Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

R.C.A.S.C. "1944"

Date

1944

Materials

WOOL, COTTON, BRASS

No. Pieces

2

Description

1) (L-27.3 ,W- 23.2 ,H, 2.6) BERET, GREEN WOOL WITH LEATHER HEADBAND. TWO COTTON TIES HANG FROM BACK. TWO EMPTY EYELETS AT FRONT RIGHT. INSIDE IS QUILTED BLACK FABRIC WITH SILKSCREENED TEXT IN GREEN THAT READS, “GRAND’MERE, KNITTING, COMPANY, LIMITED, BERET 1944, SIZE 7 1/8.” BELOW HAS C BROAD ARROW SYMBOL. 2) (L-4.5,W-4.7,H-1.2)CAP BADGE, CROWN AT TOP WITH RAYS COMING AWAY FROM CENTER. EIGHT MAPLE LEAVES WITH TEXT THAT READS, “ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS, HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” (EVIL BE TO HIM WHO EVIL THINKS). MONOGRAM IN CENTER WITH TEXT THAT READS “GR VI.”

Subjects

CLOTHING-HEADWEAR

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

ACCORDING TO HIS DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE, “CORPORAL GEORGE HENRY RIDGEWAY ENROLLED IN THE NO. 13 DISTRICT DEPOT OF THE CANADIAN ARMY AT LETHBRIDGE ON APRIL 28, 1942. HE SERVED IN CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CONTINENTAL EUROPE. HE WAS DISCHARGED ON MARCH 19, 1946 AT CALGARY ALBERTA UNDER DEMOBILIZATION ROUTINE 1029 (5-C-I). HE WAS AWARDED THE 1939-1945 STAR, FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR, THE DEFENSE MEDAL, CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL AND CLASP AND THE 1939-1945 MEDAL.” RIDGEWAY PASSED AWAY ON MAY 28, 2010 AT THE AGE OF 93 YEARS IN LETHBRIDGE. THE FOLLOWING EXCERPTS WERE EXTRACTED FROM A NARRATIVE WRITTEN BY GEORGE HENRY RIDGEWAY ON AUGUST 11, 1999. “[I] JOINED [THE] ARMY [ON THE] 28[TH OF] APRIL 1942, IN LETHBRIDGE. [I] REPORTED TO CALGARY [AT THE] MEWATA BARRACKS. EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM CAME NEXT. [AFTER RECEIVING MY UNIFORM I] HAD TO SEND [MY] CIVVY CLOTHES HOME. TWO OTHER FELLOWS AND MYSELF GOT THAT READY[. AFTERWARDS, WE] WALKED ALONG MAIN CALGARY STREET TO A TRUCK DEPOT WITH OUR SHINY BOOTS [AND] NEW UNIFORM[S. WE] FELT KIND OF AWKWARD [IN OUR NEW CLOTHES. WHAT MADE] THINGS WORSE [WAS] WHEN THREE OR FOUR “KIDS” YELLED, “ROOKIES.” WE ALL FELT LIKE KICKING THEIR ASSES, HOWEVER [WE] WALKED ON TO GET OUR JOB DONE. CALGARY BASIC TRAINING [WAS] NOT TOO TOUGH FOR ME. I HAD [SPENT] A COUPLE OF YEARS IN [THE] LETHBRIDGE RESERVE ARMY[. I HAD] SPENT TIME AT SARCEE CAMP IN CALGARY SO I KNEW THE ROPES. [I RECEIVED] BASIC TRAINING AT [THE] CURRIE BARRACKS. [UPON] FIRST ARRIVAL [THERE WERE TRUCKS THAT HAD JUST ARRIVED FROM] MEWATA STADIUM. WE WERE GREETED BY A SGT MAJOR. [WE] HAD TO LISTEN TO HIM SAYING WHAT A MESS OF RECRUITS WE WERE. AS OF NOW- SMARTEN UP —STRAIGHTEN UP [AND] STAND AT ATTENTION. GET THOSE CIVILIAN GRINS OFF YOUR FACES. [YOU’RE] AT CURRY BARRACKS WHERE YOU WILL BE WHIPPED INTO SHAPE AND I DON’T MEAN MAYBE. FINALLY AFTER CHEWING US OUT SOME MORE, WE WERE MARCHED TO OUR BARRACKS HUTS [AND] ISSUED A BLANKET ETC. OUR ARMY LIFE READY TO BE SHAPED. LIGHTS OUT [AT] TEN O’CLOCK[. AT] SIX A.M. [THE] NEXT MORNING, [THERE WAS] A SERGEANT RACING THROUGH THE HUT. [HE YELLED] ‘UP AND AT IT GET THOSE BEDS MADE PROPERLY. [THE] BLANKET [WAS] TO BE FOLDED SO THE BLACK STRIPED PART WAS ABSOLUTELY THE SAME ON EVERY BED. I THINK WE HAD TWO BLANKETS, ONE FOLDED CORRECTLY, THE SECOND WRAPPED AROUND IT[. IT] HAD TO BE PERFECTION FOR INSPECTION AS IT SAT AT THE HEAD OF OUR UPPER AND LOWER BUNKS. OUR EQUIPMENT [HAD] SMALL AND LARGE PACKS[, A] KIT BAG [AND] RESPIRATOR. ALL HAD TO BE IN PERFECT POSITION. LAST OUR BOOTS. SHINED TO PERFECTION, ALMOST LIKE MIRRORS. EVEN THE SOLES ALONG THE EDGES SO IF THE TOES WERE TURNED UP A BIT AND SHOWING, ESPECIALLY TOP BUNKERS, THEY LOOKED GOOD. MEALS TURNED OUT NOT TOO BAD. [THE] PARADE SQUARE [WAS] AN UNLOVABLE PART OF OUR LIFE. QUICK MARCH, LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN, ABOUT TURN STAN[D] AT EASE, ATTENTION, BY THE RIGHT, QUICK MARCH. SOON [IT WAS] LUNCH TIME, THEN MORE TRAINING. [THE ROUTE WAS] PROBABLY A MILE OR TWO [TO] MARCH. I MUST ADMIT, WE BECAME GOOD SOLDIERS, TOUGH AND READY TO TAKE ON WHOEVER GOT IN OUR WAY. [WHEN I WAS] IN CALGARY[, THERE WAS] FREE BOARD AND ROOM, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE JOHN [I] PRETTY NEAR[LY] WALKED OUT. THE URINAL [WAS] EXACTLY LIKE AN EAVES TROUGH[. IT WAS] ON A SLOPE [WHERE THE] TALL GUYS COULD USE THE HIGHER END [AND THE] SMALL BOYS THE LOWER, AND THE TOILETS [WERE] SIX IN A ROW [AND THERE WERE] NO PARTITIONS SO [THERE WAS] NO PRIVACY. [I] SAT ON MY BED SOMETIMES WATCHING THE TOILET DOOR. WHEN SOMEONE CAME OUT — I DASHED IN TRYING TO GET A TOILET JOB DONE IN PRIVATE [BUT THERE WAS] NO SUCH LUCK. IF YOU WAITED FOR THAT WITH A HUNDRED MEN IN A HUT, I’M AFRAID THERE WOULD BE QUITE A FEW ACCIDENTS SO YOU LEARN THE HARD WAY [AND THE] MORNING TIME [WAS] THE WORST. SO WITH GRUNTS AND GROANS AND FARTS, YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT YOU WERE IN A BATTLE AREA [WITH] SO MANY SOUNDS AND TUNES [IT] WOULD MAKE A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TAME IN COMPARISON. SO BASIC TRAINING ENDED [AND] ON TO RED DEER. JIM AND I [WERE] IN THE SAME COMPANY BUT DIFFERENT PLATOONS. I WAS PROMOTED, A ONE STRIPE WONDER [AND] SENT TO JIM’S PLATOON TO GET THEM WHIPPED INTO SHAPE. [FOR ME] RED DEER [IS] REMEMBERED AS A PERFECT HELL HOLE. LOUSY MEALS, COAL STOVE HEATED BARRACKS MEANING LOTS OF CLEANING, PARADE SQUARE AND MARCH, MARCH, MARCH. OH WELL, IT ALL CAME WITH THE JOB. WELL IF YOU THOUGHT BASIC WAS A ROUGH, TOUGH HEADACHE, ADVANCED WAS NO PICNIC. [THE] PARADE SQUARE [WAS] MUCH WORSE THAN CALGARY. SO JIM ARRIVED BACK IN CALGARY. [THE] EDMONTON MOTOR TRAINING CREW [WAS] SENT TO CALGARY TO FINISH THEIR COURSE, SO WE [WERE] TOGETHER AGAIN. [THOSE WERE] HAPPY DAYS HERE FOR ME. THE RED DEER FELLOWS AND MYSELF STUCK TOGETHER. [WE] HAD MANY GOOD TIMES TOGETHER. MANY AN EVENING I STRETCHED OUT ON MY BUNK [AND] THE FELLOWS WOULD SAY ‘COME ON GEORGE, WE’RE GOING TO THE SALLY ANN’ OR THE K OF C (KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS) SING SONG, [OR] SOME OTHER PLACES FOR ENTERTAINMENT. ‘GET YOURSELF READY BECAUSE WE’RE NOT GOING WITHOUT YOU.’ SO AWAY WE WENT[, WE] SANG OUR HEARTS OUT [AND] ENJOYED THE COFFEE AND DONUTS AFTER. JIM CAN TELL YOU MORE OF THE CALGARY DANCE. ALL I REMEMBERED [WAS THAT] THE HALL WAS JAM PACKED. INSTEAD OF WALTZING OR FOX TROTTING, I THINK I WAS JITTER BUGGING. ONE [TIME I HAD ONE] HAND IN THE AIR AND [I WAS] RAISING HELL. THE FLOOR MANAGER TAPPED MY SHOULDER, ADVISED I SIT DOWN TILL I COULD DANCE TO THE MUSIC AS IT WAS BEING PLAYED. WHAT A KILL JOY. [I] ALSO REMEMBER ONE EVENING BEING ON A STREET CAR WITH MY BUDDIES GOING SOMEWHERE[ AND IT M]UST HAVE BEEN QUITE DULL BECAUSE I TOOK ONE OF THE CHICKS INTO THE AISLE SO WE COULD DANCE. [THE S]TREET CAR DRIVER [WAS] NOT TOO HAPPY[. HE] STOPPED THE CAR AND SAID NO DANCING IN THE AISLES[;] PLEASE BE SEATED. THE BUS PATRONS [WERE] A LITTLE ANNOYED BECAUSE THEY WERE LAUGHING AND ENJOYING THE ANTICS. REALLY — WHAT AN ASS I AM. [ONE TIME I WAS] BEING HELD BY THE LEGS SO I COULD LEAN OUT THE TRAIN WINDOW TO KISS A CHICK ON THE PLATFORM GOODBYE. OUR COACH ON THE TRAIN [WAS] THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATION PLATFORM. ALL ALONG THE TRAIN, EACH COACH PUSHED UP THE WINDOWS. I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO SCORED WITH A CHICK. SHE WANTED MY O/SEAS ADDRESS — HOWEVER TRAIN PULLED OUT BEFORE SHE GOT ANY INFORMATION. NEXT [I BOARDED THE] QUEEN MARY AND [WENT] OVERSEAS. [WHEN I] ARRIVED [IN] ENGLAND, [I WAS] STATIONED AT FARNBOROUGH, NOT TOO FAR FROM ALDERSHOT. JIM AND I [WERE] NOT IN THE SAME BARRACK, BUT CLOSE. WE WERE [THERE IN] LATE AUGUST [OR] EARLY OR ALL SEPT (I THINK). I WAS THEN SHIPPED OUT TO 8CIBCO — RCASC — 3RD DIVISION. [I] HAD TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT [I] GOT ALONG FINE. AT [THAT] TIME [I] WAS NEAR BOURNEMOUTH [AND] SOON AFTER NEAR SOUTHAMPTON. [WHEN I] SHIPPED OUT FROM BARRACKS [I WAS] INTO A FOREST AREA IN TENTS. [IT WAS MY JOB] TO START WITH AMMUNITION DETAIL AND THEN PETROL. MY UNIT HANDLED THOUSANDS OF JERRY CANS FULL OF GAS. TRUCKLOAD AFTER TRUCKLOAD [WERE] AT MY CAMP AND COVERED WITH CAMOUFLAGE. THEN ALL UNITS FROM 3RD DIV. STARTED PULLING IN FOR THIS GAS SUPPLY FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. [WHEN] THIS [WAS] COMPLETED, MY UNIT [WAS] SENT TO A BARRACKS CAMP NEAR STAINES. [WE] KILLED TIME [THERE]. ONE MORNING [I] GOT OUT OF BED. THE AIR [WAS] ALIVE WITH PLANES. [WE] FOUND OUT THE INVASION OF FRANCE HAD STARTED ON JUNE 6/ 1944. I WAS IN ENGLAND TILL JUL 5TH ON OVERSEAS DRAFT AND TRUCKED TO THE HARBOR. [WHEN] DARKNESS [CAME] WE FINALLY BOARDED A SHIP. [THE] TRUCK DROVE RIGHT ONTO THE SHIP. [THERE WAS] NO ONE AROUND TO TELL US WHAT TO DO [OR] WHERE TO SLEEP ETC. I CRAWLED INTO A TRUCK WHERE I SLEPT WITH A LOAD OF KIT BAGS. [I] MUST HAVE BEEN DEAD TIRED [BECAUSE I] ACTUALLY SLEPT. [THE] NEXT MORNING [I] FOUND THE ACCOMMODATIONS (TOILET — MESS HALL, WASHROOMS ETC.) WENT ON DECK. [I] NEVER SAW SUCH A SIGHT IN MY LIFE. LOTS OF SHIPS -- BUT [THEY WERE] OUTNUMBERED BY AIR BARRAGE BALLOONS. [THERE WERE] LOTS OF WIRES ON THEM ANCHORED TO THE GROUND AND SHIPS. NO JERRY PLANE WOULD EVER FLY LOW ENOUGH FOR STRAFING SO [I] FELT QUITE SAFE [FROM MOST THINGS] EXCEPT FOR BOMBING WHICH I AM GLAD NEVER TOOK PLACE. [WHEN] THE TIDE WENT OUT, THE SHIP OPENED UP AND I LANDED IN FRANCE. AS THE TRUCK DROVE OUT OF THE SHIP, I WAS ON THE BEACHES - FRENCH SOIL. [WE] DROVE INLAND AND WHEN WE STOPPED WE WERE INLAND. [O]UR KITCHEN TRUCK WAS SET UP. OUR MEAL OF POSSIBLY PORK AND BEANS AND SPAM (CAN’T REALLY REMEMBER) WAS A FEAST TO SAY THE LEAST. THEN CAME MAIL TIME. FROM THE DAY OF THE INVASION, WE HAD NO MAIL IN ENGLAND BUT IT CAME RIGHT TO FRANCE. [THERE WERE] LETTERS TO READ [AND] PARCELS TO OPEN. WE WERE HAVING A BALL EATING THE GOODIES. [IT WAS] WARTIME [BUT THERE] DIDN’T SEEM TO BE MUCH AROUND TO REMIND US. THEN DARKNESS SET IN. [THERE WERE] GERMAN PLANES OVERHEAD, FLOOD LIGHTS LIGHTING UP THE SKY — ACK, ACK FIRING. I RAN AND LAID UNDER A TRUCK. [I] PUT MY HEAD NEAR A TIRE. [I] THOUGHT I MIGHT NEED THAT IF A FEW BOMBS WERE DROPPED AND [THERE WAS] SHRAPNEL FLYING. HOWEVER, NOTHING DRASTIC TOOK PLACE. [I] DON’T THINK ANYONE CRAPPED THEIR DRAWERS [BUT] WE WERE SCARED SHITLESS. SO [THE] WAR [WAS] NOW RIGHT AT OUR BACK DOOR. [THE] NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS [WERE] REALLY HECTIC. I WAS AT THE RATION POINT ONE AFTERNOON. [THERE WERE] QUITE A FEW PLANES IN THE AIR (BOTH GERMAN AND OUR OWN). [IT WAS THE] FIRST TIME WE HAD WITNESSED DOG FIGHTS BUT [WE] LEARNED A GOOD LESSON: KEEP ALERT AND PROTECTED, BECAUSE WITHOUT MUCH WARNING, [THERE WAS] A GERMAN PLANE [FLYING] LOW AND MACHINE GUNNING. HE WAS COMING OUR WAY FROM THE WEST. I RAN BEHIND A STACK OF RATIONS [ON THE] EAST SIDE. AS THAT PLANE FLEW BY, I COULD SEE THE AVIATOR. NONE OF US ON THE RATION POINT WERE INJURED, BUT [I] HEARD LATER A CHILD [WAS] KILLED IN A FIELD. AND AN HOUR LATER, [THERE WAS SOME] VERY BAD NEWS. OUR HEADQUARTERS TRUCK [THAT] WAS TAKING SOME OF THE HEADQUARTERS PLATOON MEN TO THE MOBILE BATH [WAS HIT]. THIS SAME PLANE DROPPED AN EXPLOSIVE THAT LANDED RIGHT AMONG THE MEN IN THE TRUCK AND EXPLODED. I’M NOT SURE, BUT I THINK THREE WERE KILLED AND [THERE WERE] INJURIES GALORE. IT HIT MY PLATOON BADLY. [A] SERGEANT AND CORPORAL (FROM MY PLATOON WHO I WORKED WITH MANY TIMES) WERE BOTH INJURED. [B]OTH SO BADLY THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO RETURN TO OUR UNIT. [I] HEARD LATER [THAT] THE SERGEANT WAS BLINDED FOR LIFE AS HIS FACE TOOK THE EXPLOSION. THEY WERE BOTH SHIPPED BACK TO ENGLAND [AND] LATER [TO] CANADA I THINK. I NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN, BUT DID RECEIVE A PARCEL FROM THE CORPORAL FROM CANADA. SO [IT WAS] TOUGH GOING FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. [I] MOVED PRETTY NEARLY EVERY DAY. [THERE WAS] PLENTY OF WORK UNLOADING TRUCKS WITH RATION SUPPLIES. AFTER THAT, [THERE WAS] A SLIT TRENCH TO DIG FOR PROTECTION NEARLY EVERY EVENING. SOME GUYS [WERE] SAYING [THAT] WE WILL PROBABLY MOVE TOMORROW. SO [THEY DECIDED TO] JUST SET UP A CANVAS PROTECTION FOR A LITTLE COMFORT AS WE READIED FOR BED. MY PARTNER AND I DECIDED THAT, STILL BEING IN DANGER TERRITORY, WE PICKED AND SHOVELED OUT A HOLE IN THE GROUND 6’ LONG, ABOUT 4’ WIDE [AND] PERHAPS 2’ DEEP. THAT IS A SAFETY HOLE AGAINST BOMB FRAGMENTS BUT NOT FOR STRAFING. SOON ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. BEFORE YOU COULD SAY “OH MY GOD WHAT’S GOING ON,” ABOUT 5 OTHER FELLOWS RAN TO OUR TRENCH FOR PROTECTION. SHORTLY AFTER WHEN IT GOT A LITTLE QUIETER, I OPENED THE TENT FLAP. IT WAS LIGHT AS DAY. [T]HE JERRIES HAD FLOWN BACK AND FORTH RELEASED FLARES THAT WERE FLOATING DOWN TO EARTH, SO I SAID ‘SEEMS LIKE ALL’S CLEAR,’ THEN ANOTHER FELLOW SAID ‘HORNICK, YOU FARTED RIGHT IN MY FACE.’ SO HORNICK REPLIED ‘WHERE ELSE COULD I HAVE FARTED WHEN WE ARE NOSE TO ASS IN A SLIT TRENCH DUG FOR TWO AND SHELTERING SEVEN.’ WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH [IT] BROKE THE TENSION. I RAN TO THE OFFICE LORRY. A SGT. WAS SPEECHLESS WITH FEAR. I COULD SMELL RUM WHICH WAS KEPT IN A PART OF THE OFFICE TENTING. A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL HAD PIERCED A WOODEN BOX AND BROKE ONE OF TWO FOUR GALLON JARS WHICH WERE PACKED IN SAWDUST IN A CRATE. FINALLY [I] GOT TO [GO TO] BED. [THE] NEXT MORNING [I] FOUND OUT SOME NEARBY PETROL COMPANY HAD BEEN HIT AND A FEW GAS FIRES HAD OCCURRED. ALSO ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY, A GERMAN PLANE HAD BEEN HIT AND CRASHED CLOSE TO OUR CAMP. THE SGT. ABOVE WENT BERSERK AND SHIPPED BACK TO ENGLAND. [I] NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. SO ALL THIS HAPPENED BEFORE CAEN WAS BOMB BLASTED [AND THE] CANADIAN TROOPS MOVED IN. I CAN’T REMEMBER BEING IN CAEN. UP THROUGH FRANCE, [THE] CANADIANS WERE WELL LIKED BY THE FRENCH PEOPLE WE MET AND SPOKE TO WHILE WE WERE PASSING ON OUR WAY. [WHEN WE] REACHED BELGIUM [WE] ENJOYED THE COUNTRYSIDE. [THERE WAS] STILL LOTS OF WORK [TO DO, BUT THERE WAS] ALSO SOME TIME FOR SOCIAL LIFE. I HAD QUITE A FEW BUMPY RIDES RIDING THE BACK SADDLE OF HARVS MOTORCYCLE. HE WAS A DISPATCH RIDER FOR OUR PLATOON. [I] DID SOME DANCING AND [HAD] A FEW BEERS AT THE NEAR CAMP TAVERNS HOWEVER, [WE] MOVED FORWARD OFTEN AND IN HOLLAND [THE] WAR WEARY PEOPLE TREATED US WELL. TIME [WAS] PASSING BY AND I WOULD SAY POSSIBLY IN NOVEMBER, LOTS OF EUROPE [WAS] NOW RID OF THE ENEMY. [IT WAS] MUCH EASIER WORKING AND [WE HAD] FAR GREATER SAFETY. WE HAD SO MUCH TERRITORY TO SET UP OUR RATION POINT AND TENT AREAS [THE] GERMANS BEING TOO BUSY RETREATING. [HOWEVER,] THE FIGHTING UNITS [WERE] STILL HAVING IT TOUGH AS WE ADVANCED. ALONG THE WAY WE STOPPED AT A FARM HOUSE YARD. THREE OR FOUR OF US SLEPT IN A SHED WHERE SOME SACKS OF ANIMAL FEED WERE STORED. IN THAT PART OF HOLLAND, COW BARNS WERE ATTACHED TO THE HOUSES. I WAS INFORMED THAT HOUSES WERE WARMER IN WINTER BECAUSE CATTLE GIVE OFF HEAT. [THE] BARNS [WERE] QUITE COSY, SO [THE] BARN WALL WAS ALSO A HOUSE WALL AND THAT HELPED HOUSES FOR WARMTH. I WAS ALSO SHOCKED NEXT MORNING WHEN I SAW SO MANY RATS ON THE FARMYARD. SO [OUR] NEXT STOP WAS NYMEGEN. OUR RATION POINT [WAS] SET UP [AND] WE WERE HERE FOR THE WINTER. ALSO [I WAS] TOLD IF FAMILIES WOULD TAKE US IN, THAT WOULD BE FINE. EVERY ONE OF THE PLATOON HAD PLACES TO SLEEP, USUALLY ABOUT TWO TO A HOUSE. HARV AND I [WERE] AT A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS FOUR CHILDREN. [WE] HAD A GROUND FLOOR BEDROOM. WE ENJOYED OUR TIME HERE. [THE] HOT WATER [WAS] ALWAYS READY IN THE MORNING FOR SHAVING. [THERE WAS A] NICE BED [AND A] VERY CLEAN HOUSE. THE PEOPLE WERE GOOD TO US AND WITH PARCELS FROM HOME AND GETTING A FEW THINGS FROM OUR RATION POINT (COFFEE, SUGAR, PERHAPS AN ODD TIN OF SPAM [OR] PORK AND BEANS) THE FAMILY HAD A BIT OF A TREAT. [THE] HOLLAND PEOPLE WERE STARVING AND LITTLE KIDS CAME TO OUR CAMP HOLDING OUT A POT SO WE WOULD DUMP OUR BREAKFAST PORRIDGE WE DID NOT EAT INTO THEIR POT INSTEAD OF OUR SLOP HOLE. THAT CHILD’S FACE WAS A SIGHT TO SEE AS THEY PUT ON A SMILE BEFORE THEY WENT HOME TO DIVIDE UP THE FOOD WITH THEIR PARENTS. SO [AS] TIME MARCHE[D] ON [WE] LEFT OUR WINTER QUARTERS AND HEADED NORTH. SOON I WAS IN GERMANY. [THERE WAS A] LOT OF DESTRUCTION AND HEART BREAKING SIGHTS. SOME PLACES [WERE] BOMBED TO HELL. IF YOU ENTERED A BOMBED HOUSE, WHAT A MESS. CLOTHES IN CUPBOARDS, FOOD ON TABLES, LOVELY FURNITURE, PIANOS, EVERYTHING [HAD BEEN] LEFT AS OWNERS RAN OUT FOR SHELTER. I GUESS MANY NEVER TO RETURN. [THE] WEATHER [WAS] NOW VERY SPRING LIKE. [IT WAS] GETTING WARM AND NICE. ONE MORNING, [I] WAS AT THE OFFICE LORRY [WHEN] MY SERGEANT CAME ALONG. [HIS] FIRST WORDS [WERE] ‘HOW’S THE COFFEE POT’. [I SAID] ‘FRESH BREW, JUST MADE.’ SO I POURED TWO CUPS. [W]E SAT AROUND IN THE SUN AND HAD A GREAT TALK. HE SAID ‘WELL GEORGE, THE GERMANS [ARE] ON THE RUN, [IT] SEEMS LIKE THE FIGHTING [IS] COMING TO AN END, WHAT [ARE YOUR] PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. SO I SAID [I HAD] NO PLANS AT THE MOMENT.’ ... [THE SERGEANT REPLIED,] 'MAYBE YOU DON’T REALIZE IT GEORGE, BUT THE CAPT., MYSELF [AND] ALL THE BOYS, EVERYONE FEELS [THAT] YOU’RE THE BEST AND WOULD POSSIBLY GIVE THEIR LIFE FOR YOU IF THAT BECAME NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE.’ NOW [AT THE] WAR[‘S] END [ON] MAY 5TH OR 8TH, [I] CAN’T REMEMBER NOW WHEN ALL THE SIGNING TOOK PLACE. I AM AWAY UP NEAR THE NORTH GERMAN COAST. JIM MENTIONED [THAT] HE WAS AT OLDENBURG, SO I WAS CLOSE TO HIM WITHOUT KNOWING. I REMEMBER ALSO NOT TOO FAR AWAY WAS WILHELMSHAVEN AND BREMERHAVEN. [I] NEVER GOT TO [GO TO] EITHER PLACE, BUT [I] HEARD [THAT IN] ONE OR BOTH OF THESE CITIES WERE THE GERMAN U BOATS OR SUBMARINES HEADQUARTERS. [I] GUESS I CAN SAY IT NOW, G.H.R FIGHTING AND WORKING HIS BACKSIDE OFF WHILE HIS BUDDIES CROSSING THE CHANNEL FOR SCOTLAND. ALL I CAN ADD IS SUCH LOYALTY TO THE SERVICE MADE ME THE BEST OF THE THREE (HARVEY AND JIM) TO BE ABLE TO CLAIM MORE THAN THEM FOR FIGHTING HARDER, SUFFERING MORE, STRUGGLING DAY AFTER DAY. [Y]OU WHO READ THIS — WHO WOULD YOU SAY WON THE WAR. NEAR THE END OF JANUARY 1946 (I THINK) I [WAS] AGAIN ON [THE] CANADA DRAFT. [I] SHIPPED OUT TO A PLACE CALLED COVE TO AWAIT A SHIP COMING TO SOUTHAMPTON HARBOR. I THINK I SAILED AROUND FEBRUARY 15TH. [THERE WAS] QUITE AN EXCITEMENT FOR ME BOARDING THE QUEEN ELIZABETH. [I] WAVED GOODBYE TO OLD ENGLAND [WHERE I HAD MADE] SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES. [IT WAS] 2 ½ YEARS AWAY FROM HOME COMING TO AN END, [I] HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH A BIT MORE SEA SICKNESS BEFORE LANDING IN NEW YORK [WHICH WAS] QUITE A SIGHT SEEING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY ETC. [IT WAS] AWHILE BEFORE WE LEFT [THE] SHIP [AND WERE] HERDED ONTO A TRAIN[. IT] SEEMED LIKE WEEKS BEFORE WE CAME TO MEDICINE HAT. [THERE WERE] QUITE A FEW [THAT] LEFT THE TRAIN TO WAIT FOR A TRAIN TO LETHBRIDGE, CROWSNEST PASS AND ON TO B.C. WITH FELLOWS GOING THERE. [I] ARRIVED [IN] LETHBRIDGE AFTER NINE, [IT WAS A] WONDERFUL TRAIN EXIT AND MEETING MOM, DAD, THELMA, DAVE OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. [WHEN I] CAME HOME [WE] PARTY’D FOR AWHILE [WE HAD A] FEW DRINKS AND TOASTS. DAD HAD TO GET TO BED EARLY [HE HAD] TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT AND FEW TOO MANY DRINKS. IMAGINE CRAWLING INTO MY OWN BED [FOR THE] FIRST TIME SINCE MY EMBARKATION LEAVE IN AUGUST /1943 FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING A FULL COPY OF GEORGE HENRY RIDGEWAY’S REMEMBRANCES, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE AND ASSOCIATED DONATION TO GALT ARCHIVES.

Catalogue Number

P20100023001

Acquisition Date

2010-07

Collection

Museum

Less detail