The Norwegians Needed Crew
Heroes Remember
The Norwegians Needed Crew
I wanted to get involved because my other
three brothers was in the service.
So I worked for a Mont Steading company,
a Norwegian shipping company and he came one day and
asked me would I want to join a ship in the harbour and it
was called the Sirehei loading some newsprint and that was
on Wednesday and they shipped me right down to Tobin Street.
There was a Norwegian council and a doctor there
examined me for medical reasons.
Norwegians were hard up for crew and they made
an exception as I was too young, because I tried to join the
Canadian Merchant Navy, but I was too young.
They wouldn’t take me. So I got the opportunity to go and I did.
So I went home. I bought a suitcase.
Went home and I told my mother and she started the crying.
She said, "my baby's going to war".
So, I wanted to be part of the war effort,
but not for patriotic reasons, just becaus I was a kid
and like many times people ask me, why did you join so young?
and they say, well you was some brave. No I wasn't brave.
I was adventurous and I was a daydreamer.
So I wanted to become part of it.
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