in Dresden for the “50 Jap laborers that will be housed in the Camden-Dresden Agricultural Society buildings on the outskirts of the town. Most of the concern seems to be over, “ what the Japs will do after the war is over.” 

   Another concern was about the fall fair. It was confirmed that the Japanese would not interfere with the holding of the Dresden Fair. A representative of the Dresden-Camden Agricultural Society was quick to point out that one advantage will come from having the Japanese there,“will be the installation of water in the fair grounds.”  

                             According to J. A. Garner, the Harwich township camp will be ready for occupation by the Japanese workers in 3 – 4 days. Miss Cruikshank, head of MacDonald Hall in Guelph has been in Chatham buying “special kitchen and barracks supplies and equipment” for the camp. Garner also pointed out that the RCMP would, “take up guard duty at the various camps as soon as the workers arrived.”

   The Japanese who will be used at the camps in Kent will be from the ‘road-camps’ in Northern Ontario at Schreiber. Once the work is completed in the sugar beets, the men will be used in other agricultural work in the area, were there is a shortage of manpower.

   A group of small boys in Glencoe, showed their opposition to the establishment of a camp there, by smashing all of the windows in the kitchen and dormitories for the Japanes workers.  

23/05/1942                “Will Conduct Survey Of Japanese Camps”

                              Toronto: Miss Emma Kaufman of the YWCA will be conducting a survey of Japanese women and children sent to internment camps in British Columbia. The survey will take two months, with  the objective of seeking some educational programs for the Japanese women and girls while in the camps.   

26/05/1942                “New Edict Calls For A Third Cut Of Sugar Ration”

                                  Donald Gordon, chairman of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board announced the rationing regulation changes as: 

Sugar: Half a pound of sugar per person per week.

Tea: Individual consumption cut by one half.

Coffee: Individual consumption cut by one quarter.

Violation of these regulations will be prosecuted.   

27/05/1942                “Farm Work Camp Is Proposed At Blenheim”

                             Local farmers in Blenheim are also seeking to obtain farm workers. A committee consisting of Henry C. Nichols, T. Howard James, E. A. Eastman, V. G. Guigan and W. Davison will be looking into the matter.

1. Carter, assistant to Alex MacLarentold of camps in Harrow with 32 students and Leamington with 39 students. The welfare of the boys is in the hands of the YMCA. The boys earn 25 cents per hour. A girls camp may be established at Cottam supervised by the YWCA.

28/05/1942                “Legion Urges Deportation Of All Japanese Nationals At Close OF War

                                   Canadian Press, Winnipeg, May 27: The subject of Japanese nationals came up at the came up at the ninth biennial convention of the Canadian Legion being held in Winnipeg. The resolution urges the Dominion government to send all Japanese nationals in Canada at the cessation of hostilities back to Japan. J. J. MacKinnon of Mission BC stated “no town and hamlet of British Columbia and no province wants the Japanese. The Japanese nationals are squeezing our people out of the Fraser Valley.” Not to stop at the Japanese Dr. E.W. Banks of Victoria moved that the convention demand “immediate evacuation of German and other enemy aliens from British Columbia defence areas.” (British Columbia for the British!)

28/05/42                       “Japanese To Arrive in Dresden to-Day”

                                     Alterations to the Fair Ground building have been completed by the firm of Bresett & Tew, the building has been partitioned into kitchen, mess room and sleeping quarters, as well, water has been piped in, shower baths have been installed and everything is, “in readiness to receive the fifty Canadian-born Japanese.”  

   RCMP will be stationed at the Grounds, as well, George Rice and Jack McKernan, “veterans of the last war will be guards.”

29/05/1942                “Jap Workers Arrive Today At Dresden”

                                   Members of the RCMP took up guard duty at the Dresden Fair Grounds, in anticipation of the arrival of the Japanese laborers. Miss Olive Cruickshank has completed outfitting the kitchen and barracks, Alex MacLaren of the Ontario Farm Labor Force has all of the arrangements completed for the importation of the workers.

   Local farmers, who fear that the 1942 harvest is in jeopardy, are waiting for the much needed labour force. 

   Under the present arrangements the “Japs are prohibited from leaving the camp. No one will be permitted to enter or leave the campsite.” It is expected that the workers will go to the field at the start of the week. As soon as the farm work has ceased they will be removed from the district. 

30/05/1942                 “Scores Of Jap Laborers Arrive In Kent”     

                                   Friday the 29^th of May 1942, 60 Japanese arrived at the camps in Glencoe and Dresden. It is expected that 100 will arrive today to move to Dover Centre and the Harold English farm in Harwich. They will be “toiling” in the sugar beet fields, haying, threshing and hoeing and plowing in southwestern Ontario.

   The men destined for Dresden were brought to Thamesville by train and taken from there to Dresden.

   It was reported that the men found the climate here much more like home than that of northern Ontario. The camps at Valetta, Centralia, Petrolia and Wallaceburg will soon be in readiness for the arrival of the next group.

1/06/1942                   “Three R.C.M.P Constables Who Will Supervise Japs

                               With the ‘Burg Detachment”

                               The arrival of 96 Japanese in Kent county also brought three RCMP constables. Constable Chapman is posted to Dresden with 55 Japanese; Constable McCabe at the English Farm were 21 Japanese arrived and Constable McLeod at Dover Centre with 20 workers. Another constable will arrive with the next group. 

   Constable S. Green, in charge of the local detachment said each camp will have two ‘special constables’ and the workers will elect their own foreman. When asked about the ‘heavy guard’ that was expected, Green wondered where that impression came from. He said, “only one RCMP constable brought 115 down here from the camp in northern Ontario.” He went on to say, “strictly speaking they are not under guard. It is more of a precautionary measure than anything else.”    

2/06/1942                    “Action to Insure Kent an Excellent Crop”

                                 The article concerns the 21 Japanese men at the farm of Harold English as they prepare to start work in the field of Harwich township. One of the men the cook of the camp a man they call “Popeye” talks about his first impressions of life in a camp in Kent county. The rain has delayed them getting into the fields.

   He talks about holding no prejudice towards the those of the community, that have discriminated against them, prior to their arrival. The men were touched by the reception they received from the church members, the lunch baskets and the service conducted by Rev. Hugh Stewart.

   They expect another thirty men will arrive soon at Harwich from the camp in Shreiber.

3/06/1942                     “ Japanese Well Pleased With Quarters “

                                 The Fair Grounds at Dresden is home for “55 Canadian-born

Japanese until this fall”. The first farmer to hire any of the men was Ray McKim, he hired four to help plant his corn. 

   Norm Watanabe said that he “liked it better here than Schrieber. The country so much prettier than it was there.” With the temperature at 90F.,“Is this normal weather for Dresden?” one young Japanese asked.

   The are anxious to get to work since they have expenses in the camp. While working on the highway they were paid 25 cents per hour and room and board cost 75 cents per day. Besides that they are expected to pay for cloths, cigarettes and all other purchases. The young men range in age from late teens to middle twenties, all but two or three are single.  

4/06/1942                      “ Japanese Go To Work Today In Beet Fields”

                                   In the heat of southwestern Ontario the Japanese laborers stationed at Dover Centre, Harwich, Dresden and other camps started work on the sugar beet crop. The only problem to those in charge of the scheme in the past few days “has been finding qualified cooks to take over kitchen duties at the camps.”      

4/06/1942                      “ Coming Of Japanese Is a Christian Challenge

                                    Says rev. l. S. Albright”

                                  For the first time since I began the search for the story of the Japanese-Canadians coming to Kent County, an article covering a talk given by Rev. L. S. Albright, United Church missionary to Japan, tries to explain the plight of these people find themselves in. 

   Speaking to the Chatham Rotary Club, “The coming of these people to Kent County is a challenge to this community.” he said in his opening remarks. “If the Brotherhood of man is just idle talk, then we might as well give it up. If the Federation of the World is merely a pipe dream, why bother about it?” 

    Rev. Albright made a strong case to show that the duty of this community is to give these men a “fair break” while they work the farms of Kent. He went on to explain some of the history of the Japanese. The 1908 Lemieux Agreement that limited the number of Japanese to 400 a year, including wives and family. How this was reduced to 150 in 1923. The 1925 American Exclusion Act that all but stopped immigration to that country and this brought about a change in Canadian policy that reduced the number by counting students.

    Albright said that there are approximately 25,000 Japanese in Canada in 1942, of which, 23,428 were living in BC prior to Pearl Harbour. But the Japanese had come under scrutiny prior to that; in 1940 a committee was set up to advise on the ‘Japanese problem”. The Japanese were exempted from military service and they were compelled to register with the RCMP. 

   He talked at length about the War Measure Act that imposed dusk to dawn curfew for Japanese and established the British Columbia Security Commission. He went on to talk about the forced evacuation of the Japanese-Canadians to camps in the interior of BC and the putting them to road on road projects there.

   He pointed out that Japanese men had been working in the fields of Alberta and Manitoba without there families and lately the groups that had been sent to Schrieber to do road work for 25 cent an hour.

   The Reverend explained that how the Japanese-Canadian had lost their civil liberties, they are not considered enemy aliens; they are not prisoners of war; and they are not internees. The majority of then, 75% at least are native born Canadians, who were educated here, speak little Japanese and act and react like any other Canadian would.

   There were many questions asked by Rotarians,”Would they fight the Japanese if they invaded Canada” . Albright said he was unable to give a definite answer to that question. Other questions on the possibility of ‘fifth columnist’, the size of the Japanese run fishing fleet, the Japanese control of the canning and fruit industry (those strawberries going to England again) and the segregation of the races. 

   He thanked the club and was thanked by president Walter Watts.

4/06/42                          “Around The Old Home Town”         

                                     I watched the paper for ‘Voice of the People’ type articles to see if the general public might have a different view from the articles printed, when I came across this. The column, a sort of ‘regular feature’, written by Jack McKernan Sr. (See above) is written “For The Boys Overseas” this being Vol. 2, to keep the boy up on the news from home and is printed in the Dresden Times. Since it is written by a veteran of W.W.I, to men in service, I think it bears repeating.

“The government has set up camps of Canadian born Japanese throughout Kent and Middlesex counties to work in the sugar beet fields, one of these camps being situated here at the local Fair Grounds.

   Your humble servant, also our mutual friend and comrade George rice have been assigned to duty with one of the regular members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a camp guard. This work helps your correspondent to feel as though one is doing a little something worth while in the present war effort. The 55 boys out at the camp are very fine chaps who appear to take their present lot with a very good grace and give us full cooperation in the supervision of the local camp. Although week-end would-be visitors to the race track were numerous, due to a natural curiosity to see the newly arrived Canadian Japanese, regulations forbade their being admitted unless on camp business.”

4/06/42                     “Japs In New Home”

                                  A photo of five Japanese Canadians at an unidentified road camp in the interior of BC. The last sentence of the caption in reference to the men laughing says, “Judging by the expressions on their faces they’ve suffered few hardships.” How could they not be happy after loosing their homes, businesses, property, being taken from their families and sent to the interior of BC to work for 25 cents an hour?

6/06/1942                  “ Jap Workers Are Encamped Near Tilbury “

                             Thirty one Japanese national from Schreiber and Jackfish Ontario arrived yesterday. Met by officials of C&D Sugar Co. they were taken to the camp on property adjacent to the Tilbury East township hall.

   Mr. Kunio Shimizu, former general secretary of the Japanese- Canadian Citizens League, warned that many of the men in this group are ‘city slickers’, not experienced farm workers and that they might be slow at first. He went on to say that of course they would do their best.     

8/06/1942                    “ Japanese Workers Sent To Dover And Petrolia” 

                              Another group arrived from Northern Ontario camp at Jackfish, this group of 44 Japanese, by Constable Brown RCMP. 17 men were taken to Petrolia, supervised by RCMP Constable Pratt. Constable McLeod took the remaining 27 men to the Dover Centre camp. “The Wallaceburg camp for the Japs is not ready as yet, to receive tem but work is being rushed.” 

9/06/1942                   “ Urgent Message Dispatched To Schreiber Camp”

                                    Mayor W. C. Hubbell of Chatham, pointed out in a telegram to Murray Pipher, BCSC representative at the Schreiber camp that a “suitable welcome awaits them (Japanese Canadians), if they decide to accept work in the beet fields of this district.” Whatever that might mean?  

The Mayor pointed out that the saving of the sugar beet crop is essential to “maintaining the production of sugar for the country”. It is Mayor Hubbell’s opinion that at least two hundred Japanese Canadian workers would be required. Hubbell was leaving no stone unturned and sent telegrams off to the Rt. Hon. W. L. MacKenzie King PM of Canada, the Hon. Humphrey Mitchell, Federal Minister of Labour and F. S. Noble, Sugar Controller pointing out the acute nature of Kent’s labour problems. He said he pointed out the Prime Minister, “that this is a national emergency, and that he should make a move to supply proper labor to look after the beet crop.”   

   Some of the mayor’s suggestions included:

• Men who formally worked in beet crops that are now working on the railways should  be encourged to quit and return to the fields.
• Soldiers currently in training at Number 12 Training Centre at Chatham be assigned to fields for this emergency.
• The original plan to have 500 Japanese come to Kent has been only half filled and the others should be ‘encouraged’ to come. 

   Rev. L. S. Albright, UC missionary said the problem will be convince that men at Schreiber, “that prejudice against them in this district has been dissipated”, if that could be done there is the possibility of 200 more workers. The Reverend went on to say, “There was little time to conduct an educational campaign among the people here, to convince the general public that the Japanese Canadians we intended to bring here are truly Canadian in their habits and thoughts”. Perhaps keeping Aldermen, Newkirk, Goodman and other out of the news might help the situation. 

   Not to mention what has been making the newspapers from the remarks of some elected officials, but stories had been getting back to the camps, about the men being “under heavy guard” and that the camps were surrounded by “barbed wire”, was not helping to make Kent County, a place you might want to come to.

Over the next few days most of the articles in the Chatham Daily News were concerned with the state of the beet crop and the lack of manpower. There were a number of issues that had caused this problem:

The labour situation was number one problem. The greatest drain on the Kent farmer’s labour supply was the Canadian Army. The second was boys leaving the farm to take factory jobs vacated when men joined the armed services. The third was the beet workers taking jobs as railway gangs on the Canadian National and Michigan Central railways. The forth was that the number of Japanese Canadians coming to the beet camps was lower than the 500 that had been expected.

As is often the case in farming the world over the weather was a factor in the problems with the 1942 sugar beet crop. “The situation has become critical”, said an official of the C&D Sugar Co. “Only about 25 per cent of the crop has been thinned. One heavy rain followed another, time after time, during May. The late beets caught up with the early planted ones and suddenly half the entire crop had reached the thinning stage.”   

There is no control over the weather and so it seems little over the need for manpower. The Hon. J. L. Ralston, Minister of Defence was first to break the bad news on the tenth of June, “there is no hope of securing the services of the men of Number 12 Basic Training Camp of this city.” 

A Patriotic appeal was now the last resort. The plan, put forward by V. G. McGuigan of Blenheim, was to get the citizens of Chatham and Kent County to give up their Sunday to spend it  in the beet fields. The Hon. P. M. Dewan, Minister of Agriculture put out the challenge, “Two thousand workers are wanted for one day to a million pounds of sugar for Canada.” To reinforce the patriotic zeal “Each man who volunteers for this work will be paid for his day’s labor.” Though the Japanese Canadians were working the beet fields for 25 cents and hour or $2.00 a day the rate for the good volunteer citizens was $10 per acre.  

Summary of articles from Chatham Daily News 9/06/42 – 11/06/42

11/06/42                     “Jap Nationals Arrive At Valetta Farm Centre 

                                    The arrival of 31 Japanese-Canadians from the road camp at Schreiber, Thursday, 4 June 1942, makes the fifth camp in the district. The men arrived by train at the Tilbury, Canadian Pacific Railway station and were trucked to the camp. “About a score of residents of the neighborhood were on hand.”

   The camp, “on the premises of Tilbury East Township hall and adjoining the hall.” Will be their home for the season. RCMP Staff Sergeant Anderson from Windsor supervised the transfer from train to camp. The men were taken to the “Valetta Presbyterian Church where the ladies of the Church Help Society had prepared a full meal in the basement of the church.” Reverend W. A. Williams gave the blessing, many of the men being of the Christian faith.  

   After a “30-hour unbroken train journey”, the men did not want to go directly to the beet fields. Imagine not want to exercise after 30 hours of sitting on a train? Kunio Shimizu, former general secretary of the Japanese Canadian Citizens League warned that the “Japanese are not experienced farm workers and might be slow at first.” Recreation for the men will mainly be softball, “and the baseball diamond on the property will be used by them.”

12/06/1942                 “ The Japanese-Canadians Are Received Favourably”

                                   An unnamed RCMP constable in Chatham, reports that the Japanese-Canadians have been making, “a splendid impression upon those who have come in contact with them”.  The article goes on to report that merchants in Petrolia who have been doing business with the men in the camp there are now requesting that the be allowed to come into the town. 

  In Glencoe men are allowed into the town to view movies, church services, at first with a Mountie but now that restriction has been dropped. Dover Centre and Dresden are also coming into a better understanding of these men and are warming up to them. In Valetta the Reeve of Tilbury, Mr. Hubbard has offered to arrange transportation to the lake so they can swim and fish.  

   The Reverend Mr. Albright, in response to the likelihood of more men coming to Kent remarked, “ if conditions could be made more agreeable and acceptable, it is quite possible that more Japanese-Canadians could be induced to come to this district.”   

13/06/1942                         “ Volunteer Laborers Showing results In Kent 

                                     Beet Fields “

                                            It is reported that an excellent response from the citizens of Kent to the “farm crusade” has, “driven a salient” into saving the sugar beet crop. W. Davidson, Secretary of the Kent Federation of Agriculture expects to see another 2000 worker in the fields the next Sunday.

   Canadian Industries Ltd. closed the plant in Chatham and had their 23 employees working on the 10 acre field of sugar beets on the farm of H. Pole in Harwich township. It is reported that they were doing a fine job. 

15/06/1942                     “ The Farmers Asking For Japanese “

                                   South Howard township finds itself in a labour shortage as farmers meet in the New Scotland UC. They told Douglas M. Campbell, MLA for East Kent that at least 25 labourers, “capable of doing heavy farm work” would be required through the summer. The farmers suggested, “that Japanese workers similar to those supplied to other areas in Kent would be preferable.”  

   “Excellent housing facilities are already in existence, Mr. Campbell pointed out, the hotel at Eatonville being immediately available.” 

   16/06/1942                “ More Japanese Arrive Here For Beet Work “

                                Fifty-four Japanese Canadians arrived from the Schreiber camp and will be posted to the camps at Valetta, Essex, Harwich and Dover Centre. The men will go to the fields immediately to aid in the thinning and blocking operations alredy in process.

   It was also reported that Graham Pipher, BCSC and Ontario Labour representative at Schreiber will be sent to Kent and remain with the Japanese Canadians until they return to Schreiber in the fall.

   The men who arrived today it was reported had donated an hours pay to the Red Cross. Not bad when you consider that after the 75 cents for room & board from their $2.00 a day pay. It seems that there is a need for Japanese girls to act as cooks in the St. Thomas area.

17/06/42                         “ Appeals for Assistance Of City Men “

                                      A meeting in Blenheim of the Rotary Club, had W. Davison, who was working for the War Committee and the Federation of Agriculture was guest speaker.  Davison speaking about the severe labour shortage said, “that a survey was made last spring (1941) and it was planned to have 500 Japs come to help in the sugar beet work.” 

   Interestingly Davison blamed the Japanese Canadians that, “have not co-operated as fast as we figured they would.” Perhaps the racist opinions put forward by elected representatives had something to do with the men not wanting to come to Kent County?

   It was Davison’s opinion that Kent’s labour shortage could be resolved by utilizing the spare time of able body labourers. According to him, “the thought came to us that if each town could in some way work out it’s own salvation it would relieve the situation a great deal.”    

17/06/1942                     “ Jap Valise Not As Bad As Labelled “

                                 This is more humourous than sinister It seems that when a group of Japanese Canadians arrived on the 16^th for the beet camps there was three large truckloads of baggage taken from the C.P.R. to the camps. It seems one of the bags was marked in black paint T.N.T., the bag belonging to one of the Japanese Canadians whose middle name was Nishijimol, and had nothing to due with the explosive.

18/06/42                 “Help Need To Save The Crops”

                            As was reported often in the Chatham News of the time the shortage of labour and the late start due to poor weather had put the beet crop in jeopardy. W. R. Reek, Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Ontario had issued an appeal to all able bodied urban dwellers to assist the farmers in saving the crop. It was his opinion that only a concerted effort of this “Farm Commando” would save the harvest.

19/06/1942                    “ Applications Already Made To Agriculture 

                                 Representative Here “     

                                        BCSC announced an agreement to “ bring 2,000 Japs in families into this province.”  J. A. Garner, Kent County Agriculture Representative stated that they are receiving applications from local farmers who wish to have “Japanese families to assist in cultivating and harvesting crops.”    

Major Howard Mellor of the BCSC announced that the “Province of Ontario has agreed to accept Japanese men with families evacuated from the coast.” It is expected that this will help overcome one of the biggest difficulties in getting Japanese men to move. Arthur McNamera, deputy minister of labor, said “Ontario now is prepared to receive 2,000 men, women and children.”

26/06/1942                     “U. S. sugar Beet Troubles – By Peter Edson”

                                       This was the second article to appear in the Chatham Daily News, the first on 10^th of June “BEET WORKERS ARE SCARCE IN THE U.S.”. According to the articles sugar beet growers in the southwest are short between 20,000 to 100, 000 “Mexican peons to take off this years crop.”

   It seems that the Mexican government is reluctant to permit it’s citizens to cross the border to take ‘war jobs’ in the USA. They don’t want a repeat of what happened after W.W.I when thousands of Mexicans were stranded in the USA and forced to go on welfare and live in rural slums.

30/06/1942                    “ Jap Families Not Wanted By Council “

                                 That their regular Monday Chatham city council raised their objection to Japanese-Canadian families coming to Kent from BC. A resolution put forward by Ald. Steele and Groombridge stated, “That this council go on record as expressing its willingness to have Japanese labor in Kent county during the continuation of the present war, but that it requests the proper authorities to take necessary steps to see that families of Japanese origin be not quartered here at any time and that no Japanese are permitted to settle in Kent permanently or remain in the county after the termination of the war.”

   Ald. Garnet Newkirk, who was responsible for raising the issue of Japanese labour being brought to this district and sparked the resolution, wanted to amend the motion to include, “no further infiltration of people of Japanese origin”. The motion failed to obtain a seconder.  

   Voting FOR the motion: Aldermen Steel, Harlick, Groombridge, Humphrey and Mayor Hubbell. AGAINST the motion: Alderman Newkirk and Myers. ABSENT: Alderman Goodman

   There was more discussion on the pros and cons of bringing families to Kent by Ald. Newkirk and Steel. The fact that there was an acute labour shortage being the main reason for allowing families to come to support the war effort.

30/06/1942                  “ Asks Co-operation Of the Farmers In Labor Plan” 

1. Davison, manager of the Farm Volunteer Bureaureported that there are a number of workers available and farmers seem lax in calling up to explain their needs. It was his opinion that, “the labor situation could be solved as soon as farmer co-operation was received.” 

   Japanese workers at the local camps are available for field-work now, other than sugar beets. This was confirmed by J. A. Garner, the Kent County Agriculture rep. Who said that though some Japanese might still be working in the beet fields many are, “hoeing corn, working in the pea vines and assisting in haying operations.” 

2/07/42                     “Chatham Council Objects To Japanese Families”

                                  This is in reference to the Chatham City Council meeting of the 30^th of June and the resolution of Alderman Steele and Groombridge. The motion was carried with five for the motion, two against and one absent.

3/07/1942                    “ Farm Service Camp Operates At Eatonville “

                                    This is the first report of the Eatonville Hotel being used under the Ontario Farm Services program. There are some 17 boys presently at the camp and they are working daily for the past “two to three weeks” on various crops in the area. Another 15 boys are “on call” for days of heavy demand.

   Roy D. Allen is in charge of the camp and has advised the local farmers with the harvest time “close at hand” they should make their needs known to him. Transportation can be arranged but Allen suggests that the farmers should plan to provide transportation. “A hot dinner awaits the youths on their return in the evenings.”    

6/07/42                    “Sugar Beet Harvester Is Introduced”

                                 The Essex-Kent Corn Growers is hoping that a combine beet harvester that they soon will bring to the district will help impact the positively on the labour shortage. “It harvests at a rate of six tons an hour.” “The revolutionary type of farm equipment it is said, would divide the time spent in harvesting the beet crop into a fraction of the time taken for the wearisome task.”

8/07/1942                   “ Association to Make Early Move To Keep Both

                              Sugar Refineries Operating During 1943 Season “

                                   Though not directly connected to the issue of Japanese Canadians in Kent county I add this article since it seems odd that with sugar such an important commodity in the ‘ war effort’. The question is why would the C&D Sugar CO. be making such a pronouncement before the 1942 crop is in. Setting the stage for the 1943 negotiations perhaps?  

Members of the Ontario Sugar Beet Growers Marketing Board and the Ontario Sugar Beet Growers Association met in the Board rooms of the Department of Agriculture with chairman of the board G. H. Wilson. 

   Mr. Wilson commented on the possibility that the Wallaceburg sugar refinery might be closed in 1943, “That is a catastrophe to the farm war effort.” He said that, “one of the major problems that will be confronted with is the labor situation and we are going to fins some solution to that at once.” The instillation of new “unloading equipment” at the Chatham and Wallaceburg plants would have a positive impact.

   The report is that the 1942 sugar beet crop looks excellent, “a pity that we did not have a larger acreage” Wilson said.    

   A report in the 14^th of July Chatham Daily News that, “W. J. McGregor, president of Canada & Dominion Sugar Co. announced that the large Wallaceburg beet sugar plant of the company would not operate this season.” McGregor went on to say that, “With a capacity acreage of over 40,000 it is obvious that we should be short 2,000 to 2,500 beet workers” was a major factor in the company’s decision.

13/07/1942                 “ B. C. Japs and Kent County Boys in Impromptu

                              International Tilt “

                                    Despite war-time tensions a meeting at Erie Beach between a group of young men from Blenheim and Cedar Springs and Japanese-Canadians from the Harwich camp on the Harold English farm developed into nothing more sinister than a spirited softball game. 

   Keith Lumley was responsible for organizing the ‘International’ game when he noticed the young Japanese-Canadians strolling the beach at the popular summer spot. The closely contested game ended in a 11 – 9 win by the Kent boys and positive remarks such as “Gee, they’re not bad fellows and they are good ball players” from those in attendance.

The Kent county boys were: Leo Moore, Murray Downie, Pug Smyth, Vern Lee, Keith Lumley, Jack Huddman, Beryle Cummings, Chuck Snobelen and Ross Huffman.

Playing on the Japanese-Canadian team were: A. Idenouye, N. Idenouye (brothers), R. Handa, K. Shimizu, A. Nishizuki, P. Ichikawa, W. Takaoka and his brother H. Takaoka     

 The day at the beach was brought to a close by a “sumptuous lunch”.     

14/07/1942                    “ Says Japs Are Well Behaved”

1. A. Garner, Kent County Agriculturalrep, who is responsible for the 375 Japanese Canadians presently stationed at the nine camps throughout SW Ontario reports them as “generally well-behaved”.  He pointed out that there are occasional, “rumblings of discontent about this and that” but nothing out of the ordinary.

   The prevailing rate of pay is now, “30 cents per hour” as is the case with other farm workers, some are worth more and some less.  It was suggested that the matter of paying some workers as much as 40 cents an hour while only pay some others 25 was discussed with an unnamed Japanese Canadian spokesman. Garner said the spokesman said that, “the idea of the Japanese was to share and share alike and therefore preferred to keep to the general 30 cent rate.”

   It is not thought that the Japanese will be kept in Kent over the winter, the housing that they are now in is not suitable for winter living.   

16/07/42                  “Interne Japs Who Refuse to Work”

                                  Japanese Canadians at Geikie and Decoigne road camps near Jasper Alberta have refused to work. The work strikes are in protest, “against the separation of Japanese men from their families and delays in receiving pay cheques.”

The arrests total some 29 including the 13 “ringleaders” are “en route to internment at the Canadian Immigration detention sheds in Vancouver under guard.” 

   It goes on to say these will join some 16 others also interned at Vancouver for, “what appears to be an organized break out.”

Re article Dresden Times – 16 July 1942 

“At Gosnell, Geikie and Descoigne, road camps in the Jasper area, several protest demonstrations were held because the men were separated from their families, their annoyance compounded by long delays in issuing the meager pay cheques. Although RCMP called these outbreaks “minor” * the men simply dropped their tools and refused to work, they arrested 29 “ringleaders”, shipped them to immigration detention sheds in Vancouver and then still under guard, to internment camps in Ontario.”

*Vancouver Province June 25, 30, 1942

 It is likely the went to the camp at Angler in northwestern Ontario  

16/07/42                    “Interne Japs Who Refuse To Work”

                                   Japanese Canadian workers at two road camps in the Jasper area, Geikie and Decoigue refused to work according to a spokesman of the BCSC. 13 ‘ringleader’ have been arrested as result of the stoppage and were sent for internment at the immigration detention sheds in Vancouver. This brings to 29 now being held. Approximately 7,500 Japanese remain in Vancouver awaiting removal.  

   The BCSC says it is handicapped in the removal of Japanese from the BC ‘defence area’, “owing to the reluctance of citizens in proposed settlement areas to accept evacuees.” See the position of Chatham on this issue above.

22 /07/1942                     “ Japs Moved To B. C. Town” 

                                   Kelso B.C. July 14: The evacuation of Japanese Canadians continues in B.C. with the arrival of “1,000 Japanese from the coastal defence zone.” In the little city nestled among the hills of Lake Kootenay, 34 miles north of Nelson. The population before the evacuees was approximately 500. 

   According to the BCSC, “the Japanese have made a good impression on officials and residents by their industry and willingness to cooperate in every way possible.”  

22/07/1942                       “ Camp Boys Given Threat By Kiwanians”

                                    It was ‘Boy’s Night’ at the Blenheim Kiwanis Club meeting at the Blenheim Hotel. Their special guests were the two superintendents and the 24 boys from the farm work camp at Eatonville. 

   The boys come from various locations, Windsor, London, Ridgetown, Blenheim, Granby Quebec, and even Brumford England. The boys efforts was praised in a letter from Mr. V. G. McGuigan who has had a number of the boys working on hi large farm at Cedar Springs.

25/07/1942                        “ Japanese Canadians Are Lauded on Work”

1. E. McPherson, superintendent of the campswhich house the Japanese Canadians praised the efforts of the men on the Kent farms. According to McPherson, “The scheme was largely experimental but it has proven successful.” He states that due to the efforts of these young men they made a major contribution in saving this years sugar beet crop.

   So far no Japanese families have been brought to Kent but McPherson reported that the department has received applications from local farmers to do so.   

30/07/1942                      “ BC Members Demand Removal of Japanese”

                                         Ottawa: Howard Green (Con. Vancouver South) member of Parliament from BC interrupted the tax business of the House of Commons demanding that, “swifter action by the government in moving Japanese from British Columbia’s protected areas.” Minister of Labour Mitchell defended the BCSC reporting that to date 16,000 of the 25,000 Japanese Canadians have been moved from the area.

1. G. Turgeon(Lib. Caraboo) spoke saying that regardless of where the Japanese were moved in BC that area was likely to be declared, “a protected area.” Mitchel said it was not the governments policy to place the Japanese in an “internment camp”, though 465 Japanese males had been interned as a result of their strike at a road camp.

   Of the remaining 8,927 still in the ‘protected area’, 3,000 are in camp at Hastings Park, Vancouver of the remainder, most are reported to be “women and children”.

1. G. Ross(Con. Toronto St. Paul’s)said, “Ontario would take Japanese from British Columbia as it would do anything to win the war.”  

12/08/1942                    “ Farm Helpers Are Entertained By Rotary Club” 

                                     The Blenheim Rotary Club entertained 60 Ontario secondary schoolboys who are staying at the formerly empty Park hotel at Eatonville. The boys were entertained by Blenheim’s famous Scotish singer Charlie McPherson and Dr. A. L. Story who showed his amateur movies. The club presented the boys with several sets of horse shoes for games of “barnyard golf.”    

14/08/1942                   “Kent Report indicates Excellent Harvests Are 

                                 Anticipated Here”

                                        A special bulletin from the Department of Agriculture indicates, “the best beet yield in years is expected.” Although the blocking and thinning of the beets was done under “very adverse weather conditions”, it is expected now that the crop will be above average in condition. Despite the “wide diversity of workers and their inexperience in singling beets at thinning time”, nearly all of the acreage has now had a second hoeing.   

2/09/1942                    “Big demand for Labor For 1943”

                               As bad as the labour problem was in 1943 the sugar beet growers were forecasting even a bigger problem for the 1943 growing season in which they expected a shortfall “of approximately 2500 skilled workers”. The shortage would also effect other crops, “The problem is becoming increasingly worse from month to month” stated G. W. Wilson, chairman of the Sugar Beet Growers Marketing Board. “This area produces many other crops besides sugar beet which are not successfully grown in other parts of the province.” Wilson pointed out.  

4/09/1942                   “Large Japanese Migrations To Interior Settlements”

                               Vancouver: Sept. 3 – The BC interior towns of Kaslo, Sandon, Greenwood and Slocan had been selected by the BCSC as sites for “housing and rehabilitation of Japanese” from the coastal defence area. Slocan had received 700 of the 7,000 planned evacuees, Greenwood and Kaslo currently have 1,000 and more are planned as accommodations become available. The BCSC have some 1000 tents borrowed from the US Army as temporary shelters.

   “Japanese being sent to the interior must have sufficient means to maintain their families and the units are being made self-supporting as far as possible.” The BCSC estimates that all Japanese will be moved from the coastal defence area by 15 November, 1942. 

   “The men who have been sent to the interior are chiefly elderly or unfit to work. Physically-fit male Japanese are engaged in road work upon the Hope-Princeton-Revelstoke-Sicamous and Blue River-Yellowhead highway projects.” The article goes on to say that roughly 13,000 have been moved to either interior settlements, road camps or “sugar beet plantations in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.” Some 9,000 who hold deferment permits are still living in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver; 3,000 of these, mostly women and children are being held in Vancouver’s Hastings Park.   

9/09/1942                    “Japs Are Free to Chose Jobs Mayor Reveals”

                                     This issue, raised in the Chatham City council, was to prove to be the start of what, by the end of the month, became a contentious issue between the City and County councils, local farmers and agricultural manufacturers.  

   Alderman A. T. Groombridge, at the regular meeting of the city council asked Mayor W. C. Hubbell “if it is true that a certain factory has been employing Japanese labor brought into Kent County?” the mayor replied that, “this was the first time I have ever heard of the rumor”. Ald. Newkirk then asked the mayor if he had any information on how useful the Japanese labor had been in this district. The mayor replied, “I understand some have been good and some not so good.”

   Newkirk remarked that he had seen some of these men “wandering about the city streets in the afternoon.” It was Alderman Myers that asked the mayor if the Japanese can chose the jobs they do. “if they like the job, they do it.” he said. “If they don’t they don’t accept it.” The mayor replied that he understood that they are free to work when and where they want. This led to Ald. Harlick asking if the Japanese received some subsistence from the government, to which, the mayor answered in the negative. “they work for their wages” he said “and pay for their subsistence at the camps.”    

10/09/42                     “Next Week Is Fair Week In Dresden Will Be Held

                               Sept. 15^th – 16^th and 17^th”

                                     I put this in only as a ‘benchmark’ and a bit of a mystery. According to the Chatham Daily News the men at Dresden were moved on the 17^th to Eatonville, where did they stay on the 15^th and 16^th if the fair was on in Dresden? There is no mention in the Dresden Times of the men moving at all?

14/09/1942                      “Japanese labor Problem”

                                       What follows is from the section of the Chatham Daily News called The Voice of the People. This is the first such article that I noticed on the Japanese Canadians from a citizen. Many of the opinions of Bert Joyce have been expressed in past articles and by city officials.

   It is Mr. Burt Joyce’s opinion that something “should be done to keep these people where they belong.” I take it that is any place but Chatham, Ontario. Joyce is upset that the Japanese men seem, “whatever time of the day or night on walks on King Street you can see Japanese around.” He objects to the fact that, “they have the run of the city in the shows, bowling alleys etc. as late as 11 p.m.” This is particularly bothersome since the “Canadian boys in His Majesty’s uniform have to be in by 10:00p.m.” 

   In light of the institution of the Selective Service law he cannot understand why these, “Japanese have the privilege to take or refuse a job.”  And if they are not subject to Selective service, “why are they not receiving Military Service?”

   According to Joyce, “If they cannot be trusted on the coast, and they are not wanted in the army, why let them roam the streets of Chatham?” If these men were in the “King’s uniform” he would be the first to congratulate them but since they are not he hopes they will, “be shipped North in the fall”. If nothing else, he is of the opinion that the Japanese should be formed into, “ labor groups” be put under “Military supervision with army pay and regulations.”   

   I’m not surprised that Joyce’s opinion, as is often the case of opinions, is supported by little fact.

15/09/1942                     “More Control of Japanese Is Suggested”

                                       A Letter from D. H. Rawlings, the Secretary Treasurer of Branch 28 Canadian Legion B.E.S.L, to the Editor of the Chatham Daily News concerning the Legion’s meeting held 14 September. At this meeting issue was raised concerning the Japanese from the farm camp being on the streets of Chatham, “both day and night without supervision.”

   Their opinion was expressed in a resolution that appeared in the paper. “It is therefore resolved that the action of the authorities charged with the supervision of the Japanese in allowing them to roam our streets both day and night and all day without supervision be deplored, and also a letter appearing you paper signed by Bert Joyce be endorsed as expressing the sentiment of this branch of this question.”  

Just who is Bert Joyce? Is he a member of Branch 28? How does a Letter to the Editor result in a Legion resolution, and as will be seen on the 22^nd of the month, a resolution of the City Council of Chatham?

23/11/1942                 “Bert Joyce A Candidate For Alderman”

                                   According to this Chatham Daily News article, Bert Joyce is the manager of Godfree’s clothing store on Queen Street”, Chatham, ON. The article goes on to say, “For several years Mr. Joyce has been in the public eye in connection with several municipal movements.” He is a member of the Moose Lodge where he is the secretary and a member of the War Chest Committee. A veteran of WWI having served with the West Yorkshire regiment of England, he is a member of the Canadian Legion.   

17/09/1942                    “ Japs Transferred”

                                 Japanese farm laborers who have been quartered at the Dresden fair Grounds during the summer are now stationed at the Eatonville Farm Labor Force Camp where school students were billeted during the summer months. The transfer was made in order to allow the fair buildings to be used for this year’s agriculture exhibition in that town.

   There were 55 Japanese Canadians at the Dresden camp, which would tally with Ralph Pyne’s recollection of the number of men at the hotel his father owned at Eatonville.

17/09/42                  “Should Bar Japs From Universities” – From the editorial page.

                                “Premier Hepburn has openly voiced the disapproval of Japanese being allowed to take University courses while native Canadians of similar age are required to serve in the defence of their country – and rightfully so.” according to the writer. It would seem that the Premier has forgotten that the federal government on January the 7^th 1941 denied Japanese Canadians the right to serve in the armed services. 

   The writer might just be revealing his personal prejudice with the following. “Just why any University in Canada should allow any of these yellow-skinned Sons of the Devil to embark upon ANY course is beyond our wildest imagination.” 

   The writers grasp of the treatment of the Japanese must be negligible when he goes on to say, “If they have been treated as well in other parts of the Dominion as they have been in Kent County, they have no kick coming.” Chatham is specifically noted in many books on the Japanese evacuation as a place that Japanese do want to come to.  

   The situation the Japanese find themselves in should not be complained about, “They are clothed, fed and paid for the work they do – is that not sufficient?” They are paid 25 cents an hour for their work, must pay 75 cents a day room and board, $1.00 a month medical. For whatever money is left they pay for their smokes, clothing and other items. This after many of them had to leave university, good paying jobs and lost homes and property. They just might have something to ‘kick’ about

22/09/1942                      “Council Scores System of Handling Japanese; 

                                   Families Not Wanted”  

The Bert Joyce of the Legion, Letter to the Editor on the 14^th is responsible for bringing the following to the Chatham City Council, appearing as a “one-man delegation”, how did he get on the agenda so quickly?    

   Capturing the highlights of Bert Joyce’s prsentation:

• Though the rural areas may be welcoming the Japanese many in the city object to their presence.
• He raised the issue of BC not wanting the Japanese back to the coast after the war. “If they are such good citizens why do British Columbia officials not want them back.”
• He said he was not “down on the Japs. If some were in khaki he would have no critisism.”
• They should not be roaming the streets in town day and night.
• They should be under military supervision.
• They should be subject to selective service.

Ald. Goodman, (also president of Branch 28 Legion) objected to the Japanese being able to roam the streets of the city. “If the soldiers at the training centre have to be in camp by 10 p.m. so should the Japs.”

Ald. Humphrey, felt “let down in regard to the supervision of these men”.

Ald. Newkirk, being opposed from the beginning to allowing the Japanese into Kent for any reason went on to object, “There is a desire in some quarters to have more Jap laborers especially families here”. It was his stated opinion that, ”We don’t want to abuse them but they should be treated as prisoners of war.”    

Ald. Steele, reminded the council that there were reasons in bringing the Japanese to Kent. In the first place they were needed for the farm labor and in the second they wanted to remove them from the west coast. He thought that, “it is a small task to harbor them”. “As to the post-war period, we are on record they are to get out and stay out.”

Ald. Groombridge, said the situation is a delicate one. The Japanese are holding Canadians as POW’s and we should be setting a good example. He narrated a conversation he had with a young Japanese man at Dresden. He heard how he had been a successful fisherman. He was told that the Japanese had been brought here on the understanding work would be found for them and that they were not supposed to hunt for jobs. He also said that when asked “the man loved Canada as much as Japan,” “I am sorry to say” said the young man, “that in his heart and soul there is still a love for the country of his forefathers.” Something every Scot would also agree with.   

Mayor Hubbell, Discussed the issue of the Japanese coming to the city unsupervised. He raised his objection with the RCMP and at the police commission meeting. He felt the men had been brought here under false pretences, “They were supposed to have their freedom, steady jobs and plenty of money.” He went on to say that some of the married men “wanted to bring their families and go on farms as hired help.”

Ald. Myers said there is something wrong when, “when these men are not working” while farmers are, “ up to their eyes in it.”

   I am struck by the similar position’s taken by members of the city council to the concerns raised in Burt Joyce’s letter of the 14^th to the editor of the News.

   As a result of Mr. Joyces Letter to the Editor and his ‘one-man delegation’ presentation to the council and the enlightened debate of the council, Ald. R. D. Steel moved the following resolution be approved by the council and sent to the federal government.

The resolutions states:

(1)  That the Japanese Canadians were brought here to perform necessary farm labor.

(2)  That they could be removed from the coast and kept under supervision.

(3)  That only single Japanese were to come here.

(4)  That all Japanese should leave when the war is over.

(5)  That all Japanese all Japanese be removed from the locality during the winter season.

The resolution went on to say that, “the purpose of the Japanese here be fulfilled by requiring them to work and keep out of town during labor hours, or be confined to camp at all times under detention.

The motion of the resolution was carried by a vote.  

24/09/1942                “COUNCIL REFUSES TO RECALL JAP LETTER”

                                  “Tremendous Loss Predicted If Japanese Labor

                              Force Is Removed From County”

                                   The Bert Joyce Letter to the Editor and the subsequent resolution from the councilors of the City of Chatham brought a swift response from the county farmers, arm organizations and agricultural manufacturers.

   Grave concerns were expressed at a ‘special’ evening council meeting resulting from, “a possible move from this area of Japanese farm workers brought here in the early part of the summer to alleviate a shortage of manpower in agriculture.” 

   A resolution sponsored by W. E. Reid of the Tomato Growers and seconded by A. W. McIntyre of the Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. The resolution, that the council, “move at once to correct press reports of a Monday night council session and that they retract a resolution suggesting that the Japanese be confined to their barracks while not at work.”

   Ald. Garnet Newkirk stated, “In fact I thought they were exceptionaly well handled.” To which Mr. Reid remarked, “Then there should be more censorship.” Others in attendance felt that hundreds of county farms would not be tilled this year if the Japanese left the county. And millions of dollars would be lost if the Chatham sugar refinery were closed due to lack of product to process. All of this would be proven if the Japanese carried out their threat to leave the district an “action taken after they were informed of severe council criticism registered last Monday evening.”

    Whereas the full council was in attendance for the meeting Monday, only Mayor Hubbell with Aldermen Steele, Newkirk and Myers were present for this meeting. 

   Mr. A. W. McIntyre, representing the C.&D. Sugar Co. said there had been a “lot of talk” in Chatham, but “ few facts have been considered”. The Sugar Co. had in fact approached Canada House to try and obtain Italian POW’s but this had proven impossible. A reduction in the 1942 acreage has resulted in the closing of the Wallaceburg refinery. If the Chatham plant were closed that would mean a loss of $3,600,000 including the $200,000 paid annually to the staff at the Chatham head office.

   Ralph E. Richards, speaking for Libby McNeil and Libby of Canada Ltd. estimated a heavy decrease in the production of many foodstuffs such as peas and tomatoes. “We have found that the Japanese are willing to work under conditions that our boys are not. I have nothing but praise for them.” He went on to say that the council, “consider the situation before making any utterances of further action that might prejudice these boys against us.” 

   Mr. Reid expressed an indignant opinion that, “council created the Jap problem.”  He can’t understand how they were all right in the last war and without their help he stands to loose up to 1000 bushels of tomatoes. “They have worked side by side with the daughters of good Chatham citizens and I have never heard any complaints.”

   This opinion was reinforced by Bruce Bradley, speaking on behalf of the Onion Growers. “I have a son on the West Coast with the Kent regiment and I am trying to do the best I can at home. I have been surprised and very much pleased with the deportment of the Japanese boys.” “No one seems to object to the Germans in this district and many of them fought against us in the last war. Yet we hate the Japs.” 

Ald. Newkirk said that although, “We have learned a great deal at this meeting tonight.” He was still of the opinion that the best way to keep the Japanese away from criticism, “is to keep them out of sight.” “With the existing labor shortage there might be an immediate gain, but they may form a permanent part of the community and that outweighs their present value.” This is the situation in BC, Newkirk pointed out, “they have become masters of everything they have undertaken. It is inevitable that the same thing would happen here.”

   Ald Steele stated that, “I wish to stress there was no suggestion of evicting them from the country”. The problem according to Ald. Steele is that the citizens of Chatham are objecting to seeing them on the streets of Chatham. 

1. A. Garner,provincial agricultural representative for Kent, blamed the situation on, “the fact that various citizens have not availed themselves of existing facts.” He pointed out the following:

• The BCSC had to remove the Japanese from the west coast defence area.
• The Japanese-Canadians had voluntarily come to Kent for what thet thought was a vital task in the war effort.
• All but 19 were citizens and they have naturalization papers.
• The Ontario government recognizes a serious labour shortage. 
• The RCMP have done a wonderful job handling the camps.
• Contrary to rumor these men have not been on city streets at midnight, they must be in camp by 11 p.m.
• They earn only what they make from work at the current wages paid by the farmers from which seventy-five cents s day is deducted for board and $1 a month for medical care.
• All reports he has seen say the men are orderly and mannerly.
• Men seen on the streets are seen on days of bad weather or resulting from a misunderstanding on the part of their employer.
• They were certainly willing to enter the army, but due to their racial origin they were not acceptable.

   Garner then went on to explain that the city council resolution had prompted, “ a delegation (of Japanese Canadians) approached me asking that they be removed from this district at once.” Garner refused to release them he said, they were willing to go any place where their services are wanted.   

1. Harry Wilson, chairman of the Sugar Beet Growers Marketing Boardsaid it was his opinion that, “that the councillors either lacked understanding of the situation or that they were indifferent toward the production of food stuffs.” It was his opinion that the only practical answer to Kent’s labour problem was Japanese Canadians.
2. G. McGuigan,chairman of the Federation of Agriculture predicted a vital shortage in foodstuffs left to rot in the fields if the Japanese were moved from the district including beef shortages. Farmers he said are “fed up already” he stated “and are not going to try another year. The Selective Service officials have been advised of farmers leaving their jobs and they have done nothing about it.” 

Mayor W. C. Hubbell said that due to the number of complaints he had received, “with criticisms of the council’s action Monday night” he was compelled to call this meeting. He said that, “some of the complaints may be justified and then again perhaps we do not have a full understanding of the industrial and farm problems in the county.”

He wanted the press to be at the meeting to clarify the actions of the group in their reports.    

24/09/1942                   “Tempers Flare As Solons Refuse Request Of Farm

                                Leaders And Industries”

                                 This is a continuation of the article above, which was to spark even more discord between the city council and the county and local agricultural businesses in Kent over the Japanese-Canadians. Solon : Sage, Senator, a wise lawmaker. I’m not sure why the reporter began to use this term in reporting this part of the story, perhaps the mayor’s remarks about having the newspaper at the meeting touched a nerve? 

   In an “explosive” City council meeting that lasted an hour and a half allegations that Mayor W. C. Hubbell was “pussy-footing” and efforts were being made to control free of the councilors, caused tempers to flare. The mayor pointed out that the Japanese were the only reservoir of labour and as such was Kent’s only hope of maintaining the production of foodstuff. “We are howling for industries in Kent, yet we are doing our best to drive them out. As a gesture of goodwill” the mayor suggested, “I believe that we should withdraw the letter – at least until after the beets have been harvested.”

   “That is pussy-footing” replied Ald. Garnet Newkirk. He went on to say “If we get Jap families here we’ll never get rid of them.” Newkirk reminded the council he had been against this “entire scheme” and now that the Japanese were here this was the “thin edge of the wedge” with greater “infiltration” after the war. 

   Ald. R. J. Myers did not agree with Newkirk saying, “If they see fit to bring Japanese Canadian families to kent county to alleviate this labor shortage – then I am prepared to welcome them.”

At this point Ald. Bert Groombridge was on his feet, pacing the room and stating, “Your going to have trouble.” Ald. Ralph Steele pointed out that nothing could be done to “retract the statements” made at the Monday night meeting, “Those statements were private opinions and we can’t attempt to control free speech.”  He went on to point out that the National Selective Service regulations, were applied to Japanese Canadians “They wouldn’t be a privileged class then.”  

   Ald. Harlick wanted a definite clarification of the supervision of these men. Harlick went on to say , “The root of the trouble is the fact that the farm boys are going to the factories for better pay and we have to get foreiyn labor to take their place.”  

In the end the Chatham City Council refused the request of the Kent county industrialist and the farm organizations that the letter to Ottawa concerning the Japanese farm workers in Kent be recalled.

25/09/1942                    “HINT JAPS USED AS POLITICAL 

                                   SCAPEGOATS”

                                   “Kent Chamber Chastises Chatham City 

                                    Council For Attitude on Japs”

                                          Every member of the Kent Federation of Agriculture raised resentment towards the Chatham City Council at the County meeting last night. the opinion was that the Japanese farm workers were being used as “political scapegoats”. They insisted that nothing in the last decade has done more to widen the gap between the city and rural people as the outbursts at yesterday and Monday’s meeting had done.

   The Japanese workers had sent a delegation to the Department of Agriculture offices in Chatham Wednesday, asking that they be moved to another community. Many of the men failed to return to their jobs Wednesday awaiting the Departments decision. STRIKE!

   The council meeting of the 24^th were in they refused to recall the letter, “failed to smooth over the problem”. However, the men did return to work when they learned that tons of foodstuff would spoil if they did not.

1. G. McGuigan, chairman of the Federation of Agriculture, told the assembled that it was time for action, “It seems to me, that the city council has been using the Japanese issue as a political platform for the December elections.” He thought it was unfortunate that farmers and agricultural officials had to come to the “defencive”for these workers. “They have done no harm and they have done thousands of dollars worth of good.”   

The Resolution: Moved by E. A. Richardson, Bean Glowers Association, sconded by G. H. Wilson, chairman Ontario Sugar Beet Glowers Marketing Board. 

   “This body resents the attitude of the Chatham City Council at their meeting on the night of Monday, September 21 at which time it took it upon itself an unsympathetic attitude to the Japanese now working in Kent county without first ascertaining from those responsible for the Japanese whether their basis of resentment was properly grounded.”

   “Furthermore, after meeting with responsible agriculturists and representatives of the industries in the city concerned with agricultural production, who represented to the council the good behavior and usefulness of the Japanese at this time when labor is of such important, maintained their attitude of hostility.”

   “The repercussions of this attitude and the publicity it has received have had a very adverse effect on the Japanese themselves who have not deserved it, and have placed those responsible for the administration of the Japanese camps in a very unfair and disagreeable position. This body is aware of the immense amount of difficulty involved in administering Japanese camps and is also aware of the value of the labor performed by the men in these camps who are all Canadian citizens and volunteers for the work.”

   “We feel that it is extremely unfortunate that this course should be introduced into a situation already frought with difficulty. We would like to point out that there has been considerable direct financial benefit directed to the city of Chatham through the purchase of supplies for the camps, as well as money spent by the Japanese themselves, not to mention the purchasing power of the crop saved. We feel that it is possible that the outburst of resentment has a connection with the approach of municipal elections. Whether this is the case or not, the results have been singularly unfortunate.” 

This seems to be a fair representation of the difference of opinion between the county and the city’s positions relative to the Japanese Canadians, employed in the farm labour camps in Kent during 1942.  

The resolution was passed.

25/09/1942                     “Daughter of Late British Premier Inspects Jap

                                  Camp in Harwich”

                                         Shelia MacDonald, daughter of the late Ramsey MacDonald the first Labour premier of England was in Chatham to speak to the Woman’s Canadian Club. She is on a Canadian speaking tour acting as official hostess for her brother the Hon. Malcom MacDonald, minister from Britain to Canada. 

Mrs. Harold English, president of the Woman’s Canadian Club took her on a tour of the nearby rural districts and the Japanese Canadian farm camp on her husband’s farm.  

26/09/1942                    “THE JAPANESE LABOUR PROBLEM IS 

                                   CLARIFIED”

                                  “Discussion Removes Misconceptions In Minds

                                   Of The Public”

                                           This is a long article and in the main covers the issues raised at the meetings beginning with the City council of Monday night the 22^nd of September.

The Board of Trade arranged an open meeting to examine the issues of the Japanese Canadians in the Kent area working on various agricultural activities. “That as there have been rumors and reports from various quarters derogatory to the character, industry and capabilities of the Japanese-Canadian farm workers quartered in camps in the townships adjacent to Chatham.”  

Present at the meeting:

• Directors of the Board of Trade
• Chatham City Council
• Kent County Federation of Agriculture
• Ontario Beet producers Association
• Burley Tobacco Growers Association
• Kent County Fruit Growers Association
• Ontario Department of Agriculture
• Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. Ltd.
• Libby, McNeill and libby of Canada
• Royal Canadian mounted Police

After a great deal of discussion on the various topics A. W. McIntyre moved, seconded by Walter Watts the following resolution:

 “Now therefore, this Board of Trade of the City of Chatham hereby records regret at the injustice done these Japanese-Canadian workers through statements, rumors and reports derogatory to their characters, industry, or capabilities, and desires to make public its earnest commendation of the valuable services rendered by them in aid of Canada’s food production and hence of Canada’s war effort; and directs that a copy ot the resolution be sent to the prime Minister of Ontario and of the Dominion Minister of Agriculture and to the daily papers of Chatham, Windsor, London and Sarnia.

Dated at Chatham, Ontario, this 25^th day of September, 1942.”     

Present at this meeting:

Messrs S. Aitken, Vern Proctor, C. A. Glock, Walter Watts, Wilfred Davidson, Pat Reid, C. A. Norsworthy, J. C. Stewart K. C., Virgil mcGuigan, P. G. Piggott, Ross Carrick, Norman Cummins, C. Baxter, Howard English, E. Trinnear, M. McCade, George Dunkley, A. E. Stringer, C. Green, D. E. A. Rispin, Lou Veale, James Garner, A. W. McIntyre, John Keil, Martin Drew, Mayor Hubbell, and Aldermen Groombridge, Myers, Newkirk, Humphrey, Goodman and others.      

27/09/1942                     “Claims Japs Do Good Work On The Farms”

1. Ernest Trueman, placement officer for the BCSCin an interview with the Chatham Daily News, “expressed his desire to further clarify the situation which has arisen in southwestern Ontario with respect to Japanese-Canadian labor on the farms.”

   Mr. Trueman wanted to make it clear that the Japanese worker are “Canadian citizens” and that they are performing a vital service and “doing a good job for Canada” by assisting in the production of necessary foodstuff. He pointed out that according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police there has been, “no case of sabotage, or attempted sabotage of Japanese-Canadian origin.” Though it appears that this public sentiment came from rumor that, “the Japanese in Hawaii had engaged in acts of sabotage during the Japanese invasion there. These reports have since been cleared up completely; and it has been made known that there was no sabotage.”

   Statistics show that over 22,700 persons have left the farms to join the armed services as well, many young farmers have left the farms to take vacant factory jobs. For this reason the decision was made to, “endeavor to place the Japanese-Canadians on the farms of the country to increase agricultural production and help the Canadian war effort.”    

   It is interesting that the Chatham Daily News and the Chatham City Council were conspicuously quiet after the scolding from the Board of Trade on the 27^th. I paid particular attention to the editorial page to see if the paper might make some issue with what was being touted as an infringement on ‘freedom of speech by some councilors.  

1/10/42                       “Good Yield Expected By Kent Beet Men”

                                    It is expected that some 220,000 tons of sugar beets will be harvested in 1942, this would indicate a yield of about 10 ½ tons to the acre. With the Wallaceburg plant shut down, all of the crop will be processed at the Chatham plant. The installation of new unloaders at “nearly $60,000” will enable farmers, ”to unload heavy shipments in two minutes” many farmers have already modified their wagons so they will be more serviceable.

5/10/1942                    “The Voice of the People – C.I.O Chatham

                               Council predicted” Letter from R. Ball

                                     The focus of Mr. Ball’s letter is in reference to the municipal election scheduled for December of 1942. Mr. Ball writing in reference to a speech made by an unidentified person or persons, “city’s most zealous and efficient church worker in company with a city employee” declared that, “The C.I.O. (Canadian Industrial Organization) is going to rule Chatham after the December election.” Ball goes on to say, “Obviously that C.I.O. council, is to be a strictly anti-Jap council.” 

9/10/1942                    “The Voice of the People – Without the Japs” Letter 

                                       from Bert Joyce.

                                      The letter dated 7 October, 1942 has attached an article from the Vancouver Sun and republished in the Ottawa Journal the 16^th of September, 1942. Mr. Joyce feels it “well worth bringing to the attention of the people of Kent County for future reference”. The article reports on the harvesting of Sockeye salmon on British Columbia’s west coast. The catch and canning of the salmon all done, “without benefit of the Japanese.”

   The article gives credit to the BCSC, “eliminating Nippon from the fishing industry of this coast.” Except for a “sprinkling” of “Chinese and Fillipinos” the “whites” in “cannery jobs but here again the inside work formerly dominated by Japanese girls and woman was proceeding smoothly”. According to the Sun article, “More than 40 years ago the Japanese stole the sockeye fisheries from the whites.”

   Fishing on the west coast is a huge business and the article suggests that this years harvest will be a record and it is no surprise that the white fishermen are, “heartily glad that the Japanese are out.” And as the article goes on to say, “And they” (the white fishermen) “earnestly hope that the tricky yellow men are out for good. They certainly are not indispensable.”    

   The article goes on from the business aspect of the fishing industry without the Japanese, to a more sinister aspect. “During the last few years the good old Fraser sockeye has furnished important cash contributions to help Japan in her war against China.” Referring to the 1941 fishing season, completed only months before the attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbour, the article alleges that, “millions” of dollars “were transmitted from Stevenson to Tokyo during the last half of 1941. It make the connection that, “It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that some sinister intention was being pursued”. 

   The article concludes expressing the obvious opinion, “We have gotten rid of the Japanese after lengthy tolerance. We don’t want them back, on any conditions, at any time.”     

It is clear from Mr. Joyce’s earlier article in the Chatham Daily News, “Voice of the People” article, on the 14^th of September and his, ‘one-man delegation’ speech to the Chatham City council on the 22^nd of September; he is no fan of the Japanese Canadian population at Kent county farm camps or anywhere else in Canada. It should be noted that Mr. Joyce was a candidate in the up coming municipal election where he was elected as an alderman. He was reelected in the 1944.    

15/10/42                        “110 Million Pounds Sugar From Alberta”

                                  Though Kent county’s sugar crop was fraught with difficulties the rest of the country fared much better according to the Lethbridge Herald. It is expected that from the 350,000 tons of harvested beets 110,000,000 pounds of sugar is expected. 

   Based on, “the sugar ration of half a pound per person per week”, 800,000 Albertans will consume 21,000,000 pounds in a year. Saskatchewan requires about 25,000,000 pounds and Manitoba 10,000,000. This will leave 54,000,000 pounds, “left to supply general requirements and to ship to the people of Ontario where we are shipping the surplus of last years crop.”

17/10/1942                  “Jap Is Fined For Breach Of The L.C.A”

                               Poor Mr. George F. Mochiguki found himself before Magistrate Craig in Police Court on the charge of, “having liquor in other than a private residence.” Crown Attorney A. D. Bell who commented that this was the first time a Japanese, sent here from BC, had come before the court. He questioned Mr. Mochiguki about where he might have gotten the liquor? Through an interpreter, he said he, “got it from a friend on a promise that he would not reveal his identity”. 

   Bell expressed sympathy with the poor fellow, “I can understand the unfortunate position this boy has been put in” he went on to suggest, the friend is likely a “Canadian”. The CA pointed out that, the Japanese, “are under strict orders of the Liquor Control Act in that they may not have liquor”.

  Bell went on to say that it was unlikely that a group of Anglo-Saxon boys together “under similar circumstances and restrictions, would go as long as these Japanese without breaking the law.”

   After reviewing the evidence Magistrate Craig imposed the minimum fine of $10 plus costs, in all $31.64.   

When you take into account that the Japanese Canadians working in the farms camps were only paid 25 cents per hour or $12.00 a week, out of which $5.25 was taken for room and board. In the approximately 20 weeks they had been here George would have only earned a maximum of $135.00 minus $1.00 per month or $5.00 for the five months they had been in Kent. The fine of $31.64 would represent about 25% of is maximum earnings, a pretty stiff fine.       

22/10/1942                  “Trade Board Discusses the Farm Labor Problem”

1943. S. Aiken,chairman of the rural Relations section of the Board of Trade suggested that the Dominion Government, be made aware of the necessity for considering early, the question of labour on area farms, so that production may be maintained to capacity in 1943.

28/10/1942                  “Federation Will Propose Higher Prices For Sugar

1. G. McGuigan Tells Club”
2. G. McGuigan,chairman of the Kent Federation of Agriculture, speaking to the Chatham Kiwanians, asserted that only the Canada and Dominion Sugar Co. “makes any profit on the crop.” Though McGuigan did not elaborate on the plans for better pricing in 1943, he did refer at length, on the problems that farmers were facing with a shortage of labour. He remarked on how the Volunteer Farm Labor Bureau, “had flourished to the advantage of agriculture last summer.

30/10/1942                   “Growers Say Labor Trouble Is Reason”

                                Kent County Tomato Growers are fearful that there will be insufficient labour available in the area for the 1943 crop. The growers feel that the tomato business, is in a precarious position with no guarantee that there will be labour available to plant, cultivate and harvest the 43 crop. As a result, “It is expected that the 6,000 acres grown in 1942 will be cut to about 4,000”. Price increases will be, “among the first demands made by the growers.”

I put these three articles in order to show how the farming community, after the problems relative to labour shortages in the 1942 season have affecting their views towards the 1943 crop season. It could be expected, that the negative position of the Chatham City Council towards the Japanese, would have a barring on whether or not the Japanese Canadians would ‘volunteer’ to return to Kent in the spring of 1943.     

29/10/1942                    “RETURN OF THE JAPS TO KENT IS NOT

                                 ASSURED” – “District Camps Close in November” 

1. A. Garner, Kent agriculture representative said, “the 361 Japanese located in Western Ontario at the present time – approximately 200 of these at camps in Dresden, Wallaceburg, Chatham, Valetta and Dover Centre.”Would be evacuated from the area in the next month, between the 1^st and the 10th. 

   The London office responsible for this ‘farm emergency force’, “do not know” whether or not the workers “will be brought back to Kent next summer”. This has caused, “anxiety in farm circles”. A half dozen workers have agreed to remain on farm in the county over the winter months.

   The evacuees who have been working on the area farms will be given the choice of going to road building camps or lumber camps in Northern Ontario for the winter. Closing the camps will not affect the Japanese Canadian who are at present “employed on private farms and are living at farmers’ homes. They will be allowed to continue their present work.” Officials also said that, “farmers who wish to hire men from the camps before they are closed up may do so.”    

Putting myself in their shoes, Kent would not be my first choice of places I would want to return to. The attitude of the Chatham city councilors might come to haunt the farmers of the county of Kent.     

3/11/42                            “Jap Tribute Charge Probed At Vancouver”

                                   Vancouver Nov. 3: This was the first article I noticed on the subject of the Black Dragon Society. Another article appeared in the paper of the 5^th of the month identifying a Etsuji Morii, head of a Japanese liaison committee working with the BCSC as receiving “$20” as ‘tribute’ money from other Japanese. 

4/11/42                            “Request Japs Be Retained At Eatonville”

                                   Town councils of Blenheim and Ridgetown have both approved of keeping at least 25 – 30 Japanese Canadians at the Eatonville Farm Services Camp over the winter months. It is hope that by keeping the men working through the winter they will stay in the district for the 1943 crop season.

   The men will be kept under the supervision and regulations of the Provincial Police, “for the purposes of doing necessary work in cutting wood, building operations and farm work in the vicinity.” One of the important jobs to be undertaken by the “Japs” will be, “the cutting of firewood in the Rondeau Park forests.” Due to the acute shortage of labour in the district, “the firewood being very necessary in view of the shortage of other fuels.” 

18/11/42                         “Jap-Canadians Are Entertained”

                                   “Twelve Japanese Canadian youth who are employed in this district and stayed at the Eatonville camp” were entertained by the Men’s Brotherhood of the Blenheim united Church.”

It would appear that the ‘wish’ to keep 25 – 30 Japanese Canadians at Eatonville was not fulfilled. In conversation with Yon Shimizu an evacuee at Glencoe in 1942, few of the men in Kent cared to stay, due mostly to the bad feelings the Chatham city council directed at the Japanese Canadians. According to Yon many of the men went back to Schreiber to do roadwork or Kapuskasing to cut wood.

14/11/1942                   “CROP CONTROL MAY BE ADOPTED IN 

                                CANADA – Elimination Of Sugar Beet Crops 

                                 Considered Unlikely In This Area”

                                     The severe labour shortage of 1942 was not expected to improve in 43, in fact it should be worse as more men and women go into military service. The Ontario government officials were intimating that the federal government, “to conserve manpower and at the same time produce the maximum of farm products, essential to the welfare of the country in wartime.” would institute crop control. 

   Crop experts believe that, “that sugar beets are definitely out for 1943 because of the labor problems.” Reference was made to the problems that arose in southwestern Ontario, “with respect to Japanese labor this year and it was intimated that the Japanese would not return next year.”

   Canada & Dominion Sugar Co. officials in Chatham said “We do not regard the sugar beet crop next year as being out.” The company believed that the labour shortage, though a problem, “can and will be solved as far as sugar beets – and other crops also – are concerned.” The first source of action relative to labour would be through the Selective Service Board. The second would possibly be securing Japanese labour and finally, Italian POW’s.   

1. A. Garner, District Agricultural Representative for Kent, expressed his concern that, “many Japanese laborers who were here this summer expressed themselves as well pleased with the treatment they received and also indicated a desire to return next year if they were given the opportunity.”  It was said that in general the Japanese Canadians were good workers and local farmers were “realistic enough to know that the work had to be done and that the Japanese would do it.”

   One Department of Agriculture spokesman said: “The towns made it so tough for them (Japanese Canadians) that the majority have gone back to Schreiber work camps determined not to return to field work in Southwestern Ontario.”

   It would seem that the Japanese Canadians were being polite when asked about returning to Kent, the truth is, they would rather spend a winter working in Schreiber and Kapuskasing than stay in Kent county. That says a lot!    

26/11/1942                     “Orientals Spread Over Ontario”

                                  The last of the “350 Japanese Canadians” from British Columbia, who have been working in southwestern Ontario’s farm crops from the “nine camps”, this past summer, have gone back to road and lumber camps in Northern Ontario for the winter. J. A. Garner, local representative of the Department of Agriculture announced that, “Generally speaking, their work was satisfactory and there has been few complaints.”

   Garner did report that some 28 of the Japanese have gone to Port Credit to work on the fruit and mushroom farms, 20 will be working in the basket factories in Grimsby and Beamsville. A group of 28 have gone to the camp at the Eatonville Hotel, “where they are employed at wood cutting a rough carpentry.” Another 10 are employed on farms in the southwestern part of Ontario and 14 are in the Cottam area.    

   In total 100 stayed in the southwest.

28/11/1942                     “Fuel Wood Shortage Is Prospect”

                                       Ottawa, Nov. 28: The Prices Board foresees a shortage in fuel wood over the winter of 1943 – 44. “The basic trouble is manpower shortage… normally, the wood produced for use during the winter of 1943-44 should be cut this winter.” With the shortage of coal fuel wood is very important in particular, “In smaller towns and villages and in the poorer sections of the larger cities, masses of people depend entirely on wood fuel.”  

30/11/1942                  “School News Of Ridgetown”

                                   A small article in the local section of the Chatham Daily News reports that Mr. McLarin who heads the Farm Services Bureau sent a letter to the Ridgetown High Schools student thanking them for their valuable service during the past summer. “In making the final count it appears that 88 girls and 66 boys worked on home farms or were registered with one of the FSB camps.” “Ten of the boys were at the camp at Eatonville, one boy was at Leamington and two girls were at Cottam.”  

7/12/1942                   “Soldiers Fire On Rioters In Jap Camp”    

                                    Manzanar California, 7 Dec.: One Japanese American is reported a killed and nine wounded as a result of the internees confrontation with US soldiers at the camp. Project director of the Manzanar camp, Ralph P. Merritt blamed the incident on pro-Axis individuals among the internees holding “a celebration of the Pearl Harbor attack”. 

   Merritt ordered soldiers with fixed bayonet’s and mounted machine guns to enter the ‘relocation camp’ and restore order. The shooting occurred as angry member in the crowd began hurling stones and rushing the line of soldiers.  

8/12/1942                 “Substantial Majority Is Given Mayor-Elect Newkirk

                             Heads Polls”

                                  Municipal elections held Monday, 8 December, 1942 resulted in Lorne Goddard elected as Mayor and Garnet Newkirk, Reginald Myers, Bert Joyce and Douglas Clark being elected as Aldermen.

9/12/1942                  “ Large Combined Meeting Of Growers, Processors Say Shortage is Acute” 

                                  Over 50 representatives of agricultural processing industries and processors, farmers and agricultural interest groups, met with J. A. Garner local agriculture representative at a meting chaired by J. Duff Brien, secretary of the Ontario, Corn Growers Marketing Board.   

   The general feeling was that an acute labour shortage on the farm and in the agriculture industry was putting the 1943 crop in jeopardy. It was generally felt that the situation “could be remedied by obtaining Japanese or Italian prisoners of war to work for the duration.” A clarification of the policy of military deferment also had to be confirmed.

   It was the opinion of the meeting that the district and the Dominion had been “drained dry with the exception of Japanese and Italian POW’s”. There was agreement that they “had considerable trouble in the past over such a project, the Japanese gave a good account of themselves in behavior” Either the labour problems was resolved or “the public will go short foodstuffs as well as our fighting forces.”

   It might be possible to have the Italian POW’s quartered at the same camps that the Japanese were housed in the past summer but under the supervision of the Veteran’s Guard of Canada. The possibility of moving whole Japanese families to the farm areas was voiced as the preferred arrangement. Housing problems could be “overcome by building ‘labor homes’ under the joint sponsorship of the Federal and Provincial Governments.”

   It may be that the ‘labour homes’ were built at Rondeau by the Japanese Canadians housed at Eatonville during the winter of 1942 – 43. 

17/12/1942                   “Farmer Suggests Student Camps be Organized To

                                Provide Labor For Farms”

                                      After the problems with the 1942 crop Kent farmers and their associations are beginning to plan for the likelihood that a similar situation will exist for the 1943 crop season a want to start planing early. It’s interesting that this article never reveals the name of the farmer, only the description, “A Kent County farmer, who ordinarily till 400 acres of land”. 

   “Unless something is done”, the farmer states to the reporter, “to relieve the shortage of labor, I will have to allow much of my land to go idle this year.” He goes on to talk about the problems with the 1942 crop, “This year, when I did get labor (likely the JC’s) the canning factory was short of labor, and so I lost out.” He is not confident this years labour will be anymore plentiful than last years.

   “It doesn’t look as if we will have much Japanese labor here next year – although I am wrong in this prediction.” If not the Japanese perhaps Italian POW’s might come to the rescue. The farmer goes on to say that he has had some experience hiring Italians and he was pleased with their work. I expect he is talking about immigrants since do Italian POW’s were available up to this date. 

   “Then there is the idea of establishing student camps” something done with the Farm Services Camps in 1942 but he would like to see, “camps should be established by May 15”. This would clearly shorten the school year. 

   He concludes his remarks with the following observation, “The point is that we need the labor; and now is the time to provide for that need, so that we will be well organized when the time comes to go to work in the fields.”  

17/12/1942                   “Kent Farmer-processors Delegation Confers With

                                Ottawa Administrators; Early Action on Labor 

                                 Shortage Urged”

                                      Ottawa, Dec. 17 – A five point plan to address the shortage of labour in Western Ontario was presented to Arthur MacNamara, director of National

Selective Service and J. G. Taggart, foods administrator by a delegation from Kent County. The delegates included: C. Earl Desmond, M.P.; V. G. McGuigan, president Kent Federation of Agriculture; Ralph Richards, Libby, McNeil & Libby – Chatham; G. Harry Wilson, Charing Cross member of the advisory committee to the bacon board; A. W. McIntyre, V. P of Canada & Dominion Sugar Company – Chatham; Gordon Knight, cattle drover and shipper from Blenheim.

The five points presented by the delegation:

1)    A clarification of the policy of postponements for military service for essential farm workers is required.

2)    A freezing of farm labour on farms to prevent drift to other lines of work.

3)    Returning to the land former agricultural workers now engaged in other work.

4)    Establish of Japanese-Canadian families on farms.

5)    Placement of Italian POW’s in labour camps.

   The delegation pointed out that a large amount of “hand work”, is required from early spring to late fall to tend the crops of the area. The crops in specific are tomato, tobacco, sugar beets, peas, hybrid seed corn, and fruits. The delegation estimated that sugar beets alone requires between 3,000 to 5,000 skilled workers. It was felt that there was a 2,000 shortfall for the 1942 crop. 

   It was pointed out that, “The only replacements was the force of young Japanese-Canadians brought from B.C. and established in labor camps in the county and adjacent areas. This force proved helpful and saved many hundreds of area of valuable crops.”

It appears clear that the local farmers do not expect the return of the JC young men after the problems that came up in 1942, problems created by local politicians. 

   Some time was spent talking about the decline in agricultural production due to the shortage of labour. Hog production had dropped from 173,775 head in 1940 to 148,331 in 1941 and it is expected the 1942 production will not exceed 120,000. Sugar beet acreage also has declined from 40,500 in 1940 to 32,200 in 1941 and 23,000 in 1942 a 43% decline from 1940. The effect to crops such as wheat and tomato crops would be about the same. It was estimated that processing plants were only operating at 60 – 75% of their rated capacity.

   “In addition to the farm labor requirements, processing plants require 1,700 seasonal workers (900 men and 800 women)” just to process the county’s tomato crop. After a long discussion of labor needs MacNamara and Taggart promised to reply to the presentations as soon as possible.    

31/12/42                           “We Can Get Along Without Japanese”

                                         This is similar to the letter in the “Voice of the People” printed in the Chatham Daily News 9/10/42 from Bert Joyce. I guess it takes some time for news to make it to the rural towns. “The Japs in British Columbia had about 1,500 fishing ships when Japan declared war states the Simcoe Reformer” 

   The article goes on to say that without the Japanese or, “without other foreigners for that matter” a bumper harvest of Sockeye was taken by ‘white fishermen’ and 597,242 cases have been canned on the Pacific coast.

   The article closes with, “We still believe that as soon as possible the Canadian Japs should be sent home.”

Sure it’s easy to have a bumper harvest when there is no competition, you can pick up a fishing fleet, gear and canneries for a song, sure it’s easy then.

31/12/42                       “Kent Appoints Man To Seek Bermuda Workers”

                                       Virgil G. Mcguigan of Cedar Springs and president of the Kent Federation of Agriculture along with a representative of the National Selective Service Commission were studying the possibility of bringing West Indian labour to Canada to assist in solving the lack of labour on district farms.

   It is estimated that, “a pool of between 3,000 and 5,000 colored West Indians, mostly from Jamaica, was available for work in Canadian agriculture.” Kent might be looking for 1,000 as an “experimental move.”

–       1943 –

1942 Sugar Beet Crop – Results

13/01/43   Reported by Walter Atkin, Secretary of the Western Ontario Sugar Beet Growers Association.

23,035 acres contracted

21,996    “     planted

20,747    “     harvested = 244,000 ton delivered to processors

yield = 11.76 tons per acre.

Average sugar content = 15.5%

Average payment to producers $7.90 per ton = $1,927,600 for the 1942 crop.     

26/01/43 Reported by Philip Baker, president Alberta, Manitoba & Ontario Beet Growers Association on the 1942 crop results.

Alberta grew 349,000 tons

Ontario    “    200,000 tons from 17,000 acres in 1941 40,000 acres planted.

Manitoba  “   125,000 tons

Quebec     “     12,000 tons – shipped to Ontario for processing.

The concerns of 1942 continued to be the theme in the agriculturalist’s thoughts as the new year begins. Mr. W. R. Reek, deputy Minister of Agriculture was making many suggestions and local farmers were looking for realistic plans to address the acute labour shortage in the district as they consider what crops they should plant in 1943.

Some of Reek’s ideas would see, “farmers living in low producing areas be utilized to meet the labour shortages in heavy production areas.” 

Harry Wilson a Harwich farmer, pointed out in a Chatham Daily News article of January 8^th “It is pretty hard to tell a man who is working for himself and has a home of his own to leave it and go to work for someone else.” He went on to say, “that is quite likely what would happen if the situation was one which Hitler had to meet.” The ex-reeve of Chatham Township, F. R. Stewart suggested that, “a good many farmers had already left the low producing areas for jobs in munitions and other war industries.”     

Reek had still more suggestions in the same article more possible sources of needed labour. “The Japanese and Italian prisoners of war would be appreciated and they would be of far more use to farmers than west Indians.” A splendid plan, the idea of using Italian POW’s had been suggested in the previous year. The majority of Italians had been taken prisoner by the English in the North African campaign and many were located in the United Kingdom. This was still the case in 1943 and like every other country Britain had an extreme shortage of available and able bodied labourers for farm work, they would be loath to give up to one of the ‘colonies’.   

There were those on the council of the City of Chatham who had voiced an opinion that they would prefer Japanese POW’s than the evacuees from British Columbia. The rational of the Chatham councilors was that with the POW’s they could be ‘properly controlled’, unlike the evacuees had proven to be in the previous year. The POW’s would be under armed guard and confined to barbed wire enclosed camps when not working the districts fields. There was a problem however with this potential labour resource, few were under control of Commonwealth troops.

The production of food was a significant problem in the United States (Chatham Daily News 11/01/43 pg. 7), “President Asks Record Output of Farm Produce”. Based on that alone it would be unlikely that the Americans would give up a potential labour source, whether or not they wanted to use them. As early as the 29^th of January, it was reported that the US Army was in the process of putting together a combat unit of ‘loyal’ Japanese-Americans.  

The people closer to the practical side of the problem such as V. G. McGuigan, president of the Kent Federation of Labour, J. A. Garner, District Agricultural Representative and even Chatham Alderman Ralph D. Steele, were looking for much more stable and immediate solutions to resolve the districts labour problems. Time was again an issue with spring contracts and planting only a few months away.

As was the case in 1942, Canada & Dominion Sugar Co. were looking for increased production and as with the 1942 crop were looking for the federal governments support to ‘sweeten’ the pot to be paid producers and encourage farmers to plant more sugar beets than they did last year. Labour shortages, negotiated prices between producer and processor, wartime control over both, along with the fickleness of ‘mother nature’, all went into the formula to confound the agricultural areas of Kent and other crop producing areas of Ontario.       

10/01/43                         “Minimum price raised Fifty Cents Per Ton; Seek   

                                  Further Increase”     

                                        The Ontario Sugar Beet Association, organized in 1942, had been granted authority by the Ministry of Agriculture, “to negotiate minimum price under the Farm Products Control Act.” Despite an increase paid for sugar beets in 1942 the sugar factory in Wallaceburg was closed and it was expected the labour shortage in 1943, regardless of the increase of prices paid to producers, would see a further decline in acreage devoted to beet production in the district. The Dominion Selective Service freeze on farm labour brought into effect in March 1942, had done little to relieve the labour shortage problem on Ontario’s family farms.

 Arthur MacNamara, chief of Selective Services, who issued new orders restricting the drafting into the armed services, “farm workers of military age”, confirmed this exemption on The 4th of February. This would virtually exempt these workers short of volunteering for the armed services.  

14/01/43                        “Old Soldier Back In Military Service Again”

                                       George Rice, former guard at the Dresden camp and still in the Veterans Guard of Canada is reported to be back in service and expects to “be sent out of the country very soon” a destination is not mentioned. According to Ralph Pyne, son of Howard, who owned the Eatonville Road House, which had been leased by the federal government to house the Japanese-Canadians from the Dresden camp, was still ‘guarded by Mr. rice. The twenty-eight men where still there through the winter of 1942 –43 working at Rondeau.  

22/01/43                        “To Request Volunteers For Farms”

                                         Alex McLaren, director of Farm Training, Ontario Department of Agriculture, speaking to the Ontario Fruit Growers Association suggested that, “members of the civil service, students, adult vacationers, interned members of Axis prisoners and imported labor from Bermuda,” would add “100,000 additional harvest workers” for Ontario’s harvest pool. It is interesting that no mention has yet to be made of Japanese-Canadians returning to the district. 

Sugar was becoming very short and to maintain the present ration, “sugar beet growers of the Dominion will try to plant another 90,000 acres”, so said Philip Baker, president of Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba Beet Growers Association speaking in Winnipeg on the 26^th of January. Baker blamed much of the problem on Ontario, where only 17,000 acres were in beet production the past year, compared to some 40,000 planted in 1941. Going on to site, “prejudice against Japanese labor” as the main reason for the labor woes in that province. Alberta had produced some 349,000 tons of beets in 1942, compared to 125,000 in Manitoba, both using a large number of Japanese Canadians compared to 20,000 in Ontario and 12,000 in Quebec. The racial prejudice in southwestern Ontario was hurting the countries war effort as well as the producers and processors bottom line.      

As January comes to an end, the politicians continue to wrestle with the labour problem and seem to be confident that some solution in Ontario will be found that is more palatable politically, than suggesting that the Japanese-Canadian evacuees be returned to the district.

30/01/43                      “Beet Growers Confident Refineries At Chatham,   

                                 Wallaceburg Will Operate” [CDN]

10. M. Dewan, Ontario Agriculture Ministerreported that, “sugar beets testing 16% would bring $10.00 per ton this year.” George Perry a member again of the negotiating committee could, “ see no reason now why both refineries could not be operated.” The only problem now he stated, “would be labor” but pointed out that, “every possibility of alleviating the situation”, was being looked into.

 Deputy Minister of Agriculture W. R. Reek addressed the labour issue again, on The 2nd of February. Reek put forward a suggestion that’ “the voluntary pooling of labor and machinery must be organized at once so that it may be put into force in the spring.” This he said would be better than, “unskilled labor from the city, which was unsatisfactory.”

Local farmers were not shy to wade into the fray with their own suggestions on how to overcome the shortage of workers to deal with crops in Kent County.

3/02/43                       “Farm Labor Problem” – Letter to the Editor

                                     [CDN]   

1. Kerr, a farmer of Harwich township, pointed out, “experienced farm laborers, now working in city factories, to return to farms for the spring, summer and autumn months” would be very helpful to local farmers. Mr. Kerr went on to point out that the government could encourage the workers to return, “offering some sort of weekly or daily recompense”. How to get around those who stayed on the farms from not feeling discriminated was not explained by Mr. Kerr.    

An idea put forward on the 22^nd of January by Alex MacLaren to import laborers from the West Indies was reported postponed on the 9^th of February by V. G. McGuigan. The president of the Kent Federation of Agriculture, disappointed that, “receipts of protest from farmers” on the importation of black workers along with the Immigration Departments lack of support quashed the idea. Without access to POW’s, this leaves only, “volunteer labor from the cities and industry” McGuigan pointed out.

This expression of disappointment was reinforced by Agriculture Minister Dewan speaking at the 43 Annual Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies meeting in Toronto. He sited, “color prejudice on the part of Ontario farmers” as frustrating the Provincial Governments efforts to bring Bermudan workers here to elevate the manpower shortages on Ontario’s farms.     

The Minister expressed concerns that Ontario was not going to meet the high demand for food from the United Kingdom in the up coming season. It was expected that the demand would be 20% higher than last years with the growing number of troops now being stationed there. Some of 1942 needs were 675,000,000 pounds of bacon, 135,000,000 pounds of cheese and 1,250,000 dozen eggs.

The United States government, facing similar labour problems was quick to seize the most practical solution. An article dated Washington 18 February, reported, “Will Use Japs For Farm Work” [CDN]. The Americans had recognized that they would have to use Japanese-Americans internees to meet the nation’s farm labour shortage.  

19/02/43                        “Plans Are Laid To Move Six Hundred Families Of 

                                   Japanese-Canadians” [CDN]

                                         It seems to have taken only one day to put into effect the only practical response to Ontario’s shortage of labour after the American announced what they intend to do. You have to wonder how it was that Mr. McPherson and Easton were able to get out to British Columbia so fast to start the interviewing of potential evacuees unless the plan to move families had been in the mill for some time.  

“Plans to move 600 families from British Columbia to beet fields in Southern Ontario and the Prairie Provinces has been given the approval of the Federal government.” The move will be on a voluntary basis and R. E. McPherson, who supervised the 300 Japanese-Canadian men who came here in 1942, along with Beverly E. Easton, C&D Sugar representative, had been sent to BC to interview families.

Alberta has said they would require at least 300, more if possible. Although there was no problems with the youth in 1942, though there was “some opposition last year to the importation of the Japanese-Canadian youth.” The importation of these families is seen as a, “possible solution to the labour problem in this district.” It was reported that “request for the families are being received already”, though it is not known when they will actually arrive.    

An incentive not to leave BC might have been provided by the Federal government when it announced on the 25^th of February when  it overruled the Province in allowing, “employment of Japanese loggers on provincial Crown land. This overturned a BC position that Japanese-Canadians could not be employed.    

26/02/43                        “Jap Labour Desires To Return to The West When 

                                   The War Is Over” [CDN]

                                          It would seem that the potential evacuation of the Japanese-Canadians from BC had bee ‘fast tracked’ based on how quickly things were happening to facilitate the move.

“Jap deputation paying visit to Kent County farms”  The families want assurances from the Dominion government, “they will be allowed to return to their homes in British Columbia after the war”. Heads of families arrived in the county to, “assertain if they can make sufficient money doing this work and other farm work to maintain their families and also learn the attitude of the people toward them.”

Mr. Easton and McPherson thought their trip to the west-coast had met with “considerable success”. Local farmers appear to believe that this plan is the only one that seems to be able to provide a “source of labor for the crops this year”. It is imperative that the families arrive soon for this years planting. There was  approximately 50 of last years Japanese-Canadian young men still in the district. Area farmers had in general been “satisfied with the results.”        

1/03/43                      “Beet Labor Prices Are Increased” [CDN]

                                       The directors of the Ontario Sugar Beet Producers’ Association struck new rates for the 1943 crop. The new rate would be $28.00 per acre an increase of $6.00 over last years price. Broken down the per acre rates are $13.00 for blocking & thinning, $3.00 for second hoeing and $12.00 for harvesting. More and more growers were also paying a premium “over regular labor rates for extra good tonnage.” 

All of this would figure into the Japanese-Canadians decision to relocate here and be able to make a living.      

3/03/43                          “City Council Hears Report On Jap Labor” [CDN]

                                       Once again, the ‘good’ city fathers of Chatham, Ontario show their racist colours as they attack the Japanese-Canadians migration to Kent county. 

The city council of Chatham in quick response to the announcement that Japanese-Canadian families would be coming to Kent met to put what control in place they could at a ‘special meeting’. 

1/04/43                          “Plan For Meeting Farm Labor Need” [DT]

                                       One plan the government has for meeting the shortage of labour in 1943 is to encourage people to move from “poor farms where they are making a bare living to more productive districts.” It is estimated that there are, according to the 1941 census 734,736 farms in Canada and 100,337 were classed as “pioneer farms”.

8/04/43   “At Least One Sugar Beet Plant To Operate In Western

              Ontario” [DT]                    

                                 Chatham April 6 – The total contracted acreage for sugar beets for the 1943 season has only reached 13,500 acres. The Canada & Dominion Sugar Co. has agreed to pay 75 cents “above the weigh station price for beets delivered to the plant in an effort to get more farmers signed up.

   The company needs 20,000 acres for the economical operation of just one plant. Only three years ago there were 40,500 acres under contract with 6,000 beet growers, only 

14 November, 2013 at the Chatham-Kent Museum

By Jerrel R. Hind.

We have just observed Remembrance Day this past Monday remembering the tragedy of so many of our country men and women who gave their lives during time of war and rightfully so that their sacrifice should be remembered.

War is full of tragedy, hundreds of thousands of civilians lost their lives, cities and town destroyed, national fortunes lost and people displaced.  

For many Canadians this was the stuff of news broadcasts during the war years 1939 – 45, and though Canadians were “joining up” and going overseas and rationing soon set in we think generally the war was somewhere on a far-off shore 

This past October a small sign was erected on the Doyle Side-road marking the spot where for some Canadian citizens would recall a very different and personal experience of war in Canada. The sign simply states “HISTORIC SITE Chatham Evacuee camp 1942”. 

On December 7, 1941 the Empire of Japan launched an attack on the 7^th Fleet of the United States at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. This catalyst would begin a series of measures that would affect the lives of every Japanese-Canadian then living in British Columbia. 

The war with Japan clearly was the excuse, but the reason for the abuse of the Japanese-Canadians was more an economic one, than a necessity for national security. The federal government had been under significant pressure by various BC governments to remove the Japanese-Canadians to other parts of the Dominion. Prime Minister McKenzie King was not adverse to the idea but knew it would not be popular in other provinces that didn’t want the ‘yellow people’ in their back yard any more than did British Columbia.       

Anti-Japanese-Canadian legislation did not have to wait for the attack on Pearl Harbour, in fact it began on 7 January, 1941, a full eleven months prior to the attack that would start the war in the Pacific. A Special Committee of the War Cabinet by Order in Council had already stopped men of Japanese origin from volunteering to join the Canadian military. This at the same time as an aggressive recruitment program was active throughout the country. Why would they do that?

Beginning in March of 1941, (nine months before the war with Japan), all people of Japanese origin over the age of 16 regardless of whether they were naturalized or native-born in Canada, were required to register with the R.C.M.P and carry an identity card with them at all times or be subject to arrest.

When 23,303 Japanese-Canadians in BC watched the sun set over the Pacific December the 6^th 1941, they could have had no idea how much their lives would be change before it set the next day 

–  It is important to note the figure of 23, 303 people of Japanese origin living in Canada.

      60.2% were born in Canada = 13,982.

      14.6% were naturalized Canadians = 3495     75% Canadian citizens.  

      Leaving 5,826.

–  In 1941 22,096 were in the province of British Columbia or 95% of the J-C population inCanada.

–  1200 were living outside of the province

–  132 in Ontario

The population of Japanese-Canadians in Ontario in 1941 was 320 by the summer of 1942 that number would double and at wars end would be in the thousands. This talk will examine the reasons and results of this forced evacuation of Canadian citizens under the shadow of the Second World War and why did they choose to settle in Ontario and Chatham in particular.

   Approximately 350 Japanese Canadian men came to work on sugar beet farms in Southwestern Ontario, arriving on or about May 24th 1942.  Camps in Kent County were set up at Dresden, Valetta, Dover Centre, and on Harold English’s farm (English Sideroad) in North Harwich.  

Southwestern District:

• 55 moved from Dresden to Eatonville

Born 17/01/19 in Keithly, Yorkshire, England. Son of Robert and Rebecca Anderson. Robert a member of the CEF had married and thought of staying in the UK. In 1920 now with ten month old Robert the family immigrated to Canada, eventually settling in Chatham, ON. at 12 Harvey St. Robert Sr. would pass away in 1927 leaving Rebecca with Robert Jr. and two sisters Jean and Margaret. It was a tough life on Rebecca and her children money being very short but they persisted.

To help out Robert Joined the Kent Regt. they paid 50 cents a night and it was while with the Kents that he picked up the nickname ‘Rocky’ partly due his liking to box. Robert also joined the Boy Scouts, likely a good source of male supervision he lacked due to the loss of his father. While attending the Kent’s for military training ‘Rocky’ acquired a familiarity with the military and the use of weapons, in particular the Lewis light machine gun.

Robert attended Central School and then Chatham Vocational School. After CVS he worked as a baker, truck driver, motor mechanic and up to his enlistment he word at Goodison’s Fishery.

Enlisted 2/02/1942 in London, ON. to the Royal Canadian Regiment. He would train at Wosley Barracks, London and then to Valcartier, PQ. ‘Rocky’ went overseas 18/12/1939 arriving in England on 30/12/1939 and due to the dire conditions on the continent went to France seeing action as a Lance Sergeant, with the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, R.C.A.C. He would ultimately see the shore of France at Dunkirk as one of the 338,000 evacuated from Europe.

During the next months in England while they tried to rebuild and re-equip the Army in England Robert would have some free time during which he met a nurse Betty White and they fell in love. Sadly Betty would become one of the many victims of the German “Blitz” in 1940 on London.
After nurse White’s death Robert joined the commandos perhaps to help him forget the pain of losing his fiancée the training probably helped. In October of 1942 he became engaged to Eileen Mary Wilkes a Pte. In the ATS and they married the 16th of February, 1943 in Battersea, London, England. CDN 10/10/43.

In August of 1943 no attached to the 4th Recon. Regt. and part of “Operation Husky”, the invasion of Sicily and on to Italy the “Soft underbelly of Europe” ‘Rocky would be wounded, recovered he returned to his unit in time for the capture of Rome June 1944 (D-Day in Normandy). On September 1st 1944 Rocky’s platoon was ambushed by the Germans six members survived the attack L-Sgt. Robert Anderson died of gun shot wounds to the abdomen. Amongst his personal effects was found one pair of baby booties, he and Eileen had a baby son at the time ten months old.
Age: 24, DOW, Date of Death: 01/09/1944, Reported KIA (actually DOW) CDN 12/09/44.
Eileen and the baby came to Canada to meet Robert’s family 26 October, 1944.

In and article in the CDN 9/02/45 Pt. John Griffin mentions “Rocky”; “We just knew him as Rocky and he was a grand chap, and well spoken of everywhere he went.” He knew Rocky had been killed, “and there was sorrow among all of his friends and he certainly had a lot of them.”

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 13.
Cemetery: MONTECCHIO WAR CEMETERY. Index of Overseas Deaths. {(P) C-K Museum}. ATNCB, CDN 9/02/45.

The Ivison family beginning with the father of the three Sergeants’ in the photo above was the first to go to war in 1914 with the 1st Battalion Canadian Expeditionalry Force (C.E.F.)

Joseph Ivison Sr. was born in Carlisle, England on the 31st of March, 1882 and had served seven years in the military in England with the “Cumberland Volunteer Artillery Howitzer Battery”, before coming to Canada. He was married to Mary Foster and had been working at the William Gray & Sons Company in Chatham making $3.00 a day. I was enough to afford a house at 175 Colbourne St., in Chatham. Joe was also a well known footballer likely skills learned while he was in England.

Like many in August of 1914 he was prepared to enlist in the army and he with 114 other local men boarded the train to take him to Valcartier, PQ. where he became Service number 6690. Joe was thirty two, unusually tall for the time at 6 foot 3 inches likely a man that the younger soldiers from Chatham and Kent County would look up to.

Joe wrote many letter home to his wife and friends and supplied a personal insight to the trial that the CEF would endure when they finally reached “France”.

Joe wrote to his friend Postman, Sidney Carter from Camp Bustard on the Salisbury Plain, Chatham Daily Planet 16/02/1915, “All Of The Chatham Boys in Good Shape”. His only complaint is the, “way our mail is being handled”. He says he is spending a lot of time around the cook tent implying that he’s becoming a cook and has his friends LaMarsh and Rayner to keep him company. He concludes the letter by talking about the future, “I myself am in the “pink of condition” and you won’t have to look for a centre half back when I get home again.”  [Clayton LaMarsh and George Rayner at the Water Detail for D-Company of the 1st Battalion]

Joseph and the other men from Chatham and Kent were involved in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and the engagements that followed that first “blooding” of the CEF. A letter written 17/06/1915 from Joseph to his wife carried some good news that, “I am well and safe, after the battle of 15 June.” However he goes on to report that, “with the deepest feelings of regret that I tell you about Joe JOINER and Dick DENNIS. They were both killed on Tuesday evening in our attack”. Chatham Daily Planet 2/07/1915

Joseph fought in the battles at Langemarck and Festubert and came through both unscathed. “We certainly suffered severely but our company did some splendid work and the wonder of it is how any of them got through.” He reports that that No. 4 company led the attack with the rest of the battalion following. At the end of that battle he tells that of 13 platoons ‘old Chatham boys’ only Sergt. SHEFF, W. MURDOCK, A. BATES, H. TACK, J. MOORE, W. EASTON, William COMPTON and J. IVISON survived unscathed. “we are a badly bent battalion, right now we lost all but two officers, Major SMITH, GORDON and Lt. McDONALD (former Sergt. Maj) were killed and CHESHAM and METCALF wounded.”  Chatham Daily Planet 14/07/1915.

It became evident in Joe’s writing that the war and the loss of close friends was a profound effect on him in particular when writing to the wife of his friend Pte. Joseph Joiner (6692) [Ivison’s number was 6690}  His letter begins: “What a lovely day it is and the last of January, it just reminds me of one of those mild days of spring which we were all delighted to enjoy back in the “old Bung”.” The ‘veteran soldier’ is too practical to forget the fickled weather of Western Europe, “we must not bark too soon, as last February and March were both bad weather out here.” He reflects that by the time Mrs. Joiner receives this letter, “the First Battalion will have been along the firing line twelve months.”

“If I could pen my thoughts of the last year I would give you a resume of our work, but abler pens than mine would fail. Then again, I am sure there are some thoughts which could only bring pain to several of us, so you will excuse me; won’t you?”

Mrs. Joiner had sent a photo of herself with her son Austin, which he took great pleasure and pride in receiving. “I was surprised to see Austin in the uniform of a soldier, I did not think he was old enough, but we must not criticize, but what an example it must be – yes, and a shame also – to many of the stalwart men you must still have hanging around in Kent County.”

One of the first men to answer the ‘call to the colours’ in August of 1914 as a member of the “Fighting First” Joe returned to Chatham on the noon C. P. R. train on the 19th of September, 1916, almost two years to the day of his departure. It was unfortunate that this soldier, who had served so well in the early battles of the war, was only met by a few close friends there was no official welcome due to a lack of notification, perhaps by Joe’s design.

During the war years Joe and another 1st Contingent man Clifford Morrice would be advocating to local politicians to find jobs for returning veterans during and after the war and both were involved in organizing what became the Veterans of the Great War Association, later to become what we know today as the the “Legion’.

Joseph Ivison is buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham ON., with his wife Mary E. FOSTER. Joseph died in 1951, his tomb stone bears the emblem of the Kent Regiment.

When the Second World War began the Ivison’s were to be represented by three sons Hugh, Joseph and Wilfred.

IVISON, JOSEPH HENRY. Service No: A/50204 Sergeant, Regiment: Essex Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. Born 10/09/1908 at Chatham, ON. The oldest son of Joseph and Mary E. Ivison, of Chatham, Ontario. His brother Wilfred (A50203) also fell; other siblings included Hugh and Ida. Joseph the father, served in the 1st Bn. CEF (6690) in the 1st Contingent and was one of the early veteran to be invalided home. Joe attended Central Public School and Chatham Vocational School. After leaving school he worked as a plumber and at Willards Hardware (1927 – 32), then at the Ontario Steel Plant on St. George St., Chatham

Joe, Fred (Wilfred) and Hugh enlisted 14 August, 1940 in Chatham, ON. At the time Joe had married and divorced Verna Hebblethwaite and he had two children from a common-law marrage, June Evelyn and Shirley Mary. Joe was accepted in the Junior Leaders Course at Magantic, PC for NCO training.

All three of the Ivison brothers went to France as Sargeants in the Essex Scottish Regt. Joe was killed by a German sniper in actions in the Caen area during the Normandy campaign. Hugh heard of Joes death when some men in his section saw Joe’s helmet hanging on a cross. Joe’s mother was notified by the Chatham police.

Age: 37, KIA –  Date of Death: 21/07/1944, in France.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. D . 3.
Cemetery: BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY. Christ Church, Chatham. – Roll of Honour. Index of Overseas Deaths.

IVISON, ‘ Fred’ WILFRED. Service No: A/50203,  Sergeant, Essex Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. The youngest son of Joseph and Mary E. Ivison, of Chatham, Ontario. Joseph the father served in the 1st Bn. CEF (6690) in the 1st Contingent and was one of the early veteran to be invalided home. Fred along with brothers Joe and Hugh joined the 1st Kents when they mobilized in 1940. He trained with the regiment in Chatham, London, Halifax Niagara Falls and New Westminister, BC. He was processed overseas as a reinforcement and along with his other two brothers were posted with the Essex Scottish in England before moving to France.

Married the husband of Lillian (nee Cruse) Ivison, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Cruse of Chatham, Fred and Lillian had three sons. Prior to enlisting Fred was employed at International Harvester and was a member of the Kent Regt. for several years before the outbreak of war.  His brother Joseph Henry also fell.

It was reported that Fred was killed in a slit trench near Ifs, south of the city of Cean, France. Hit in the head by a shell fragment from a German Tiger tank. His brother Hugh was a member of the buriel party. After the loss of Wilfred, Hugh was transferred back to Canada posted in London, ON. as an instructor. The Canadian government had a policy that the last surviving son was ordered to withdraw from combat.

Age: 34, DOW – Date of Death: 01/08/1944, in France. His brother Joseph Henry also fell.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 7.
Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY. Christ Church, Chatham. – Roll of Honour. Index of Overseas Deaths.

IVISON, HUGH J. Sgt. A50202, Essex Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Son of Joseph and Mary E. Ivison, of Chatham, Ontario. Joseph the father served in the 1st Bn. CEF (6690) in the 1st Contingent and was one of the early veteran to be invalided home.

Married, the husband of Lillian Ivison, of Chatham they had a daughter in January of 1945 and were living in the Stringer Block on King St. in Chatham.  His brothers Joseph Henry and Wifred who fell in service. IODE(P).

Hugh trained in Chatham No. 12 BTC., London, Halifax, Westminister BC. and Quebec before he and his two brothers went overseas with the Essex Scottish Regt. He saw action in France and Belgium before being returned home. Reported returned from overseas duty 18/12/1944. Hugh was transferred back to Canada posted in London, ON. as an instructor. The Canadian government had a policy that the last surviving son was ordered to withdraw from combat. Sgt. Hugh J. was reported as passing away 27/08/1991. LM-LP. CDN 18/01/45.

Age: 23, LAS – Date of Death: 20/09/1943, HMCS St. Croix, sunk.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10.
Memorial: HALIFAX MEMORIAL. Found in “The Tilbury Story 1887 -1987”. Index of Overseas Deaths. TT 7/10/43.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert McPherson, of Tilbury East, Ontario. Albert had been home on leave in July when he was called back before his furlough had expired. He had already made eight trips across the Atlantic before his last voyage.

HMCS St. Croix was a Town Class Destroyer (Pennant No. I-81) Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. (Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.A.), and launched 31 January, 1919. She was commissioned into the RCN 24 September, 1940 and sunk 20 September, 1943 at 57.30N and 31.10W approximately 500 miles SE of Greenland.

Canada had been desperately short of Naval ship at the start of WWII and the Americans had a number of surplus ships on their hands St. Croix had been built for the first Great War but she along with Annapolis, Columbia, Niagara, St. Clair and St. Francis were picked up for escort duty under the Lend – Lease Plan from the Americans.

Though an elderly “Four Stacker” ( referencing the four smoke stacks) she was still capable of sinking German submarines which she did on the 24th of July 1942 after catching an attacking sub on her Asdic (Sonar) and after three depth charge patterns found the remains of the attacker.

It was early in the evening of the 20th of September while escorting convoy ONS-18, a slow convoy bound from Halifax, NS. to England that they were overtaken by convoy ON-202 a fast convoy going in the same direction. It was reported that “the two convoys gyrated majestically about the ocean, never appearing to get much closer, and watched appreciatively by a growing swarm of U-boats. As darkness fell 63 merchant ships and their five escorts, were spread out in comparative disorder over miles of sea.

A short time later St. Croix was detached to investigate an aircraft sighting. It was when she slowed down upon reaching the contact point that she was struck by two torpedoes. At 21:51 on 20 Sep, 1943, the HMCS St. Croix (I 81) (LtCdr A.H. Dobson, RCNR, DSC) was hit in the stern by a third Gnat torpedo from U-305. The last word from St.Croix received by HMS Itchen escorting ON-202 was “Am leaving the office.” She sank within six minutes after being hit by the coup de grâce from the same U-boat at 22.44 hours. HMS itchen signall HMS Polyanthus to go to the assistance of St. Croix but she was sunk on the way with only one of her crew surviving.

The next morning, five officers and 76 men were picked up from two rafts and a half sunken whaler by HMS Itchen (K 227), which also had been attacked by U-305 with a Gnat at 22.53 hours, but was missed.

The HMCS St. Croix (I 81) was one of the first victims of the new developed acoustic torpedo Gnat.

McPHERSON, CLIFFORD ALBERT. Service No: V/19396. Rank: Able Seaman, Service: Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve, Unit Text: H.M.C.S. St. Croix.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert McPherson, of Tilbury East, Ontario. Albert had been home on leave in July when he was called back before his furlough had expired. He had already made eight trips across the Atlantic before his last voyage.

Enlists in Chatham as a Lieutenant in the Kent Regt, listing Chatham as his place of birth and was living in London, ON. Rank: Major , Regiment: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), R.C.I.C. Age: 32, DOW, Date of Death: 21/08/1944. Awards: Mentioned in Despatches. On the 20th of August 1944, heavy counter attacks were beaten off as the desperate Germans attempted to force their way past the Canadians.

On 18 August 1944, “B” Company of the Argylls consisting of fifty five men, commanded by Major Martin was placed under command of “C” Squadron of The South Alberta Regiment (SAR) which was commanded by Major Dave Currie, Major Currie would be later awarded the Victoria Cross. This composite group was tasked to close the road running through St. Lambert Sur Dives which was the main German escape route between the towns of Chambois and Trun. They had the dangerous task of clearing pockets of Germans from each house along the road. Besides the German infantry there was also a Tiger tank and a Panther tank in support of the German infantry. A small group of Argylls led by Lieut. Gil Armour,, Pte’s. W. F. Cooper and J. LaForrestarmed with a PIAT attacked and destroyed the Panther. The Tiger tank withdrew and by mid-morning the village was cleared.

In the early morning of 19 August 1944, “B” Company and “C” Squadron attacked St. Lambert and cleared half of the town and consolidated in the centre having insufficient troops to clear the rest. The fighting was vicious with German tanks being destroyed at close range with grenades and PIATs. Company Sergeant Major George Mitchell and Private MR Holmes distinguished themselves by rescuing the driver of a burning SAR tank while under fire. The Argylls suffered 6 wounded that day. “C” Company of the Argylls joined the force in St. Lambert at 1900 hours (7:00 PM).

During the actions around the Battle of the Falaise Gap in particular St. Lambert Sur Dives. Thousands of Germans were trying to flee down the road through St. Lambert. Major Ivan Martin, Officer Commanding “B” Company went forward on foot alone twice to call down artillery fire on German self propelled guns. It was during this action while Major Martin was meeting with Major Currie, Lieut. Al Dalphe acting as interpreter and a captured German doctor who was trying to get aid for his captured German troops, just after Major Currie was called back to his tank that a 88mm HE hit the group killing both Canadian officers. After the battle, he was awarded an American Distinguished Service Cross.

The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Army, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism not justifying the award of a Medal of Honor; while engaged in an action against an enemy of the Unites States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing/foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing Armed Force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The act or acts of heroism must have been so notable and have involved risk of life so extraordinary as to set the individual apart from his or her comrades.

Donald enlisted in May of 1942 as a Gunner. He served overseas in England, Italy, France, Holland and Germany. He stayed in Germany as part of the Occupation Force and was discharged from the army in May of 1946.  The CDN 12/02/43(P) reported that Gunner Donald had sent word to his parents that he had arrived overseas.   

After the war Donald joined the Ontario Provincial Police serving mainly in Northern Ontario. In 1980 he was living in Haillybury, ON. Donald passed away 1/06/1985.  IODE-CM(P), unidentified newspaper article copied (P).

Served in Italy and North West Europe.

Discharged January 1946

It was reported in the RCL-LP passed away 5 Jan. 1991. 

LOOKING FOR FAMILY AND SERVICE INFORMATION – Contact GOH Website.

Son of Mr. James and Mrs. Nora Maguire of 108 Lorne Ave., Chatham. Prior to his enlistment he was an employee of the Chatham Daily News. CDN 3/04/44(P). The CDN 14/08/44 reported that Glen had been promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer.

George was born in Ottawa August 29, 1920 and living in Chatham.  Address at Enlistment: 168 Lorne Avenue, Chatham.  He attended Queen Mary School.  He worked at the Chatham Daily News, Canadiana Department Store (Eaton’s).  

He enlisted in November of 1941. He received his training at Brandon, MN., Camp Borden, Guelph and Fingal ON. and Pennfield NB. Glen was reported being at No. 4 Wireless School, Guelph, ON. when he was in Chatham on  a week-end leave to visit his family. CDN 17/08/42.

Sergeant Maguire was stationed in 1943 at RCAF-Fingal when he was home on furlough to visit with his mother Nora, living at Lorne Avenue, Chatham. He was departing for the east coast. Before he left he spent a few days with his uncle Bruce Babcock living in Lansing Mich. 

Glen was reported being at No. 4 Wireless School, Guelph, ON. when he was in Chatham on  a week-end leave to visit his family. CDN 17/08/42. P/O Maguire went overseas in June of 1943 as a Flt. Sgt. Wireless operator. Assigned to 6 Group, 432 (Leaside) Squadron located at East Moor, Yorkshire, a Halifax bomber RCAF station.

George had taken part in fourteen raids over Germany. On the morning of 30 March the squadron was alerted that the evenings mission was a “Grand National”, code for a maximum effort. The crew of Halifax bomber LK 754 was later brief that the target that evening would be Nuremburg, Germany the furthest penetration yet attempted by bomber command.

Raids prior to Nuremberg had been against the “Big City” – code for Berlin. The Battle of Berlin had been costly to Bomber Command 569 aircraft lost over Germany over the four month battle, another 72 had crashed over Britain with 2,938 aircrew KIA, 92 WIA, 716 POW and 36 escaped or evaded capture. 6 Group RCAF accounted for 437 KIA, 127 POW’s and 9 escaped or evaded of that total.

The raid on Nurmeburg would go down in the annals of WWII as the “Dieppe of the strategic bomber offensive against Germany.

For F/O. Maguire the horrors of the raid that evening would begin when the pilot F/O Earl K. Reid began the make the turn over Thuringer Wold that would be the approach to target Nuremberg. It was then that one of the four engines on the Halifax burst into flames. F/O James Smith “Smitty” from Victoria, BC. Would later write, “After the third attack we went into a dive, and Earle gave the order to abandon the aircraft. Everyone was very calm, even though we were going down very quickly.”

LK 754 was on fire and plummeting from 22,000 feet – W/O MacDonald had no time to jettison the bomb load, “Smitty” was the first to bale out, “I jumped, pulled my chute and looked down, our aircraft was already on the ground below me.” The stricken Halifax had drifted from it’s original course and crashed between two rail lines into a corn field at 00:40 (40 minutes past mid-night), exploding on impact killing the pilot F/O Reid who was unable to escape the plane, it was his 21^st birthday.

Besides F/O Smith, others of the crew taken prisoner were W/O. Vincent MacDonald of Meota, Sask., Sgt. Joseph Barr AG. From Pt. Edward, ON and F/O wireless operator George Maguire.

Sgt. Bob Clarkson, 21 years old from Hamilton, ON the last to parachute from the aircraft unfortunately landed on high-tension electrical wires and was electrocuted, Sgt. Barr found his parachute tangled in the railway power lines. Sgt. John A. May the only RAF member and the flight engineer from Gravesend, Kent, England was unable to escape the plane when his parachute opened inside the plummeting bomber. F/O Ried remained at the controls of the Halifax allowing the crew time to escape but by then it was too late for him.

The CDN 26/02/44 reported that Sgt. Maguire was aboard a bomber flown by WO. V. C. McDonald in the attack on the city of Augsburg, Germany in February 1944. Beside the ‘Pathfinders’ squadrons from the Canadian Squadrons of Bomber Command included Thunderbird, Goose, Lion, Alouette, Porcupine and Tiger. The crew reports indicated heavy damage had been done on the centre of the city and a suburb areas as well. The glow of the city could be seen for 90 miles. There was a large supply of Nazi fighters and the flak was very heavy.

Glen was reported as  MIA over Germany on 31 March, 1944 while on a bombing run. It was reported that this was his fourteenth operational flight. Glen was in fact a POW since April of 1944 for 1 ½ years. In a letter to his mother (CDN 14/08/44 with photo) Glen reported that he was in good health “Cheer up mother, I’ll be home soon”. The CDN 3/04/44 also reported that just three weeks prior Sgt. Maguire had married an English girl while he was on furlough. His wife and baby son were residing in England.

The husband of Edna (nee Douglas) they had one son while Glen was in service; Edna passed away in 1984. It was reported in January of 1945 that Flt. Sgt Maguire had been promoted to Flying Officer. CDN 27/01/45 The brother to Margaret “Margie”, (Bennett) of Chatham.

The CDN 27/10/45 reported that Mrs. James Maguire received notification from RCAF Headquarters, Ottawa that Glen was a POW in Germany since April 1944.  The CDN 16/05/44 reported that Flight Sgt. Maguire was confirmed by the British Red Cross was a POW in Germany. Glen was a former employee of the Chatham Daily News.

George died 6 June, 2010 at LHSC, London, ON. at the age of 89 years, burial at the Memorial Gardens, Hwy. #3, Tecumseh, ON.

Transferred to the Essex Scottish Regiment and served with them in England, France, Holland and Germany.

Date of Discharge: October 5th, 1945

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History After Enlistment… Served overseas from May 1942.

The CDN 9/04/43 reported that Stanley and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Gregory) had spent two weeks visiting their parents before returning to London.

Was at Central Mechanization Depot, London, from time of enlistment to December 1943 when he was moved to Barriefield where he stayed until being sent overseas July 1944.

LOOKING FOR FAMILY AND SERVICE INFORMATION – Contact GOH Website.

Born in Chatham, ON. the son John Ernest and Miriam Ann (nee Morris) Brown of 21 Houston St., Chatham, ON., The brother of Berenice and Lucia. The husband of Delores J. (nee Zilz), They married in 1946.  Prior to his enlistment he was employed by the Ontario Steel Products in Chatham.      

He trained in Canada at Windsor, ON., Dundurn Sask., Camp Borden, ON. The WN 27/01/44 reported that Gnr. Leonard Brown was stationed at Vancouver BC., serving with the 24^th Regt. RCA.  He went overseas 14/07/1943 joining the 30^th Reconnaissance Regt. (Windsor).  17^th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars. Leonard served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and finally, in Germany. During his time in Europe he was hospitalized three times.

Leonard enlisted 22/09/1942 at Windsor, ON. with 30^th Reece Regt. from Windsor, ON., though he really wanted to join the RCAF, he thought it “Sounded so exciting.” It was his father that suggested “Stick to the ground forces, you are a motorcycle rider. Why don’t you join the armored corps and be a dispatch rider.” The 30^th Reconnaissance was part of the Canadian Armoured Corps, based out of Windsor.

Leonard was discharged from the Army 23/03/1946.

He didn’t get the dispatch riders job, but instead, he became the driver in a WASP; a Universal Carrier converted to be a mobile flamethrower.

He spent eight months in the notoriously dangerous vehicle, lightly armoured, carrying a drum of flammable liquid on the rear. “You had to be inside 60 yards of your target which was most often a machine gun nest.” Luck had to do a lot with his survival of WASP crews. Leonard confirmed he felt very lucky. 

On one occasion, his luck almost ran out. “The infantry was pinned down behind a railroad embankment by a German machine gun nest and the infantry couldn’t advance.” On this day, his regular Corporal who would be in charge of the WASP was off sick and he was replaced with a Corporal with little experience, advertised by his standing up in the carrier exposed to enemy fire as they made their way down the road to the embankment. Suddenly, the Corporal shouted “Len, STOP!”

What the Corporal had seen was a couple of paving stones sticking up from the roadway. This was a telltale sign of German mines that were ready to explode as soon as the WASP ran over the bricks. Closer examination revealed three mines, and one that was directly under the vehicle. They carefully reversed, and it was while doing this that both the Corporal and Leonard realized the machine gun hadn’t fired on them; likely thinking the mines would get them. Leonard was involved in the liberation of Antwerp; a port vital to the Allied advance into the Netherlands and Germany.

On the last day of WWII, Len was ready for battle in Germany. “We were on a highway outside of Aurich to attack at dawn.” When the sun rose that morning there was no order to attack. The troops began to worry since they were ‘sitting ducks’; exposed on the road. Word finally came over the radio that the war was over. “Wouldn’t it have been horrible to be killed on this day”, Leonard thought.

Returned to Canada with the 17^th Duke of Yorks Royal Canadian Hussars. Leonard was discharged from the Army 23/03/1946.

After the war, he was employed at Ontario Steel Products after he retired from the Rockwell International where he was a superintendent of the Bumper “A” stamping dept.

In December of 2014, Leonard was presented with a pin and a certificate from the Federal government in recognition for his service on the 75^th anniversary of the start of World War II CDN23/12/14.

Leonard passed away 21 October, 2017. [final resting not noted].   Age:  96 years.  Obit: CDN 25/10/17.

He was one of 13 children and was born in Richmond, Surrey, England.

He served in WW I as part of the 186th CEF, enlisting in St. Thomas.

After WW I, he settled in Kent County with his wife Myrtle and had 5 daughters: Jean, Marjorie, Phyllis, Patricia and Joan.

Upon the declaration of WW II Percy, (now in his 50’s) was first in line in Chatham to sign up for active duty. As a courtesy, he stepped into second place to allow the CO of the Kent Regiment to enlist first.

He served in Canada during WW II and was always disappointed that he was considered too old to go overseas. He attained the rank of Medical Sergeant and trained young recruits.

Percy died in May of 1977 at the age of 87 years.

Source: Joan Taylor DeBruyne and George DeBruyne

Percy’s daughter Joan was a member of our Chapter for many years.

Born August 5, 1917

June 29, 1940 promoted from A/Cpl. to Sergeant Inf. (MG).

August 4, 1940 Promosted to 2nd Lieutenant.

March 7, 1941 promoted to Lieutenant Inf. (R)

Joined 60th R.E.C.C.S. and was sent overseas to England.

Transferred to the Irish Regiment and was shipped to Italy in 1944 near the “River Poe”.

Was sent to Holland and served at Brigade Headquarters.

Came home to Canada in January 1946.

Medals Awarded, September 12, 1945

• 1939-1945 Star
• The Italy Star
• The France and Germany Star
• The Defence Medal
• C.V.S.M & Clasp

Source: Spouse, Pamela Hanley

Jack’s wife, Pamela is the oldest member of the Kent Regiment Chapter IODE and came to Canada as a British War Bride.

From:   A4509 Pte. A.L. Robinson

Sig’s Plat. Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  December 19, 1942 

Envelope

Dec 19/42

Dear Sis,

                A few lines in answer to your letter which I received the other day.  I would have answered sooner only I have been very busy the last few days and will be busy until after New Year’s, so won’t be doing much writing for a while.  I sent Olive a little present for Xmas but I didn’t send anyone else anything.  I expect to go on leave the latter part of February again though and I will try and get a few little things to send home then.  You can’t get hardly anything over here without coupons though. 

I will answer your questions now.  I would like to have a khaki dress shirt or two and a khaki tie as these issue army shirts are not very nice to wear on leave or weekends, and we can also use tea or coffee.  As for canned goods, anything home canned like jam or something always tastes good but, I would rather you wouldn’t bother too much with parcels and send more cigarettes, as they don’t last very long around here.  Yes, I got through my signal exams O.K. and am a qualified signaler now at the regiment. 

I haven’t received your Xmas box yet, but will write as soon as I get it and let you know.  Well, I guess I won’t be with you this Xmas, but will have to try and make it by next year.  I received your Xmas card, which was very nice, and I also got one from Katy.  Thanks for the photos.  I had my picture taken with the boys here and I will try and get one to send to you.  Well, I am pretty tired tonight so will close for this time.  Write soon and give my love to everyone.

                Love, Allan

I believe I can smell fresh pork and sauerkraut.

It was not only the Canadian Army that emerged with a proud record. The Royal Canadian Air Force took a substantial share in the air offensive against the Nazi forces, and through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, helped to train large numbers of airmen from other nations of the Commonwealth. The Royal Canadian Navy played a vital role in protecting Allied convoys from Nazi submarines that lurked beneath the Atlantic and was ultimately entrusted with the bulk of the convoy work.

Canada’s economic effort was impressive and her financial contribution generous. A whole new series of industries were created to meet the demands for war supplies, from munitions to motor vehicles, aircraft and ships. In the field of diplomacy, Canada played a particularly important liaison role between Great Britain and the United States.

For a country of 11 million people Canada’s contribution to the defeat of the Axis powers was remarkable. Canada as a nation matured through the ordeal of war and was now ready to assume new responsibilities as a member of the world community. As a direct result of the Second World War, the United Nations were formed, and Canada would play a major role in the development of this organization, and the rise of peacekeeping forces.

Throughout the world, the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions maintains graves and memorials to commemorate the veterans of the Commonwealth Forces who died during the First and Second World Wars. A total of 109,980 Canadian heroes are thus memorialized in 74 countries.

World War II

World War II – Navy Pictures

Chatham-Kent Museum Artifacts

Identify These Heroes WW1

Identify These Heroes WW2

From:   A4509 Pte. A.L. Robinson

Sig’s. Plat. Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  December 9, 1942

Envelope

Dec. 9/42

Dear Sis,

                A few lines in answer to your letters.  I have one from you and one from Helen and the airmail letter which you all sent to me for my birthday.  I just received it today.  Tell Clarence that I was on the ranges today and made a pretty good score, so maybe I will be able to show him how to shoot when I get home, and tell Roy that I don’t go out with any “old dames” that can bake. 

I just came back from leave Sunday.  I was up to Edinburgh again.  I had nine days altogether and was in Scotland for seven days.  I had a very good time while I was up there.  I sent Olive a little present from Scotland for I heard I drew her name for Christmas, so will you let me know if she gets it safely?  I will try and get some more little things to send home the next time I go up there.

                I was up to Margaret’s place a couple of times for dinner while I was up there and her folks are very nice and treated me swell.  We went to see “Gone With the Wind” while I was up there.  Tell Helen that I will try and get her some Scotch heather the next time I go up there.

 I had a box from Jennie the other day and one from the Dover Centre Red Cross.  They were both very nice.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now except that I weigh 150 lbs now, so I am doing not too badly on army cooking.  Well, so long for now.

                Love & XXXXXXX to everyone, Allan

From:   A4509 Pte. A.L. Robinson

Sig’s Plat. Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Miss Olive Marsh         

Date of letter:  December 6, 1942 

Envelope

Dec. 6/42

Dear Olive,

            I heard that I drew your name for Xmas, so here is something I got for you while in Scotland.  The thistle is the Scots emblem. 

It will be a little late for Xmas likely, but here it is anyway.  I just got back off leave today and had a good time.

            Love, Uncle Allan

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

Sig’s Platoon Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  November 18, 1942 

Envelope

Wed. Nov. 18/42

Dear Sister;

                A few lines in answer to your letter which I received yesterday.  I was glad to hear from you.  Well, you never sent me a feather from that duck that you got.  I was up to London last weekend and saw some of my relations.  One of my cousins has a little girl by the same name as Pat (Patricia Ann). She is 3 years old.  I had some chocolate bars that I had just got from Laura.  I gave her some of them and she thinks that I am just it. 

Well, I suppose that you are all done with the beets by now.  The parcel that you sent me was just fine.  There was nothing broken in it and was packed just fine.  I ran into one of these English fogs when I was up to London and when you get fog and the blackout mixed – well, I guess you can imagine what it is like trying to find your way around London.

                Well, I suppose JC has left Chatham by now.  I wonder when he will be coming overseas.  I don’t suppose it will be for quite a while yet.  Is he in any regiment or is he just a buck private without a regiment yet?  I had a letter from Jean Ball the other day.  I was kind of surprised to hear from her. 

It is getting quite cold over here now and the weather is so damp that you really notice it.  I have got my woolies on now and they are not a bit too hot either.  I am sending the face of your envelope back.  I want to see just how many times it will cross the ocean, so when you get it on the back of it you will see the date I received it.  So, you put on the date you receive this under mine, and send it back to me in your next letter, please.  Well, I will close for now.  Hoping to hear from you and be with you soon.

Love to all, Allan

From:   A4509 A.L. Robinson Pte.

            Sig’s Plat. Admin Wing

Royal Canadian Regiment

            Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh   

Date of letter:  November 2 & 4, 1942 

Envelope

Nov. 2/42

Dear Sister,

                A few lines in answer to your letter which I received today with the pictures.  They are very nice and I was glad to get them.  I got through my signal exams all right and am at the regiment now.  I have been talking to Jim Bedell and we were down to see Sid. the other night.  He is just a little way down the road from here.  He had just received a parcel from home and I had some Dresden fair taffy and some soda biscuits and butter, which tasted very good.  I am sorry I haven’t got any pictures to send you yet.  A camera is pretty hard to get ahold of around here.  I wish I had one myself.  I had a letter from Shirlie and Alex today and a post card from Jennie.  Well, I guess I am going to be the old bachelor of the family pretty soon if Jimmie gets married.  I am glad to hear that Dad is getting along fine and is feeling fine also.  I hope Bill stays with him so that he will have some company. 

Well, I am supposed to get my leave in a couple of weeks and if I don’t get it this time I guess I will just take it myself.

(Continued Nov. 4)

I was on duty last night so have got the morning off to sleep, so I thought I would do some writing instead.  I see one of the Babcock boys here at the regiment, Les Babcock I believe his name is.  Well, I suppose you are living on wild duck most of the time now are you (and sauerkraut)?  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Thanks again for the pictures and send any that you happen to have taken.  I will try and get some to send to you.

Love & XXX, Allan

P.S.  Don’t forget to ask some of those beautiful girls to write Handsome?

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson

A4509 R.C.R.

No. 6. Coy No. 1 C.S.R.U.

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret) 

Date of letter:  September 20, 1942

Envelope

Sunday, Sept 20/42

Dear Sister;

            Well, I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you.  Boy things are really happening around there, with the stealing, fishing and people getting married and so on.  I had a quite a bit of mail lately.  I got a box of chocolate bars and gum from Laola last night and were they good.  I also had another letter from Elmer Jackson the other day.  He doesn’t get many leaves and when he does they are only short ones, but we are going to try and arrange to see one another, if we can.  Jennie was telling me in her letter that J.C. had his call so I suppose he is in the Army by now.  Dad was saying that I had received a call to report also, but as it is quite a ways to go, I don’t think I will report.  I hope they don’t get angry about it because it is just a year ago today that I joined up.

            I suppose Clarence and Roy have gotten their guns all oiled up for the first day of duck season.  I want to go up to London next weekend, if I can get a pass.

Well, there is not much to write about around here so will close for this time.  Write soon and thanks for the pictures.  I will try and get some to send you soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509 R.C.R.

No. 6. Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U (Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit)

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  September 6, 1942

Envelope

Sept 6/42

Dear Sister;

            Well, here I am again with a few more lines to let you know that I received your box last night and was it ever good.  I almost made myself sick.  I have had quite a few letters the last few days too.  There has been a lot of mail coming in. 

I went to the show last night and saw Lupe Velex and Leon Errol in “Mexican Spitfire at Sea”. I laughed until I had a pain in both sides.  They also showed a newsreel of the raid on Dieppe.  It didn’t show many close ups of the men though.  I heard that some of the fellows that I know in the Essex Scottish were in on it but I haven’t heard anything about them yet.

  Well, I suppose you are busy picking tomatoes now and the canning factory is going full blast.  How is Dad getting along these days?  Is Bill still in the house with him?  Well, I just now got a letter from Mrs. Morley (Catherine), Airmail, and she told me all about you catching the 48-1/2 inch, 25 lb Muskie the other day and outdoing Art Jefferies, because your fish was 2-1/2 inches longer than his.  I’ll bet you can’t get your hat on now after that!

Well, Tuesday is payday and I am going to try and get up to London next weekend again.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now except of that candy, jam and the rest of those eats in that parcel that I got.  I am afraid I am going to be sick yet before it is all gone.  Well, I must close now.  Write soon and tell Helen to write again too.  If you happen to have any spare pictures taken lately don’t forget me.

            Love, Allan

From:  Pte. A. L. Robinson A4509

            No. 6 Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U (Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit)

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  September 3, 1942

Envelope

Thursday, September 3/42

Dear Helen,

                Received your letter last night and was glad to hear from you.  We are having a holiday today – the beginning of the fourth year of the war.  Everyone had to go to church this morning and they gave us the rest of the day off, so I thought I had better get busy and catch up on my writing.  It is raining today again as usual.  I haven’t seen much fog over here yet but as it is starting to get around towards fall we are getting a little and they say that in the winter that is all you can see over here.  I am getting along fine on my course and expect to be on my exams in another week, which will only take a few days IF I pass them. 

I suppose the canning factory will be going again by now.  Elmer Jackson from Dover Centre and I have finally gotten in touch with one another and I am going to try and get a weekend some of these times when he is on leave and see if I can hunt him up.  The old town must be pretty dead now is it with everyone in the army and leaving to work in the factories.  It won’t be long though until everyone is back home again and when I do get back I am never going outside of Kent county again. 

When I got this letter last night I thought maybe I would get the parcel you spoke about this morning, as there has been a lot of mail coming in the last couple of days.  But maybe it will be here tonight or tomorrow.  I hope so anyway.  Well, l I hope you got your extra month of holidays.  I suppose your Dad and Roy are getting ready for duck hunting again, for it won’t be long now until they will be at it again, if they are not too busy. 

Well I can’t think of anymore right now so will close for now.  Write soon.  Hoping you are all well.

                Love, Allan

P.S.  Get those pigs and chicken good and fat and have lots of dill pickles and sauerkraut ready.

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

            No. 6 Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U., Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence (Margaret) Marsh 

Date of letter:  July 30, 1942

Envelope

July 30, 1942

Dear Sis:

                Well, I received your most welcome letter the other day so I thought I had better answer it.  I was glad to hear that you are all well.  I am feeling fine myself.  I was also glad to hear that Dad is getting along fine and that Laura got my letter in time to get him something from me for Father’s Day.  I almost fainted when I read in your letter that Ila Smith was married.  I thought that she was going to be an old maid all her life. 

I haven’t been writing many letters lately as I have been pretty busy.  I have been doing quite a bit of night work.  In fact, about the only time I get out of camp is on Sundays when I always go for a nice walk.  As for the women over here don’t even ask me about them. 

Tell Olive I asked how her and all of her Boy Friends are getting along and tell Helen not to flirt too much with Buster Ward.  You can tell Laura that I am kind of disgusted with her.  I wrote and asked her to send me a little money so I could have a little extra to go on leave with but she refused to send it.  I dropped my watch the other day.  The band broke on it and it is costing me around fifteen shilling to get it fixed and with all the other little odds and ends that I have to buy I have got to put my leave off for a couple of months, I guess, until I get enough saved up to go on it.  When I tell her to get something for Dad or anything like that I got an idea that she is paying for it herself and I don’t like that as you have all done enough for me already without paying for presents that I want to buy for some one.  Tell Clarence that I am not learning much about shooting where I am at but when I get back I might be able to tell you what all those little dots and dashes you hear on your radio at times is all about.  Surely Jennie’s little boy isn’t going to join the Air Force, is he?  Some of those big bad fellows might pick on him. 

Well, it is time for lights out so keep on eating your five meals a day and have a pot of tea ready for me when I get back.

                Hoping to hear from you soon. 

                                Love to all, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson A4509

No. 6 Coy, No. 1 CSRU

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh

Date of letter:  July 23, 1942   

Envelope

Dear Sister,

            Well, I thought that I had better get busy and let you know that I got the cigarettes the other day, Friday to be correct and was I glad to get them as I was going on a weekend and was right out of smokes.  I went up to London on the weekend.  Friday night I stayed at a club right close to the famous Big Ben at Westminster and Saturday morning I went and looked up my aunt.  She tends market all the time and that is where I found her.  She was so glad to see me that I could hardly get away from her.  She stays with her daughter and son-in-law.  Her daughter was not at home but I met her son-in-law and he is very nice.  Saturday afternoon he took me out to Harry Darcy’s, my aunt’s son and our cousin.  They were awfully pleased to see me and I stayed there Saturday.  He has a daughter about 19 and two sons about 17 & 15.  They invited me to come there anytime I could and I think I will go back, as the girl is very nice, Ha Ha.  Sunday afternoon I was up around Trafalgar Square.  So, when I get back home I will have a few things to tell you about the country over here.  Last night I went to see the ‘Kit Bags’, a group of Canadian Soldiers who go from camp to camp putting on entertainment for the boys.  They are really good too. 

Well, I suppose you are all pretty busy now, are you?  I’ll bet Helen is enjoying her Holidays.  What is Olive doing?  Is she helping you or has she got a job somewhere?  I suppose it won’t be long until you will be picking tomatoes, again.  I suppose Dad is picking thimble berries now, is he?  Do you see him very often or does he stay at home all the time? 

Well, I must close for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson

            A4509

No. 6 Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U (Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit)

Canadian Army Overseas 

To:       Mrs. Clarence (Margaret) Marsh 

Date of letter:  July 11, 1942

Envelope

Sat, July 11/42

Dear Sister,

                Just a few lines in answer to your letter which I received just the other day and was glad to hear from you.  I have been laying around reading a murder mystery this afternoon and I thought I had better get busy and write a couple of letters as I received seven this week.  I had one from Jean Law and I got my first one from Alex and Shirlie.

                Gosh, if many more young fellows sign up from around there, there won’t be hardly anyone left in town.  Do you know if any of the fellows from around Wabash have signed up or are they still trying to get in the Ladies Aid Society? 

We have had quite a lot of rain here in the last couple of days and it doesn’t look as if it is finished yet.  I think that I will go to the show tonight – George Formby in “South American George” is playing at the theatre in camp here tonight. 

Well, I suppose it won’t be long until you will be picking tomatoes again, will it?  I have got an awful cold now but it seems to be getting some better.  I am still as fat as ever and we get pretty good eats in the camp I am in now.  See if you can get ahold of Bill Lloyd’s address for me, will you?  Well, I expect to be getting another seven days leave before so very long and then maybe I will have more to write about. 

Well, I can’t think of any more so will write soon again.  Hoping you are all well and hoping to hear from you soon again.

                Love, Allan

P.S.  I got all of my teeth fixed at last.

From:   Pte. A. L. Robinson, R.C.R. 

            A4509

            No. 6. Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U (Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit)

            Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence (Margaret) Marsh, Dresden, Ontario, Canada

Date of letter:  July 10, 1942

Envelope

July 10/42

Dear Sis,

                Well, I received your most welcome letter the other day and was really glad to hear that you were all well.  I had a letter from Dad and Bill C. yesterday.  I also had a letter from Alex and Shirlie – boy Alex really sounds as if he is proud.  I told him that I wanted a ten cent cigar. 

I got the cigarettes that Laura and you sent and also some from Jimmie and Uncle Holly and a parcel from the Dresden I.O.D.E.  I wrote and thanked them but you can thank them again for me. 

I am getting along fine on my course and expect to be through in another month or 5 weeks and then I will be going to the regiment.  I suppose you wonder why I don’t write much about what I am doing but we can’t mention the names of the places near which we are stationed or anything about what we are really doing so there isn’t much to write about.  But when I get home again you won’t be able to stop me from talking. 

I suppose there isn’t many young folks left around there with all the work there is to do.  Well, Laura sent me Elmer Jackson’s address so I want to write him a few lines and maybe I might get to see him when he is on leave some of these times. 

Well, I will write more next time.  Hoping you are all well.  Write soon.

                                Love, Allan

P.S.  Tell Helen not to forget to send me that picture of herself and if you see any charming young ladies that would like to write to a Handsome Young Soldier (myself) give them my address.

                Toodle-oo for now.

From:   A4509  Pte. Robinson, A.L., R.C.R.

No. 6 Coy, No. 1 C.S.R.U. (Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit)

Canadian Army Overseas 

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret) 

Date of letter:  June 29, 1942

Envelope

June 29/42

Dear Sister –

            Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and kicking and hoping that you are all well.  I am taking a course in Signalling now and like it swell, as far as I have got in it.  We have been having some awfully hot weather here the last few days and today it was something fierce.  In fact, I am laying on the bunk now after supper with only a pair of P. T. shorts on and I am still sweating.

I was up to Windsor Castle yesterday afternoon and was all through the grounds and through St. George’s Chapel, where a lot of the Kings and Queens are buried.  I saw the tomb of King George V in there and a lot of other very interesting things.  The King and Queen are living in the castle now but I never got a look at them.  Wednesday is a holiday here in camp but as I am broke at present, I guess I will be staying around camp that day.  I am only drawing a pound a payday now as I am trying to save up some money for my next leave. 

Well, I suppose Helen is out of school now for the summer holidays.  So, tell her I said to stay out of mischief.  Well, I must close for now.  Write often and pass the strawberries please.

            Love, Allan

Here is a picture from Edinburgh, Scotland.  As I haven’t any more to spare you will have to show it to the rest of the gang.  Let me know if you get this.

From:   A4509  Pte. Robinson, A.L., R.C.R.

            #6 Coy, No. 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret) 

Date of letter:  June 21, 1942

Envelope

Dear Sister,

            Well, here is a few more lines in answer to your last letter which I was glad to get.  I had a letter from Aunt Addie the other day and just got through answering it now.  I am glad to hear that Alex has not got to go for a while.  If he has got “E” Category he not likely will have to report for quite awhile yet.  I got a letter from J.C. the other day saying that Jennie was on another trip up north.  I wish I could get down to the bay to go fishing with the gang some Sunday.  By the way if you want to put something good in a box for me, put in a little jar of homemade jam, if you have any.  I wish I could get a good dish of strawberries and cream now.  Aunt Addie sent me Granma’s address so I will have to write her a letter some of these days.

I am taking a course in Signals now and in a different camp.  I don’t know anything about it yet but will let you know how I like it as soon as I get going. 

Do you see much of John Gazelle anymore?  I suppose that he is staying down at the bay now, is he.  Dad was saying that Bill Ruhle was dead.  I suppose Jack Grass will be taking over the business, will he. 

You wanted to know if the Scots were really tight.  Well, the next time anyone tells you that, tell them that they are crazy.  I had a wonderful time while I was in Scotland and want to go back again before I come home, which I don’t think will be long.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   A4509 Pte. Robinson, A.L. 

            No. 1, C.D.I.R.U., R.C.R. Coy

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  May 21/42

Envelope

May 21/42

Dear Sister:

                Well, how are you getting along these days?  I hope you are feeling as well as I am myself.  I am on the coast now and like it better than where I was at.  I was in swimming yesterday in the Channel and it was plenty cold yet though, and I didn’t stay in long.  

I got a letter from Lyla Henderson at Dover Centre the other day.  It was mailed just after I left Sussex awhile.  I suppose that you are pretty well all through with the spring work, are you?  Well, I suppose it won’t be long before Helen will be out of school for a couple of months again. 

I had some homemade candy and Xmas cake tonight.  The fellow who sleeps next to me got a box from home that was mailed before Xmas.  I was on kitchen duty today and so I was peeling potatoes most of the day and you know how well I like that.  I saw a movie last night (City for Conquest) and it was really good.  We have been having quite a bit of rain here lately.

Is Olive working now or is she just helping you around home?  Tell her I asked how her and Bill L. are getting along these days.  Have you seen much of Dad lately or does he get up there very often?  I suppose he just comes to town when he has to.  Is Bill Clements still with him or not?  I hope he stays with him for it will be some company for him anyway.  I don’t suppose Jennie gets down very often now does she, with the gas rationed the way it is.  How is Alex and Shirlie getting along? 

Well, I can’t think of anymore right now so will close.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

                Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A.L. Robinson

            A4509

            No. 1 C.D.I.R.U., R.C.R. Coy

            Canadian Army Overseas 

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  May 2, 1942

Envelope

Saturday, May 2, 1942

Dear Sister,

                A few more lines to let you know that I am still thinking of you.  Well, I have been away on seven days leave in Edinburgh, Scotland and I had a most wonderful time.  I was all through the Holyrood Palace and saw the beds that Queen Mary of the Scots slept in and also King Charles bed and some of his old armour, and some of his rifles, and a lot of interesting things.  I was also through Edinburgh Castle and saw the large War Memorials to the Scottish Regiments in the last war.  There are many interesting things.  I also met someone that made me think of you.  She is no taller than yourself, if she is as tall, and her name is Miss Margaret Wanless and she is nice.  So, I may be going back to Edinburgh on my next leave.  We get seven days every three months. 

You will have to tell Mrs. Autry across the road that I have got the bunk next to her husband.  He was showing me some pictures this morning of her and the little girl and also some pictures of different spots around Dresden.  Well, I suppose the men are busy every day now.  Have you been doing any fishing much yet and have you seen anything of Dad lately?  Ask Olive how her Bill L. is getting along and tell Helen to stay away from Buster W. and also tell her to try and dig up some kind of a picture of herself as I haven’t got one of her.  I have one of Olive and you that was taken at Wonderland last summer but not one of Helen.  I will try and send you some that I had taken in Scotland soon especially one of the little woman.  Well, I can’t think of any more to write now so will close, hoping to hear from you soon.

                Love, Allan

Tell Clarence that he had better get a pig and start fattening him up for when I get back and tell Roy to get away from the table for he has had enough of that roast chicken and pumpkin pie and dill pickles.

From:  Pte. A.L. Robinson

            A4509

R.C.R.  c/o No. 1 C.D.I.R.U.

Canadian Army Overseas

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh 

Date of letter: April 22, 1942

Envelope

April 22, 1942

Dear Sister:

            Just a few words to let you know that I am getting along fine and hope that you are all fine.  I had a nice trip and like it here fine.  I am going on leave shortly.

            The cattle are all out at pasture here and the gardens are all in flower.  I was talking to Clate Lucas from Dresden on the trip and one of the Tiffin boys from out on the Town Line is here.  There are quite a few of the fellows that I was training with close by here. 

Do you see much of Dad lately and how are Alex and Shirlie getting along?   I suppose that Clarence is busy on the land now and you are out scratching around in the flower garden.  I think I will go to Scotland on my leave and see if the people are as tight as they say they are.  How is Olive and Helen getting along? 

We don’t get any butter here.  We get margarine and you can’t hardly tell the difference.  The food is rationed but we get all we want to eat and pretty good meals at that. You know what my appetite is like, so you know that we must get lots. 

Well, I have got a lot more writing to do.  I must close for now and will write more later.  Thumbs up and it won’t be long till I will be home again.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson 

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret) 

Date of letter:  not dated

Envelope

Dear Sis:

            I suppose you wish I was coming home soon as much as I wish I was there.  But I don’t think I will be there for a while yet.  I am getting along fine and the weather has been swell here lately.  The mud is just about dried up. 

I don’t suppose you will be able to get around much now the way they are rationing gas.  Well, I can’t think of much right now but don’t write until you hear from me again.  Will keep on eating four meals a day and I will be seeing you some of these bright sunny days.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson 

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  April 3, 1942

Envelope

Apr. 3/42

Dear Helen:

            I received your letter today at noon and here I am again.  How is the weather down there?  It is really nice now, there is still a lot of mud.  I had a letter from Shirlie yesterday and she was saying that she and Alex were staying at Agar’s now.

I am working in the swill department now.  Quite a promotion don’t you think?  The officer was just in the hut now and said that we would be leaving here next week sometime for a little boat ride he thought.

I went to the show last night “Hired Wife” and almost laughed my head off.  I never got the box that you sent me.  I think that they got hold of it at the hospital and never sent it any farther.  I suppose that you are catching lots of fish down that way now. 

If I go overseas I will try and save enough money to send a telegram to one of yous as soon as I get there.  Well I must close for now.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

From:  Pte. A. L. Robinson

A509 Sub. Staff

Royal Canadian Regiment

Sussex Military Camp, Sussex N.B.

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  March 26, 1942

Envelope

March 26/42

Dear Helen:

            I got your letter the other day and the paper and was glad to get both.  The candy has not got here yet, although I got a box from Laura yesterday and was it good.  We are having some awful weather here and the mud is something fierce.  I went to the show last night – Blondie in Society and Two in a Taxi.  I was out on my first route march yesterday since I came out of the hospital and I am stiff today.

            What is Dresden going to do with the town hall gone?  I don’t suppose they will be able to scrape up enough money to build another one, will they?

            Thanks ever so much for offering to send cigarettes but I had lots in the hospital and can get lots now.  How is all the rest of the family now and have you seen much of Dad lately?  I just got through writing to him.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan L. Robinson

            A509, Royal Canadian Regiment

            Sussex Military Camp

            Sussex, N.B.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  March 19, 1942

Envelope

Mar 19/42

Dear Sis & family,

Just a few lines to let you know that I got out of the hospital today and am feeling fine although still a little shaky.  I got your postcard this morning before I left the hospital.  Well, I don’t know whether I am going to make it home or not, although I hope so.  I am back at Sussex Camp and a few of the fellows I was with are still here so I am not completely alone.

            Well, I will write more later.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

P.S.  The other fellow in the R.C.R. that was with me is still here.

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson 

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  March 16, 1942

Envelope

Mar. 16/42

Dear Helen:

            In answer to your letter which I got this morning, I had a letter from Jennie and Olive on Saturday and also one from Jean Low and I got a “Get Well” card from Katy the other day. 

It is nice and warm here now and the sun is shining.  The doc told me that I could get up this morning and putter around the room so I will likely be getting out sometime this week. 

Thanks for the paper and book that I got the other day and the clipping today.  Well, we have got the navy, air force and army here in the ward now.  Well, I just got the nurse mad at me.  She didn’t know yet that I was supposed to be up and she tried to send me to bed and I wouldn’t go.

Well, I hope you don’t forget the Irish (17^th) in you tomorrow and don’t forget to write.

            Love, Da Soljer, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan L. Robinson

            A4509 RCR

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  March 11, 1942

Envelope

Mar 11/42

Dear Sis:

            I just received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you.  I wish I had been there on Friday for the chicken supper.  We get pretty good food here though but as Lent is on we get lots of fish and I don’t like the way they cook it.  We are having some real March weather here now.  It snows for a while and then the sun will be shining five minutes later and the next five minutes it will be raining. 

I am glad to hear that Alex is able to be around and is going to be able to keep his job while he is laid up.  Well, it won’t be long I suppose until Roy and Clarence will be on the streets and getting the plough out. 

Well, my furlough will be due by the time I get out of here (hospital) and I don’t know whether I will get back to Camp Borden or not.  I am going to try and talk them into two weeks sick leave though, and if I can’t get that I will try and get my furlough right away and try to get enough money to get home.  But don’t count on this too much as another draft might come along and I might have to keep on going. 

You asked if there was anything you could send me.  I would just love to have a piece of homemade fudge.  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for this time.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

P.S.  Tell Helen and Clarence that I want the big piece of pie and the drumstick & ask Roy how Mary Belle is getting along.

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson 

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret) 

Date of letter:  March 7, 1942

Envelope

Mar. 7/42

Dear Sis:

            Well, I just got another letter from Helen, and here I am, have not even answered the last one yet.  Well, I am feeling as good as I ever did but I have got almost another three weeks to put in here.  The nurses are all around 25 or older.  There are six of us in a ward all with scarlet fever – five soldiers and an air force fellow.  The nurse caught me out of bed last night and I got proper H____ and then the Matron came up a while later and we all got bawled out for making so much noise.  She just went past now and I had to hide this letter as we are not supposed to write letters while we are quarantined but the orderly brings us in the writing paper and stamps and mails our letters for us.

            What unit of the army is Jack McKernan in and where is he stationed at?  Tell Helen that I’m afraid she would have to get some help to pull me out of bed as I am feeling too good.  I had a letter from Ila S. the other day and she tells me that Herman Deline got married (another poorhouse).  Well, I suppose by now Olive has got a boyfriend in Windsor. 

We were having some awfully nice weather here and the snow was all gone but last night it started to rain and today the ground is all covered with snow and there is an awfully cold wind.  Well, the dinner is coming so I will be hoping to hear from you soon.

            Love, Allan

P.S.  Tell Clarence not to eat all the pork as I might be home soon and tell Helen to stay away from Buster W.

From:  Pte. A. L. Robinson

 A4509  R.C.R.

Lancaster Military Hospital

West St. John, N.B.

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  March, 3, 1942

Envelope

Mar. 3/42

Dear Helen:

            I received your most welcome letter the other day and I thought that I had better answer it.  I am feeling fine now but they tell me that I won’t be able to get out of here (hospital) for another three weeks.  Anyway, I am getting sick of it now.  I have got some nice nurses though so I guess I will be able to stand it. 

            The weather has been pretty nice down here lately.  The sun has been shining almost all the time and the snow is just about all gone.  How is everyone around there?  Are they all able to eat three square meals a day and one in the evening yet?

            Well, I heard that the draft that I was with has gone on overseas and I am still here, much to my sorrow.  So, I suppose they will likely send me back to Camp Borden but I don’t know for sure.  I may stay at Sussex or someplace around here until the next draft comes along.

            Thanks ever so much for the Valentine.  I got one from Jennie too.  If you can find a few pennies for some stamps and two or three of the last Dresden papers I would appreciate them very much. 

            Is Alex in the hospital or is he able to be home?  Is Olive still working in the store at Dover Centre?  I got two pair of socks from the Wabash Red Cross the other day and they said they were sending a sweater.

Well, I am running out of anything to say so will have to close for this time.  Please write soon again and tell everybody else to write too.

Love, Allan

From:   Pte. A. L. Robinson

            A4509 R.C.R. 

            Lancaster Military Hospital, West St. John, N.B.

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  February 22, 1942

Envelope

Feb. 22/42

Dear Sis:

            A few lines to find out how you are getting along.  I have moved again this time to the Lancaster Hospital in St. John, N. B. with Scarlet Fever.  I am feeling okay now though.  I have been here since a week ago last Thursday.  I had a temperature of 104 F when I came here.

I have got a nice scenery out of the window here.  I can see the reversing falls in the St. John’s river.  When the tide is going out there is a falls of about eight feet and when it is coming in the water gets high enough that it flows the other way. 

How is everyone around Dresden getting along?  Have you seen anything of Dad lately?  They tell me that I have got to stay here for 6 weeks altogether. 

Well I must close for now.  Hurry up and write.

Love Allan

From:   Pte. Allan L. Robinson

A4509 RCR

Sec.

Sussex Camp, N. B.

To:       Miss Helen Marsh

Date of letter:  February 8, 1942

Envelope

Feb. 8/42

Dear Sis –

            A few lines to let you know that I am getting along fine.  I am at Sussex N.B. now.  I was on board a ship at Halifax N.S. for 13 days but something went wrong with the engines and the convoy pulled out without us so they shipped us back to Sussex to wait around here for ___ knows how long.  We just got here early this morning.

            There was a ship burned in the harbor a couple of docks from us Fri. night and I was uptown in Halifax the other night.  I always heard that it was quite a city but from what I seen there is nothing there.  How is everyone down that way and have you seen anything of Dad lately ?  Well, I can’t think of any more right now so will close for now.  Write soon.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson 

To:       Mrs. Clarence Marsh (Margaret)

Date of letter:  January 19, 1942

Envelope

Jan. 19/42

Dear Sis:

            Well, I got back in lots of time as it meant six o’clock Saturday night and I was here at one o’clock.  I bet you slept in for a while on Saturday.  I know I went to bed about eight o’clock that night. 

It has turned warm up here and nearly all our ice and snow is gone.  Tell Clarence not to kill all the rabbits before I get back. 

Well, I can’t think of much right now but will let you know as soon as I get any place.

            Love, Allan

From:   Pte. Allan Robinson

To:       Miss Olive Marsh                   

Date of letter:  January 7, 1942

Envelope

Jan. 7/42

Dear Olive:

Well how are you getting along these fine frosty days?  Is it very cold down there now?  It is really frosty up here and the ground is all covered with ice.  I suppose your Dad is doing a lot of hunting now.

We were through the gas chambers yesterday.  We marched in them with our respirators on and then we took them off and marched out and was the place really full of tear gas.  My eyes were still smarting last night.  We have been learning all about the hand grenades for the last couple of days.  Tomorrow we are going on an all day route march which is not so pleasant in this sort of weather.  I had a chance to go to Barryfield near Kingston on a signal course but I didn’t like the sound of it so I never bothered with it.

            I suppose you have got your other porker in the frying pan by now.  I don’t think I will be home again before the end of the month.  It is so cold up here that the windows have been frosted over for the last three days.  When you send my next letter, send it to No. 3 Plt., No. 6 Coy as I changed huts yesterday. 

How is your Mother and Helen and everybody else?  Have you seen anything of Dad lately?  I am in with a bunch of Frenchmen and Indians from up around Sudbury now. 

Well, I must close for now.  Hoping to hear from you soon.

            Lots of love, Allan