THE SOLDIER

     World War II was in the making in 1939.  The king and queen of England came to Canada to help recruit soldiers for the war effort as well as inspire Canadians to collect funds through the sale of war bonds to help in the war against Adolph Hitler who was already bombing England to try to annex this territory.  My three brothers were contacted by the recruiter.  The eldest, Paul, was taking care of the half section home place that was considered necessary to continue his part in the war effort to keep the food chain in action.  My second brother Fred with his wife and son were living on their own farm and classed as being necessary for providing food supplies to ship to the troops.  Our third brother, Albert, also known as Al, was conscripted and soon on his way to report to the Canadian army.  New recruits faced many adjustments to a new kind of life.  While taking basic training Al spent a brief time in a military hospital diagnosed with pneumonia.  At six feet two inches tall with a strong build and blond wavy hair the doctors took note of this new recruit who encouraged and cheered other patients and helped the doctors bind their wounds.  He was transferred into the Canadian Medical Corps and helped in all hospital areas as well as treating the wounded on site. Letters from home were much appreciated and a home knitted sweater was always a comfort during the long cold marches for rescue missions in the unfamiliar territory.  My older sister, Helen (child No. 4 for our parents) had friends who also had a son stationed in the main war zones.  I wrote letters of encouragement to him as well as to my brother.  E-mail letters were still not around in the 1930s or 1940s.  My last letter to Doug was returned marked “Missing in action.”  After five years in the army Al appreciated returning to Canada’s wide open spaces.  Our parents had lost their four year son Harold, when scarlet fever raged in mid 1930s and vaccinations were not yet available.  Even the young RCMP officer stationed in the Orion-Manyberries area died of scarlet fever.  Anne (Al’s wife) later told me that Al’s eyes would tear up when speaking of the loss of his cheerful little brother.  Our parents spoke of him often as well, hoping that one of their children would become a medical doctor and able to spare other parents such grief.  Al told how Harold would dance to the music from our old cabinet radio. But wait, tune in later - there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. What about Helen and me and Esther.  Helen took nursing and dental training in Toronto and waited at the coast in South America for the next ship going to Africa.  I ran out of college funds, and took training as a legal secretary.  My mother had another plan.  Not yet 40 years old, she decided to have another baby.