| From Sgt Stephenson's dictated memories
In Sept 1939 Canada declared war and I enlisted as a pilot in May 1940, but unklnown to me that meant (aircrew)- pilot, navigator, radio operator and gunners with wireless experience. I was chosen as a wireless gunner, the biggest disapointment of my life as I wanted to be a pilot and have a career as an Airline Pilot, if I got through the war alive-- it was a big gamble.
I went to wireless school in Montreal and was soon bored but we had some good beer bashes in the mess, one group trying to see who could drink the most. Our group usually won with my help, which seemed funny because I had hardly drank before, but it wouldn't be my last........
I went to gunnery school and passed with flying colours-- you see I had a job I enjoyed and outside of the guns jamming it wasn't bad. After getting my air gunner wings, we headed home for leave before going overseas. A very good friend Peter Emblem, stayed with us at home; he had a famous brother who acted under the stage name of Robert Donat. We got into a bit of hellery once in a while with our practical jokes and having more to drink than we should. Peter was killed later in the Middle East-- one of many good friends.........
We then left for Debert Nova Scotia and all I can remember of Debert is mud and rain, it was a horrible place, but we were not there long-- we boarded an armed merchant cruiser to take us to England. Can you imagine a ship with two small guns aft and forward escorting a great number of merchant ships loaded with ammunition and other supplies of war-- if a German sub had spotted us, the whole bunch would have been blown out of the water....
To be coninued |