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War is Declared

Heroes Remember

War is Declared

Transcript
Well I remember when Britain declared war. When they moved in, when Germany moved in to Poland. You know I wasn’t, what was I eighteen years of age, wasn’t too up on politics but everybody was very aware of it. And then in September, I think it was about 9 days later, Canada declared war. Well I was, I was concerned, you know. I thought, well can England, because both my parents came from England, I was concerned that something, you know... But it didn’t really affect me immediately. I was playing hockey and working and we were discussing the war, naturally, it was, everyone could see that things sort of changed. Eight months later, three of us decided to join the NPAM, Non Permanent Active Militia, and which was down at the drill hall at NDG. Down in Montreal downtown. And we used to go there two nights a week and we were all working, the four of us. Different ones, a couple with the Bell telephone another fella for the Imperial Bank and we went down there two nights a week training. This was for about three weeks. It was the summer time. Then one, one night we went down there, there’s a big sign on the wall “5th Battery is going active”. So we all went home, discussed it with our parents and within, I guess, a week we’d all signed up.
Description

Mr. Stanway recalls when Britain and Canada declared war, joining the Non Permanent Active Militia (NPAM), and subsequently the active forces (Montreal 5th Battery).

Frank Stanway

Mr. Stanway was born in Britain, and relocated to Montreal, Quebec with his family at a young age. Mr. Stanway joined the Non Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) along with friends, 8 months after Canada declared war. Shortly after basic training finished, their unit went active, so they joined the active forces in August 1940. Mr. Stanway shipped out to Scotland in 1941 and was transferred to Italy, along with the rest of the 5th Battery, in May 1943. They remained stationed there until a few months before the end of the war (February 1945) and returned home shortly after the war ended.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
02:01
Person Interviewed:
Frank Stanway
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
North America
Branch:
Army
Units/Ship:
NPAM / 5th Battery / Artillery
Occupation:
Mechanic

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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