They Didn’t Realize the Dangers.

Heroes Remember

They Didn’t Realize the Dangers.

Transcript

We thought the war wouldn’t last very long, you know, that we wouldn’t get over there in time to enjoy a trip, or enjoy a holiday. But the young people those days didn’t. realize the ..until we saw these pictures. But still, we didn’t think that we’d … it would be over before we got engaged in it. There was a lot of casualties coming back, and naturally they they could see the horrors of war, and one thing and another. And they, naturally, they weren’t very happy for the young fellows to join, I’m sure of that. Especially mother’s sons and that, you know. I know I was the only son in the family and they felt quite bad about it. But I’d made up my mind to go and I'd ... They weren’t very happy about me joining, naturally, but they took it in good spirit. But I could see that they didn’t want, they didn't like to see me go. The 103rd was recruited here in Victoria, it was at the same time the 102nd was here. They were down to about four battalions, and there were a lot of young, especially in our battalion, a lot of young men in there that, as I say, they didn’t realize the danger or what they were in to. So we all joined, pretty well, all joined up together.

Description

Mr. Ford describes his decision to enlist and its impact on his parents.

George R. Ford

George Ford was born on March 19, 1897 in Barrie, Ontario. In 1899, his family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and, when his mother’s health started to fail, on to Victoria, British Columbia. Here, Mr. Ford studied mathematics and surveying, which resulted in employment with the provincial government in the mapping department. Against his parents wishes, he enlisted in 1916, joining the 103rd Infantry Battalion. Mr. Ford went overseas aboard the SS Mauritania, landing in Southampton, England, where he was deployed with the 54th Battalion. He later transferred to the Light Trench Mortar Battery. Mr. Ford saw action on many fronts, but only discussed Vimy in any detail. However, his clear perspective on the futility of war, death, mutual respect, honour, and patriotic duty, honed over a 102 year lifespan, are well worth the viewer’s attention. After the war, Mr. Ford returned to his job as a surveyor. He joined his local Veterans Association, and some time later, the Royal Canadian Legion, Victoria, B.C.

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