Vets Dottir

I think you may be bang on about what she did, Tony B ... your description seems to ring some bells in my mind, vaguely, about what was said. Wish I could remember. Maybe I will remember out of the blue soon

Meanwhile, I was surfing earlier and there are a lot of sites online about women of WW2 and more books about them out there, like "Proudly She Marched" which I'm going to have to try and find a copy of them, only published in the last couple of years and I never heard of them until now! 2 Volumes (One about the Army CWACS and the other about the Navy WRENS) and a companion DVD apparently The covers are really nice (wish I had the books to scan and show you) showing both branches marching smartly and proudly on their separate book covers ... I can just see the vitality and pride in their body language in those pics! What an amazing thing for women to be part of ... changing roles and all that jazz

http://www.cfuwkw.org/trillium.html

Proudly She Marched, Training Canada's World War II Women in Waterloo County documents the untold story of the 21,634 women who enlisted in the military and worked as cooks, clerks, drivers, mechanics, medics, dental assistants, radio operators and countless other support positions to free up more men to fight. It was the first time in Canadian history that women served in uniform.

A little history about the Canadian WRENs ... my Dad's sister, Amy, served with the

more than 500 women mentioned who served in Newfoundland. I'm not clear what her specific tasks were, but apparently something pretty important to do with radios and very important communications (I can't remember clearly what was told to me)

http://www.thewrens.com/history/canada/

Yes please do!

 

PM me when you're ready. We like all this variety. I am keen to see "old" military subject books of all kinds, reappraised or newly discovered, given space on the reviews section as additional features for our growing empire. If it is possible to get an illustration of the cover via amazon or somewhere, that would be grand!

 

MB

Hi Snapper (pretty "snappy" name there )

The book is not old, only being published in 2001, and when I've had a chance to re-read it I will definately write something about it in here for you and everyone interested, and I'll alert you personally by PM (I hope I remember to!)

Googling will get lots of hits for it in Canadian booksellers sites and places like ebay, I'm sure ... meanwhile, here is one link:

http://www.fedpubs.com/subject/history/greatcoats.htm

If I can figure out how to scan the cover with my new-to-me scanner, I'll do that and try upload the image for you

Carmen, you've read you review it! :-D

It was a dark and stormy night and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a wren http://www.thewrens.com/canada/images/60ann/wren5.jpg

oooooooooops, sorry, wrong book review

Carmen, you've read you review it! Look forward to seeing it on the Forum. :-D

What a ;pushy sort you are :nono:

:rofl: ... I'll have to read that book again to refresh my memory, it's been a long time since I received and read it (years!) and when I do ... then I shall return to write my thoughts on it, just for you! :yay: (and all interested)

Vets Dottir ... in memory and honour of my Dad and his WW2 service and my usual user name in military history interests sites - started as family history research, now hang out in them for that PLUS the social/friendships connections from them. Sometimes use Sarges Dottir

Vets - my dad served in WW2. Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. A Sargent ... served at home, Manitoba (SHILO) (bad feet = no overseas) training soldiers and sometimes escorting German POWS within Canada (don't know much more than that)

Dottir - my Dad Icelandic, makes me his "dottir" (daughter) ... close family-tree includes Sygtriggur Jonasson, dubbed "Father of New Iceland" (Riverton area, Manitoba) - my Dad's Great Uncle

http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/plaques/plaq0599.html

Some more of that Icelandic to Manitoba settlement history for anyone interested:

http://www.gimlicommunityweb.com/history/history.php

Here is a book called "Greatcoats and Glamour Boots" about women in WW2, written by a "Carolyn Gossage". Someone gave me a copy as a gift, and the author was awesome and sent an inscribed copy to my Aunt as a gift of appreciation of her service (my dad's sister who served as a WREN I believe, in WW2 in Newfoundland - called "overseas" still back then) My Aunt was disappointed that she only recognized one woman/photo in the book but was very happy the book was written, very pleased to know her service, and the other women's, was not fogotten.

It is really nice to see so muc more information and acknowledgement "out there" about these women now

You can even read some of the book at the bleow link/site:

http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&id=E93GZhZTwsoC&dq=carolyn+gossage&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=CuU9RWNBGO&sig=6ogSVf3RZBwOjnyyYmW46CrGguM&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1

For anyone who would like a taste for what the Corowa event is like, I have available, some excellent DVD's from the themed events in recent years.

 

Take a look at www.milweb.net/webverts/45257/

 

Richard

I have YOTB ... "Year of the Blitz" ... love it!

The storm in Brisbane sounds awful though and I hope everyone there, and their property and possesions (vehicles) weathered the storm ok!!!

Southampton was (and still is, just) a garrison town. Pre-war regular units would have barracks and bedspace for all, but come the war, the garrison would be increased to handle the demands of the war, saturating the available resources and leading to personnel being billeted out.

 

Invasion troops then arrive in 1944 and there is no capacity left to billet them ... even if the powers that be had wanted them to. Kept together in tented camps behind barbed wire and armed guards for their short time here was far more secure.

Thanks a lot for those helpful explanations AlienFTM.

Oh I didn't keep it. I gave it a damn good look and photographed and photocopied it. Her own son did his time in the Coldstream Guards and I am quite sure that her father's stuff will be passed on to her children when the time comes.

Sounds like her son would definately care and want the memorabilia

kept intact in the family

I know a lot of people don't care much, and some not at all, about history and hanging onto things, but someone in a family usually does if people can (and would) ask relatives. I know I didn't care much when I was a whole lot younger, but I do now, and folks don't think about "maybe I'll care in future )

I'm not ashamed to say that the video brought a tear to my eye.

Me too. It hasn't ever lost it's power over me in that way, every time I've seen/listened to it. The images and whole message are so powerful.

For the record, here is the link for my Uncle Ed's rmemberance in the Canadian Virtual War Memorial site. I uploaded his photo, the only one I have from a newspaper clipping when he was listed as MIA ... I also uplaoded one of the photos of his headstone, but not sure who posted the other pages. I noticed some time ago that someone uploaded those pages to many of the executed POWS pages:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/photos&casualty=2060243

And here for Phillip. Nothing uplaoded for Phillip. I will send the site a scan of the image I have (again from Wpg Free Press) and maybe they will accept it as is, as the only photo I have:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/Detail&casualty=2059133

I watched a programme a few days ago describing the CWGChave an endless task like painting the Forth Road Bridge renweing the engraving on stones. I am sure there is a case.

Well, you've convinced me to pursue this and I will then!!! Thanks I'll keep you all posted how this turns out ...

Back on topic. As for billetting, the point I didn't make was that units lived in tented camps all over the south of England. I'd expect that this included all invasion troops and that only garrison troops were billeted out if required. Far easier to control Operational Security.

Well THAT would make sense to me. No one has ever answered me directly about billeting, that I can recall ... but I don't know what you mean by "garrison troops"

Uncle Ed was in the UK from Dec '42 so spent a year and a half over there before his death ... and it sounds like, from what you say, that I can assume that he was tented with others in training his whole time over there.

Hmmmm ... I feel my fantasies of billeting and personal stories/memories from people over there ... going pffffffffffffffft

The CWWGC will sometimes alter head stones if a case can be made. there is a chance he may have ended up at or near Orpington. There is a lot of connections bettween here and Candaian military. The local hospital has the Canada Wing, a gift from the people of Canada as a thank you to the area for medical services rendered during both wars. The Britiah NHS tried to sell the site for housing a few years ago, much local dispute, finally settled by the Canadian goverment reminding the NHS just WHO owned the building. try contacting the National Army Musuem at Chelsea London. They have a number of Commonwealth war diaries.

Well, it certainly would be nice to see the proper age listed on his headstone. Maybe I will ask/enquire about the possibility of a correction there, as well.

The great news for me is that I recently acquired a scanner/copier/printer and can now scan service records info and email them to people ... like the age/death etc info to the Virtual Memorial site, etc.

Wow, I'm glad to hear that selling off that hospital to convert it, was averted before it was too late!!!

Uncle Ed's brother-inlaw, Phillip Genaille, also with the RWR, is also at rest in BSM ... he died of wounds received on D-Day, died June 6, 1944. Phillip was married to one of Ed's sisters, Anna (Aunty Annie to us) I didn't know whatever became of Aunty Annie's first husband until I started researching Uncle Ed, and came across his obituary/death notice and photo (I think) as having died on D-Day in Normandy. Wow. Aunty Annie and Phillip had one son, and son (named after his dad but nicknamed and called "Bobby" by everyone) and dad never met and I understand that Bobby always grieved about losing his Dad.

So many losses to so many families, its wonderful to "remember" the fallen as real people leaving real people behind, lives cut short, and having done amazing sacrifices for so many. Hard not to wonder what their lives, and families live, would have become "if only".

I wish all the fallen could know what their service and sacrifices stopped!

My cousin gave me her late father's memorabilia when she knew I was doing a family tree (and because I, unlike her, cared about things military). Among his things, I found a history of his unit (25 Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment Royal Artillery) which proclaimed that they were billeted pre-D-Day in Hursley Park near Winchester, which coincidentally is where I am sat right now while I do lunch.

That's a great story and I'm glad to hear that your cousin passed on her Dad's memorabilia to you, family historian though I wonder if one day she will realize "I want it all back ... that's my Dad and it's precious!"

It's pretty interesting to be living/working where some of this history happened. Talk about a "full lunch"

Thanks a lot for your research ideas AlienFTM .... I do have my Uncle Ed's service records that lists some general info about where he was and when. Wouldn't it rock to find out if he billeted with families at times and I found out who they were/are? Who knows, maybe a conversation and memories of him by someone "over there" could happen, and photos would be mindboggling unexpected treasures! One can always hope

By the way, Uncle Ed (my Mom's brother) had tried enlisted long before he was accepted in Dec '41 ... he had been rejected for "sugar" (diabetics in the family, so I assume diabetes was the concern) Another interesting note is that as soon as he enlisted he ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks for mumps!!! And contrary to what the Canadian War Graves site lists his age as 25, he was only 21 at death (born Sept. 17, 1922). I will be sending the Memorial folks the info proving his age and at least they can change that to 21, but I assume they can't/won't correct the error on his headstone in Beny-Sur-Mer.

I will check the war diaries but I don't think they would mention if he stayed with families or who they were, but if I post where in UK he was, then maybe someone could point me in the right direction to find out people he may have billeted with. It's worth a shot to ask and maybe I could get lucky

H 42084 Smith, Edward, Rifleman

1st Battalion, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, C.I.C.

- 26 Dec 1941 - Attested - Military District No. 10 - Winnipeg, Man.

- 26 Dec 1941 - Taken on Strength of No. 10 District Depot (Active Force) - Royal Winnipeg Rifles Wing - Winnipeg, Man.

- 9 Jan 1942 - Attached to A 15 Infantry Advanced Training Centre (Rifle)

- 10 Jan 1942 - Taken on Strength of A 15 Infantry Advanced Training Centre (Rifle) - Shilo, Man.

- 20 Feb 1942 - Stricken off Strength of A 15 Infantry Advanced Training Centre (Rifle)

- 21 Feb 1942 - Taken on Strength of No. 10 District Depot (Active Force) - Cameron Highlanders of Canada Wing - Winnipeg, Man.

- 25 Feb 1942 - Transferred from the Cameron Highlanders of Canada Wing to Headquarters, No. 10 District Depot (Active Force) - Winnipeg, Man.

- 21 Apr 1942 - Stricken off Strength of No. 10 District Depot (Canadian Army) on transfer to No. 22 Canadian Army Educational (Basic) Training Centre - North Bay, Ont.

- 22 Apr 1942 - Taken on Strength of No. 22 Canadian Army Educational (Basic) Training Centre - North Bay, Ont.

- 20 Aug 1942 - Allocated to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles - No. 10 District Depot (Canadian Army)

- 25 Aug 1942 - Stricken off Strength of No. 22 Canadian Army Educational (Basic) Training Centre - North Bay, Ont

- 26 Aug 1942 - Taken on Strength of A 15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre - Shilo, Man. (and designated a 'Reinforcement')

- 2 Dec 1942 - Stricken off Strength of A 15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre - Shilo, Man.

- 13 Dec 1942 - Stricken off Strength of Canadian Army (Canada) - upon Embarkation

- 14 Dec 1942 - Taken on Strength of Canadian Army (Overseas) - as a Reinforcement for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

- 18 Dec 1942 - Disembarkation in United Kingdom

- 19 Dec 1942 - Taken on Strength of 3rd Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit - in UK

- 31 Jan 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 3rd Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit

- 1 Feb 1943 - Taken on Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit - in UK

- 24 Feb 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit

- 25 Feb 1943 - Taken on Strength of 2nd Greek Battalion - in UK

- 17 Mar 1943 - Taken on Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit - in UK

- 18 Mar 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 2nd Greek Battalion

- 27 Apr 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit

- 28 Apr 1943 - Taken on Strength of Royal Winnipeg Rifles - in UK

- 15 Jan 1944 - Awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp

- 1 Jun 1944 - Embarkation - UK

- 6 Jun 1944 - Disembarkation - France

- 8 Jun 1944 - Reported Missing - Stricken off Strength of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles - France (later was declared as one of the Canadian executed POWS in Normandy)

- 9 Jun 1944 - Taken on Strength of X-6 List (Missing - RWR)

- 7 Jun 1945 - Stricken off Strength of X-6 List (Missing - RWR) - confirmed killed 8 June, 1944 - France

Done.. :-D

Why thank you, kind sir

I think I put this message in the wrong area and it should have been

posted in the Research area I just found ??? Can/will a moderator shift it

over there for me?

Thanks either way

@ Vets Dottir; thanks for the link. Had just some "live experience" since I went out to take part a Remebrance Day Service (and I have my first poppy now :-)). Shall I post some pics?

Glad you appreciated the link

And glad you have your first Poppy!!! I look forward to seeing any photos that you post so will look for that thread you do

By the way, in recent years I remember talk about changing the design of our Poppy, one of the reasons being about them easily being knocked off I think, but in the end, nothing every came of the talk and the poppy stays as it has always been.

Although, I understand that in years past, the felt part in the center of the poppy was a different color than it is today, I believe it was green. These days its black. It also looks like different countries have their different designs of "poppy" but I'll have to check that before I can say for sure. I know I've seen different styles, say on USA folks, but don't know if those were the standard/common ones.

Every year I always spot Poppys laying on the ground where someone has lost it and I used to always rescue them, then I thought it's nice to leave them as well, because everyone walking by and spotting it will be reminded, or be curious and might ask someone what the poppy is all about, and learn something about history

as the militant reaches a midlife crisis it has no idea what direction it should take

... and it's best to be ready to go either way :rofl:

Seems they have strange mushrooms in Canada as well. :-D

Nope, just strange people I think

Are you also being buried in Political corectness?

Absobluddylutely ... it's infectious ... airborn I think

But not too late to be the winner !!! Well done Vets. This truck can be driven either forwards or backwards.

That's why I said "This can go either way, eh? "

I got a million of 'em

"Well, are we coming or going?"

"You've got me going in two directions"

"I'm of two minds"

"You're driving me crazy and I don't know which way to go"

"You go this way and I'll go that way and see how far we get"

"Which way should we go ... Maple Leaf Up or Maple Leaf Down???"

"Which way is forward?????????? and how do I back up???"

"We'll never get anywhere this way ............... "

"All right then, carry on ...." he he

and so on .................................

Hi Folks,

I wonder if there is a way to find out where and who a particular

soldier billeted with when in the UK prior to D-Day invasion???

Thanks.

Darn it ... I'm too late

This can go either way, eh?