High Morale

Heroes Remember

High Morale

We had what we called ‘spikers' in the camp. These are fellows that were nicotined so badly, I mean they would drive them crazy. They would give their food away for a, for a cigarette. A spiker was a guy that would walk around following anybody that had a cigarette and picking up the butts. This day, we had a little parade square and everybody out there walking and there was two naval officers walking one day and they, one was smoking a cigarette and our friend, big guy about 6'3, 6'4, was following them, big strides. And they, the officer stopped at the end and they were going to separate and when you're smoking it to get a double puff then you'd drop it and just as he dropped the cigarette, this big fella come in, puts, sticks his foot in on top of his and looked him straight in the eye and says, "Sir, you're stepping on my tobacco," reached down, grabbed his tobacco and... Alright, these things amused us, we thought, we thought they were funny then. I don't know if they are now. Interviewer: Kept you going. Yeah, that's right.

Mr. McGee goes into detail about some humorous times to keep their spirits up.

John McGee

Mr. John McGee was born in Saskatchewan, on May 3, 1923, and comes from a family of two brothers and three sisters. He now resides in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and family. Mr. McGee joined the army and left for wartime service with a group of thirteen men. Although very excited to be going overseas, he recalls the sight of seeing young men jumping overboard when the ship began to sail; the fear of the unknown was causing many to turn back and stay at home! Mr. McGee was determined to go and serve his country. Mr. McGee shares with us his personal experience of being captured as a Hong Kong prisoner of war (POW) and hardships he endured at the camp. He considers himself very fortunate to be alive today, as many of his friends were left behind. After six years of serving in the army, Mr. McGee returned home to be what he terms an "Entrepreneur" buying a few hotels and later on getting into the sales business. Civilian life was a very positive outcome for a soldier who had endured such hard times and poor health during his time in the prisoner of war camps.