Salt Spring Island Archives

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Audio

SSI Men in WWII

Accession Number Interviewer
Date Location
Media cassette tape Audio CD mp3 √
ID 113 Topic 7 min.

113_Mouat_Toynbee_Rush_WW2-Intro.mp3

otter.ai

29.01.2023

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Unknown Speaker 0:00
Today is the, I guess, our anniversary again of the commemoration of November 11, which is tomorrow. With that, we are honored again to have as our speakers plus one additional one, we'll have three gentlemen that will give us the memories of the people and some of the Saltspring islanders that participated and were lost in the First and Second World Wars. So it's our pleasure, again, to introduce Ivan lot, Manson Toynbee for your writing. There you are, and Bob rush. I'll turn the lecture over to them thanks.

Unknown Speaker 1:14
In our remembrance, they served our program this afternoon, we're going to look at Saltspring islands efforts during two world wars. In the Great War, 1914 1918 150 men and one woman left the island to serve king and country. The woman likes Miss Calhoun, the matron of the very new lady middle hospital. She went overseas, she served gallantly under fire. Evidently, she was awarded the Military Medal, the quality of air and the Serbian medal. She came back and married Frank Croft and she is a Mrs. Crawford who unveiled the fundament that that's now moved to Centennial Park, which was unveiled first in 1922. That, and garner just kind of gave us a promo give us a program for it. But that was the one woman who served during World War One from Saltspring 19 of those 150 failed to return, and some returned disabled and very ill. During the Second World War, 1939 45 Saltspring recruits numbered 145 men and women, nine young men failed to return among the recruits are 10 women. And I'm going to ask them and now I've got by far I asked about, we're going to read out some names. I apologize to people who haven't lived here for 50 years or more, because you may not know those names, but just think you will remember you'll hear some of them names, you'll you'll know the families and just think that if you lived in another place during World War During, in in the outbreak of war and the end of the war in 1945 you will have remembered young people like we were who did not come back so we're remembering those of Saltspring Island and right now we are going to think of the these all these Fortunately, all these women returned to Saltspring asked about we're going to read out some names. I apologize to people who haven't lived here for 50 years or more. Because you may not know those names but just think you will remember you'll hear ace during World War During the in in at the outbreak of war and the end of the war in 1945. You would have remembered young people like we were who did not come back. So we're remembering those of Saltspring Island and right now we're going to think of the these all these Fortunately all these dead women returned to Saltspring man to do either namespace.

Unknown Speaker 3:56
Doris green water known to many who perhaps is Doris Rogers, who extended care the hospital now. Isabel five Dorothy ghost curl ProStart Barbara Hornby Kathleen Lacey am louder. Catherine Puffin Maureen Seymour. Surely Wilson

Unknown Speaker 4:30
and I should add that one is here President today Kathleen Lacey rathwell.

Unknown Speaker 4:43
Now we're going to take a brief look at some of the names who in our in our branch of the Legion here we have two lists, those who served during the First World War and those who served during the Second World War. Some names are on both of course, and there's a star against those who lost realize, I we're going to read a list of the people who suddenly some of the lists because of the ones that you will probably know are ones of families that you know, a great many. Of course we're in the 16th Canadian, the Scottish D company was formed here, this is the 13th balloon for the Zune was formed in 1931. And a great many have served in that, of course, and they are great many serve in the artillery and other parts of the army. And of course, there were also many in the Navy and the Air Force. Bob rush Would you read out those names, please? This is

Unknown Speaker 5:36
from the Second World War. We're not going to read out all 145 names by any means, but we picked out ones that you might recognize. Bob Atkins, John Bennett. And then five best boys. It was Alan the best Gordon best Norman best Vincent best and Raymond best. And from foolproof, there was Charles Breton and Ernest Brenton. They were three Byron's Howard Byron, Ken Byron, Terry Byron. There were three crafts, Desmond Crafton at Crafton and John Crofton who is with us today. Guy cutting him Margaret Cunningham's husband, Gordon Cudmore Bob DODDS who lives on the island still, Vernon Drake, Corbin Drake and Bruce Drake. Don Fraser, who was Mrs. Rekkles brother, John foo Buster, who is still living at the north end. Arthur Gail Allen hedger and Tony hedger in three hierarchies George Hi Nikki Dennis. Hi, Nikki and Patrick. Hi, Mickey. Bill he'll suit senior and Bill he'll Junior Buster Horrell and Charlie Hall