Train Ride Picking up Recruits

Beginning of February, 1941, when my friend and I, Marvin Cavanagh, we decided we’d join the army. Mother and Dad took us to town in a covered sleigh one day, and it was about forty below, I think. That was to Nipawin, and we got on the train there, and we took the train that went to Prince Albert and down to Saskatoon. About every station that was there, one of these freights with a couple of cars on it for passengers, and a couple of guys would get on and next station, maybe a couple more. The time we got to Saskatoon, there was about 43 of us. And we all went down to the recruiting station together. And that day they were recruiting for the artillery and this new reconnaissance regiment. And they told us the reconnaissance regiment was a suicide outfit, and every one of us joined that. I guess because we knew we wouldn’t have to walk as much. It was an armoured, you know, mechanized.After all, you must remember, we grew up in the thirties. Nobody, there was no way to go anywhere farther than a team of horses could go, hardly, you know. We’d never been anywhere and never had no money. This here was something. At least you got a $1.30 a day and your meals. Anyway, it was adventure and, I might add, I didn’t drink or smoke. And the last words my mother said to me, “Will you promise me you won’t start smoking and drinking? ” I said, “I’ll promise you I won’t,” and I didn’t. I, in fact, I had four glasses of beer in five years in the army.