New Clothes for the Homecoming

They got us all together, I can't remember the place now, to a depot and they fitted us all out with civilian clothes. They let us keep our military clothes, our uniforms and such things like that, but we all went in for a fitting of a suit and shoes and socks and shirt and things, whatever you put your back. I remember having a picture taken with it when I came home, I tell you, I had a hat and this striped suit. Gosh I'd never wear it today. It looks so funny to me today, you know. But that's what they gave us. Whatever, whatever they had I suppose on hand. They just dished it out whatever size you had. It didn't matter whether you wore a 40 or you wore a 50 they gave it to you. I wasn't long discarding my uniform when I got home. I'll put it to you that way. We kept our uniform and all our military clothes on until we got back home.

Mr. Dingwell describes being outfitted in a flashy new suit for the voyage back to Newfoundland, but waiting until his arrival home to wear it.

George Dingwell

George Dingwell was born on February 21, 1925 in Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland. His family later moved to Corner Brook, where his father and brother were employed by the railroad. After a short time working for the railroad himself, Mr. Dingwell decided to enlist in April of 1942. In England, he trained as a truck driver and was assigned to the 166th Battalion, which was then deployed to Italy. Mr. Dingwell’s draft remained in a holding unit through the winter of ‘44-‘45. The day he joined his Battalion in Northern Italy, it was coming out of battle and was soon disbanded. Mr. Dingwell then volunteered for the Japanese theatre, but that theatre ended before he saw action.