The year is 1940 and we are at Petawawa Camp . It is almost Christmas and we were all hoping to get home for that day as we had now been away from home since the end of September. I do not recall the order of those that recieved leave home, and those that were slated to stay until the first group returned. Anyway, I was on the first group to get our Christmas leave, so we notified our parents, and of course girl friends, that we had left behind, that we would arrive by train on a certain date. Well we were all pretty excited to be able to get home. At this time the dress blue sales persons came into camp and were measuring up the fellows for dress uniforms. I think the price for a made to measure dress uniform was about Thirty or so dollars. I saw the first uniforms come back into camp for the fellows and thought they looked pretty cheap.
Now in a very good shop in Pemberton was a mannequin wearing a terrific dress blue uniform. It was complete with lance sergeants stripes, so that was or just had to be mine. And if memory seves me correct, it was almost 60 dollars, an absolute fortune. But I had to have it! Well I sent home for some of the money that I had assigned and bought this set of blues. I will send you a picture taken inChristmas 1940 wearing this set of blues. [ incidentally I sold this set of blues for a hundred dollars this past fall to a military shop in Victoria. They were still like new after 61 years ]. The day of departure could not come fast enough, and when the day came to get our passes our sergt, major and I had a disagreement and he held up my pass until it was only hours before train time. I sweated blood but he was a small man and I think figured all including me was after his job. All I had in mind was getting my pass. At last the pass was grudingly handed to me and I caught the leave truck to theCPR railway station and we were on our way going home for Christmas. Oh yes, with my dress blues well packed to show all It was going to be a leave to remember. I will give you the story of the train trip and arrival home.
Cheerio Gordie .. .
