Winnipeg Grenadiers

Mr. Harrison describes being tasked with making sure all the portholes are secured shut, as the Awatea is beset by a storm. He accidentally enters a nurse's cabin just as she's emerging from the shower. His innocent question leads to a lot of laughter!

Mr. Harrison describes helping to organize a protest against the cramped, unsanitary accommodations aboard the troop ship. The mutiny fails due to lack of support from the other troops.

Mr. Gyselman describes the demographics of the Winnipeg Grenadiers as he saw them, and indicates that he enlisted not out of patriotism but for the steady employment.

Mr. Gyselman discusses being the first Canadian POW to be flown to mainland North America. He compares the generous welcome of the Americans to the austerity of the Canadian welcome. While happy to be home, he is troubled by questions about other people's loved ones.

Mr. Gyselman describes the butchering of the camp commandant's pig, and having boiled pork the following morning. He also describes the daredevil delivery of supplies by Americans flying single seater Grumman Tigers.

Mr. Gyselman describes receiving DDT powder in the American supply drop, and putting it to good use against the camp's sand flea epidemic.

Mr. Gyselman discusses events immediately following the Japanese surrender. His initial reaction is to head for the mine with the intention of knifing his Japanese guards, who are nowhere to be found. Later he and a friend head to town, hijack a truck and go to a Japanese restaurant.

Mr. Gyselman describes enduring three weeks of blindness, and being offered a series of injections of an unidentified serum. Choosing to take the gamble, his eyesight returns after a week.

Mr. Gyselman is designated a platoon runner who is sent to the front and witnesses a deadly ambush set for the Japanese. Eventually, the enemy regroups and a mortar attack drives the Canadians from their position. Heavily loaded down and under enemy fire, Mr. Gyselman escapes. He later notices that his pants legs are full of bullet holes.

Mr. Gyselman describes being shelled by miniature Japanese howitzers, which inflicts serious casualties and forces the remaining men to retreat. Escaping along a water course, the men are mistakenly fired upon by their British allies. They show the white flag, and are granted safe passage by the British.