My
brother Bill, who had just completed a tour of operations, came to be with me in
Bournemouth. Before we were sent on leave a Miss Tutty, who was a big shot in
the Red Cross, contacted me. Mem was on leave at her home in Southampton, Bill
and I went to visit him. She must have been a rich old maid because she had a
big house and even a butler. It was good to see Mem again before our last and
final good-byes.
Bill and I went on leave to cousin Florrie's in
Fbookbourgh, Cousin David Hall's in Birmingham, the Loudens' in Glasgow and
then finally Aunt Aggies' in Aberdeen, so we had made our rounds. While we
were on leave, V.E. day occurred so the European phase of the war was
over.
After returning to Bournemouth, I was one of many ex-POWs returning
to Canada on the French Ship, the Louis Pasteur. It had been on the same convoy
in December, 1941 when I went to England. It was a luxurious treat cabins, meals
in the diningroom and the ocean was smooth and calm.
The disembarking at
Halifax, then a train to Winnipeg to spend a day with my sister Jane and her
husband Joe. Then on to Calgary where mother met me at the train station.
Strangely enough I met Ronnie Rhine on the train, he was on leave from the Navy.
Mother and I took the bus home to Okotoks and to Dad, Isabel and David. Stew was
away working.
So the circle was complete and I was one happy young man to
have survived and made it home to my family.
