Welcome to The Club v3.4 Fall 2023

Welcome to ...
THE Club
You must be 55 or over to read this magazine.
Welcome to ...
FALL 2023
CAROLYN R L N MOSIER
BscP.T. MCPA
Registered
ered
ed
Physiotherapist
ist
Forest Physiotherapy
and Rehabilitation
10 Watt Street, et
Forest • 519-786-3336
36
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ESTABLISHED
Good Question!
IN 1977
• Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
• Why do croutons come in airtight packages, it's stale bread right?
• Why do you say something is out of whack? What is a whack?
• Why don't tomb, comb and bomb sound the same?
• Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
• If lawyers are disbarred can electricians can be delighted?
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5547 Aberarder Line, Plympton-Wyoming
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• Collecbles • Giware • Kids Toys, Games & Books • Fudge
• Maple Buer Tarts & Baking • Williamson Farms Beef & Pork
• Local Honey • Cheese • Local Cider • Williamson Farms Maple Syrup
Open Monday to Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5
14 King Street West, FOREST • 226-520-0144
www.williamsonfarmscountrystore.ca
A Memorable Time
I remember clearly the summers of 1943
and 1944. I was eight and nine at the time
when World War II was still on. I lived on
a farm about three miles from Ipperwash
army Camp in Ontario. Ipperwash was
the last camp that the soldiers came to
before sailing to Europe to join the rest
of the troops over there.
The back of our farm went right down to
the shore of Lake Huron. It was very sandy
soil there, so we grew a lot of peaches,
pears and apples. The officers from the
camp liked to march their men down via
the lake and up into our orchards for mock
battles. About three p.m. they would come
up our back lane, past our house and out
to the Lake Road where they would march
the 3.5 miles back to camp. Many times
the officers would take pity on the soldiers
and let them lie on our back lawn under
our shady elms for about a half-hour.
We had a well outside and a pump at
it. I would be delighted to see the soldiers
coming and I would rush to the well to
pump water for them to get a drink.
Some had their own canteens that they
filled and the others just drank out of our
community granite cup that hung on the
pump. No one seemed to be concerned
about germs. They were just so grateful
for a cool drink and a rest.
These soldiers were just young men,
some only in their late teens. They were
lonely and frightened to be going to war.
I had no fear of these men as I knew they
would do me no harm. Life was so simple
and free in those days.
Soon the officers in command would call
them to order and march the men down
the road. I remember two or three of the
soldiers took off their boots and socks
while sitting on the lawn. They wore heavy
wool socks that offered no protection to
the sand that worked its way into their
boots and irritated the skin, causing huge
blisters. These men with the sore feet fell
behind the rest, and they were limping
slowly up the road. My father had a soft
heart, so he would take his little ’39 Ford
truck and go pick up these stragglers and
drive them right to the army hospital at
the camp to have their feet tended to.
These young men were so grateful for the
ride they would often have tears in their
eyes. Our gasoline, however, was rationed
during the war, so we had to be careful not
to waste it foolishly, but my father never
felt that this was a waste of fuel.
The soldiers had every Sunday afternoon
off. There were no amusements at the
camp and time hung heavy, so they
would often go for a walk on the highway
by Alma Hackett • from Daytripping Sept-Oct 2002
as
near the camp. Most Sunday
afternoons my dad and I
would take the car and
see if we could find two or
three soldiers to bring home for supper.
They were delighted to have a home
cooked meal and gladly came with us.
Many of these fine young men who ate at
our table went to war and never returned.
The students in public school were
asked to pick milkweed pods, since the
silky lining inside was used for making
parachutes. We used large burlap bags to
pick into, and when these were full the
teacher sent them away to a factory.
We were all encouraged to buy War
Savings Stamps. We would give the
teacher 25 cents and she would give
us a stamp to lick and put in our blue
savings book. The money was sent to the
Government and after the war we got the
money back with interest.
We also had food stamps and blue meat
tokens, which were used to buy sugar,
coffee, flour and meat plus other food that
was rationed. When our stamps ran out,
there were no more until the next month.
My mother learned to be frugal.
The airforce base at Centralia, Ontario,
was also quite close to us. We would run
outside when the army planes flew over,
they were such a novelty in those
days. Since they always had
big numbers painted on the
bottom of the wings, my
brother would write down the
numbers and watch for the planes to
come back again; it was a game he liked
to play. The pilots were daredevils and
they would swoop down at us when we
were in the fields working. One time my
cousin, a slim pretty teenage girl, was with
us up on top of a load of hay. The planes
kept buzzing closer and closer and one
time she reached up with a pitchfork and
actually touched the plane. She thought it
was a great joke and enjoyed the attention
of the airforce pilots immensely.
When the war ended in May 1945, we
had wonderful celebrations in London
and in our hometown of Forest. Parades
bands and open cars carrying the returned
soldiers went up and down the streets.
However, sadly, some did not return and
for their families it was a sorrowful time
and the parade only added to their pain.
The Second World War has left a
memory with me, which I shall never
forget. Every year on November 11th,
I am one of many people who proudly
wears a poppy, for where would Canada
be today if it wasn’t for these brave,
wonderful men who fought to keep
Canada free.
P A G E
4
Superstitions... Amber beads, worn as a necklace, can protect against illness or cure colds.