The Sandbag Times Issue No: 29 - March 2017

CAnAdA CAlling
As The Phoenix Rises
Sso Does The SBT
As the Phoenix rises, I would
like to welcome back our
founder Pablo. Also to
welcome back the readers of
this progressive Veterans E
Paper. So much has happened
in our world, since the
previous edition a few months
ago. Now we move onwards
and upwards as they say Bi
Weekly.
Canada
Calling
TheCanuckConnection
The world is still fighting terrorism, Mr T is president of the USA his
Vice Pres is a fella called Mickey Pence so I guess the USA is being
run by Donald and Mikey. Trump has created a great fear with his bans
on 7 countries. However (Thankfully) saner minds are operating in the
Judiciary and his ban is on hold. It will certainly be an interesting First
100 days.
Meanwhile Canada is suffering from winter’s blast with Snow from
Victoria BC to Joe Batts Arm in the East of Newfoundland. This is
Canada’s 150th Birth year with Celebrations throughout the Land. A
great time to visit relations, friends or simply a tour. With that in mind I
share this article from The Province newspaper. This man was born in
the UK and as you will read served in both WW1 and WW2 starting as
a young Private. His career spanned decades and he was the Minister of
Defence when I signed on the dotted line in August1960.
Here in Banchory we also have an Internet Radio Station working out
of the Legion. You can even pick it up in Canada.
Finally in Banchory we have a great drop in spot for Veterans of all
services.
The Province
9 Feb 2017
Stephen Hume
George Randolph Pearkes was
awarded Canada’s three highest
military honours for serving in the
First World War.
George Randolph Pearkes earned
the Victoria Cross for bravery in
the mud and carnage at
Passchendaele. He fought at
Sanctuary Wood and Regina
Trench. But he became a Canadian,
he said, on Vimy Ridge.
Five times wounded in action, he’s the only Canadian to have been
awarded three of the highest decorations for valour while under fire —
the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order and the Military
Cross. In 1916, a sergeant, he suffered 12 shrapnel wounds, but stayed
to rally his men and hold the line until a superior officer finally ordered
him to hospital. He was back the next week. He was wounded again. A
grenade fragment lodged in his skull, sticking from his temple. He led
his men through No Man’s Land, took 18 prisoners, captured more than
half a kilometre of enemy trench, then fought off counterattacks. He
received the Military Cross. Born in 1888, he was the first child of
George and Louise Pearkes of Watford, England. After school, he
emigrated to Canada in 1906 and took a job in Alberta for a black
mining contractor he later said was the best and fairest of the many
bosses for whom he’d worked. He farmed, cut wood and wrangled
horses, then enlisted with the North West Mounted Police. In 1915, he
enlisted with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. He began as a corporal
and ended a general. After the war, he headed the Royal Military
College in Kingston, Ont., then commanded the 1st Canadian Division
in the Second World War, but was sent back to Canada for opposing the
disastrous Dieppe Raid in 1942. He commanded defences on the West
Coast, retired in 1945, ran for parliament, served as minister of defence
and in 1960 became lieutenant-governor of British Columbia. He was
so popular his term was extended. Modest, inclusive and kind, his first
speech praised B.C.’s ethnic and racial diversity. The one time he got
angry was because a stingy provincial government refused a small pay
raise for domestic staff at Government House. He preferred puttering in
his garden to pomp. When a water heater burst during a reception, he
and his wife Blytha got out mops and cleaned up. He died in 1984 and
was buried from the humble church where he’d married. It was built
with timber rafted down from Genoa Bay in 1885, three years before
he’d been born.
We end this edition with a Military Joke:
The Navy Invented Sex
Kind and courageous, B.C.’s
most famous soldier became
a Canadian on Vimy Ridge
A Marine and a sailor were sitting in a bar one day arguing over which
was the superior service. After a swig of beer the Marine says, 'Well,
we had the Falklands Yomp.' Arching his eyebrows, the sailor replies,
'We had the Battle of the Atlantic. 'Not entirely true', responded the
Marine. 'Some of those on board were Marines, The sailor responds,
'Point taken.' The Marine then says, 'We Marines captured the Mole in
1664 at Gibralter The sailor, nodding agreement, says, 'But we took
the Rock The argument continued until the sailor comes up with what
he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says......
'The Navy invented sex!' The Marine replies, 'That is true, but it was
the Marines who introduced it to women.'
On that Note stay positive stay Happy
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
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