My Service - the Beginning
I enlisted in the Canadian Army at Fort Osborne Barracks, Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 1942 when I was 17 years of age and became a member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. I enlisted with the understanding that when the soldiers training to become paratroops at Fort Benning, Georgia returned to Canada, I would be transferred to them.
I spent my first two weeks as a soldier billeted at the University of Manitoba and was finally posted to Shilo Camp Manitoba where I commenced to become a trained infantry soldier. I took to soldering quite easily and after five or six months received my first promotion to L/Cpl. Shortly after I was promoted to the rank of Corporal and in October of 1943 I was transferred to A35 Paratroop Training Unit.
Training to become a paratrooper was hard and there were many volunteers rejected because of the extreme physical demands. Fortunately I had just been transferred from the PPCLI Combat Training School so I was in excellent physical condition and managed to withstand the stress.
During training my mother sent me a parcel containing my favorite, a ring of garlic sausage. At noon mail call I got word there was something for me at the Post Office so I dashed across the parade square, collected it, and returned to my quarters to see what the package contained.
I no sooner returned to my quarters and had opened the parcel on my bunk bed when the door of the barracks burst open and a Provost officer yelled "EVERYONE OUT IMMEDIATELY".
Yee gauds, what to do with the parcel! My mattress was rolled up, folded blankets neatly placed on top as per regulations etc., etc.
I panicked, what to do with the garlic and wrappings? I couldn't appear outside with it in my hands! The only thought that came to mind was to lift the blankets, unroll the mattress and thrust the parcel inside, re-roll the mattress then place the blankets on top again. Looked great!
How and why was the parcel discovered? Some bl..dy fool had stolen a 3" mortar bomb, of all things and therefore all the beds and duffle bags were searched in wild abandon. Of course when my mattress was un rolled, there lay the garlic ring in all its delicious (to me) and odorous glory.
I was placed in a cell and had the entire weekend to contemplate my fate. Monday morning, beret and belt removed, I was paraded before the Camp Commandant. I couldn't believe my ears when the charge of "Dirty Compound" was read out to me as a charge of that nature could cover a multitude of sins.
The Commandant would not accept my excuse. I was placed on 14 days "confined to barracks", (CB) and had extra duties to perform after the normal hours of training. I was terribly depressed that this could happen to me. I was well known to the staff and took relentless insults and was given the nastiest of jobs to perform during my punishment. It was the worst “charge” I ever received during my 12 years 1 month and 11 days of service in the Armed Forces. It took years to have that blemish removed from my records!
(Click image for certificate.)
Strange how once my qualification as a paratrooper was confirmed, I was immediately promoted and placed in charge to the Tower phase of training future paratroops!
Wonders never cease!
|
String vest:
issued to absorb
perspiration.
|
|
An example of the
camouflage veil issued
to paratroops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Morphine:
issued for personal use.
|
|
Close up view of the
morphine syringe.
|
This was A-35's Paratroop Tower located at Camp Shilo, Manitoba in 1943. From its promising heights paratroops were initially introduced to something called the "Shock harness". It was to represent the opening shock an American parachute gives one as he jumped from an aircraft in flight.
On the arm pointing towards the viewer you can just discern a ring like apparatus to which the circumference of a special parachute is attached. Ordering a student jumper to lay face down flat on the deck, below this apparatus, the harness he is wearing is hooked up, with him in this horizontal position, to a release mechanism with approximately 10 to15 feet of rubber shock lines coiled up above him out of his sight. In this position, he is now raised to approximately 150 feet. As he is suspended there the instructor addresses him by loud haler with instructions to pull a "D" ring attached to a release mechanism that will allow him to free fall until the shock lines catch him with a jerk. This is to simulate the opening shock. If the trooper fails from fear to do this, he is lowered and removed from the class and the A35 Para Training Center completely. If on the other hand the trooper pulls the "D" ring but drops it, he is told to give the instructor 25 push-ups. The "D" ring represents the reserve parachute "D" ring that a jumper must resort to pull if his main parachute does not open.
If the soldier passed that stage, he was next moved to one of the three other arms, to which another quick release parachute was attached. Donning a harness attached to the parachute the soldier was raised to the top of the apex release mechanism approximately 250 feet above and again asked to sound off. Failing to answer in a strong voice the chap was lowered and disqualified and treated the same as the ones that failed the shock harness. Providing all was satisfactory to the Instructor's judgment, the 'chute was lifted the remaining few feet and with an audible click sound the parachute would be released and he would float to the ground at an approximate rate of 14 feet per second, depending on wind and oscillation. The main cause of injury on this stage was wind which could produce an oscillation causing one to land more rapidly if not directly under the canopy.
Once in a while it was necessary to climb to the top of the tower to carry out maintenance. Great for the legs! If you look closely you can just make out myself and a buddy on the ladder (without bird cage mind you) as we approached the first landing approximately 70 or 80ft high.
BACK TO TOP
