I Was Too Young and He Was Too Old.

Heroes Remember

I Was Too Young and He Was Too Old.

Transcript

Like, Englehart, I think was one of the highest, like, per capita in the, in the, in the country. 'Cause there's hardly isn't... well, the only ones that was there... There was one fella had one eye and then the other guy I don't know if he had something wrong with his leg. There was hardly anybody left in town, so, like, that was old enough, like, you know. So, and I'd, well, I'd just been working since I was 14, like I worked in lumber camps and construction camps and I always hung around with like, older, older guys, like, you know, three or four years older. I went up to the pool hall the day before and there was two of my friends there and I said to them, "I'm going up to Kirkland and join up." They both said, "Well, I think we'll go too." So, the next morning, the three of us went up to Kirkland and we had to catch a train at 5:30 in the morning and then we had to sit in a restaurant 'til 10 o'clock 'til the recruiting office opened. So, and we hadn't mention anything you know that we were going in or anything, so... at 10 o'clock I said, "Well," I said, "I'm gonna go and join the army." Well, Stan said, "Well, I'm gonna join the air force." And Alec, the other guy, said, "Well, I'm joining the navy." So, the three of us went together and, and went to three different services all together, so... But, I worked in Sarnia in a construction outfit there, when they were building that Palmer rubber outfit, you know. And there was two guys there from New Brunswick, like, I can't remember the name of the small town, so I figured I'll tell them I was born in New Brunswick, like, and I guess I don't know whether I got excited or what but they said, "Where were you born?" And I name that town, but I said Nova Scotia. So, then he said to me, "Well, we'll have to check this up, anyhow, and see." And I said, "Okay." So, I waited about a week and he phoned me, "Where the hell is this town in Nova Scotia?" I said, "I don't know." I said, "I was about a year old when we come to Ontario," and I said, "I have no idea where it is." "Well," he said, "We can't find it." So, he said, "I'll let you go." But he said, "If you're, if you're lying," he said, "I'll tie you into a potato field," he said, "and you'll stay there 'til the end of the war." So, that's about enough of that part. And then, and then I went home. I joined, and then went home, told my dad. Of course, he didn't believe me because I only weighed about 110 pounds, and... So, I said, "Okay, you can laugh all you like." I said. He just laughed at me, you know. I said, "But my papers will come one of these days." Well, when my papers came, he got quite a funny look on his face, you know, and he said, "They won't keep you." I said, "Why not?" So, I went, anyway, and, so... I guess, before I finished my basic, he went and joined up. And I was too young, and he was too old, so...

Description

Mr. Loranger describes his devious path to enlistment as an underage recruit

Paul Loranger

Mr. Loranger was born in Seseninika, Ontario in 1927. His family later moved to Englehart, Ontario, where his father was employed with the Canadian National Railway, and they were able to ride out the depression in relative comfort. Mr. Loranger joined the army at age 16, became disillusioned when denied entry into the paratroopers, quit, and then re-enlisted. Once in England, however, he joined the Calgary Highlanders, and was quickly sent to France. There, he was involved in driving out remnants of the German Army. He was recalled to England when his age was discovered, and eventually sent home to Canada. He worked for the CNR until his retirement. Mr. Loranger now resides in Harriston, Ontario.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 3:48
Person Interviewed:: Paul Loranger
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Canada
Branch:: Army

Language selection

I Was Too Young and He Was Too Old.

Heroes Remember