National NEWSLETTER - Web Edition |
September 2006 |
Page 5 |
Remembering "C" Force and all Canadians in the War Against Japan
- Ron McGuire, Regional Rep for North-East Ontario
It was an honour to be able to play a small part in the Ottawa 2005 Convention by being responsible for the memorabilia/sales room. I wish to thank Connie for her assistance and all those who brought their treasures to display. I would be remiss if I did not extend special THANKS to Ken Skelton for all he had to go through bringing portions of his fantastic collection to fill ten tables plus an open corner of the room. Your efforts were greatly appreciated I assure you Ken, as were the chats we had about our common interests. I gave my slide illustrated talk and while I did not take a count I’ve been told there were well over a hundred attending including many of our veterans. My sincere thanks to Kim Brunet {wife of Michael, son of Lou Brunet, CPC-Brigade HQ, who was also in attendance with his daughter and mother, Lillian}, Vince Lopata and Dick Maze {WG} for their “technical” assistance correcting a problem I encountered. It is obvious I must again enter the 21st century {I’ve just finally become semi-“computerized”} and replace my 1970’s Kodak Carousel and slides with the modern equivalents. It is now on my never-ending list of “things to do”.
There were many highlights for me at the Convention, but the one topping the list was seeing again the Veterans and their families that I knew and, meeting for the first time, those I only knew by name. Like all attending veterans Eric Maloney {RR of C} was hoping to meet comrades he had not seen in years. He was having difficulty in locating some of those he knew were there and I was happy to be able to arrange for happy but touching meetings between Eric and Oswald “Toots” Clark, Arnold Ross and Gus Bitzer. I think all attending would agree with me that the only real problem with this truly successful event was--- there was never enough time to do everything!
The weekend after was another busy one for me. I had an expanded version of my “C” Force exhibit, which was displayed on eight tables at our Convention, at the Military Collectors Club of Canada convention held at the Chateau Laurier. For this event it required twenty tables plus wall space where I mounted panels. It complied with the convention theme and honoured “C” Force and all Canadians [there were over 8000!] who fought in the war against Japan and commemorated the real end of the Second World War on 15 August 1945. It never ceases to amaze me how many people I encounter think the war ended on 8 May! To my surprise, the organizers entered this exhibit competitively -exhibits were assessed by a jury of three military historians and mine was given the five top awards, the first exhibit to do so at any of their forty-one annual conventions. I also had fifteen tables with four non-competitive exhibits concerning: the art of war; Col. John McCrae and the importance of poetry during wartime; a tribute to another group of overlooked Canadians – those who fought in Korea 1950-1953, with a special mention of our veterans of Hong Kong who were involved; and a memorial to the sinking of the S.S. Caribou by a German submarine on 14 October 1942 {many of the RR of C with “W” Force traveled aboard this well loved Newfoundland ship. During a conversation with Lance Ross he told me his recollections of his trip}. Admission to the convention was free to veterans, their wives and widows. It was most gratifying to see how many of them spent so much time meticulously studying my exhibits, and particularly when they told me how all the many memories, good and bad, my exhibits brought to mind.
My exhibit was again expanded and from 1-30 November it was in the Nepean Museum. This is my ninth Remembrance Month display honouring Canadians and Newfoundlanders at war. I will be arranging for photographs of each portion of the display to be put on the HKVCA web site. There was an open house on Sunday 20 November. The weather was lovely and there was a nice turn out, including Ian Doull, the previous editor, who I would like to thank for doing the fine job he did on the always, welcomed newsletter. I was particularly pleased that Eric Maloney [RR of C] was able to attend along with Col. Robert Grogan who began his 39 year military career as part of the HMS Uganda's crew while it was in the Pacific, CWO Hector Rafuse, who, with his brother were also career soldiers, both had two tours in Korea and numerous Peacekeeping assignments as did Major Dick Malott, during his RCAF career. These four gentlemen were excellent representatives of several very different aspects of Canada's military history and were always engaged in conversation by visitors.
My very best wishes to everyone for a happy and safe Christmas and New Year
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