Unwelcome in Italy

Heroes Remember

Unwelcome in Italy

Transcript

That wasn’t too pleasant. That was a completely different lifestyle, food, language. You weren’t particularly welcome, you know, but we got by. Had no real problems, but after what we like, Camp Borden after enjoying Camp Borden and all the rest it was difficult to be in a place where you aren’t really welcome, you know. They didn’t abuse you in any way, but a lot of them let you know that they wish you were gone, you know. Well, I’m not talking about just me. I’m talking about the Canadian Forces were not really welcome there and, let’s say they felt closer to Germans then to Canadians. The Italians. They felt closer to Germans. There were a lot of places we couldn’t go out at night. They wouldn’t let you out at night and this kind of stuff for fear that something might happen, you know.

Description

Mr. Greaves speaks about how unwelcome he felt amongst the Italian people.

Archibald Greaves

Mr. Archibald “Archie” Greaves was born in St. Michaels, Barbados. At age 22, he came to Canada with interest in studying. He came from a middle class family with two sisters and his father worked for a newspaper company writing columns. Mr. Greaves joined the army with the 8th New Brunswick Hussars and trainedg as a wireless operator in the tanks. He travelled overseas to Italy and during his time in Holland met and married a Dutch lady. In 1947 he settled in Montreal always with the intention to return to Barbados. He worked in the fruit and vegetable business for importers as a traffic manager and remained in Canada.

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