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Message 2 - Fathers background

Posted on: 04 June 2004 by Kate Pullen

Troopertomcanning-
Thank you very much for the information- I will certainly take your advice and contact the Dept of Veterans Affairs-Ottawa.

Message 3 - Fathers background

Posted on: 05 June 2004 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Kate -
you should always keep in mind that when dealing with Government Departments - they do NOT like being disturbed and so they hide themselves away and put the blame for inactivity on the District Offices.....that's just how they work...so I can only give you the address of the District Office of Ottawa Region which is :-
Veterans Affairs Canada
Billings Bridge Plaza,
2323 Riverside Drive,
2nd Floor
P.O. Box 8476 Postal Stn "T"
OTTAWA Ontario
KIG 3H9
toll free - 1-888-998-9460...and you RE SURE TO GET THE COMPLETE BEETHOVEN'S NINTH sYMPHONY WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER THE PHONE !

good luck
PS - a friend of mine worked for the Govt in Alberta and told us one day that there had been an order issued that the staff - could NOT look out the office window until after lunch..when the new order was questioned it was pointed out that IF they looked out of the window in the morning.....they would have nothing to do in the afternoon ! IT's true !

Message 4 - Fathers background

Posted on: 05 June 2004 by Kate Pullen

Troopertomcanning.
Thank you once again for your help and time spent on this matter.
I have been searching for ages for any info on my Fathers background but hit a brick wall each time.
I did write to the Canadian Embassy, that is when I received his discharge papers ect.
I was wondering as the Canadians are also remembering 60 years of D-Day wether there is anyway of contacting past mates comrades ect who might remember him.
Name, number,Rank and all that sort of thing.
I have papers to say that my Father was a casualty and was injured in the Field.(dont know what the injury was)

How I wish I had asked more questions when my Father was alive.
My Mother died at a young age of cancer so didnt have a lot of knowledge concerning their younger years in the forces .
Its not until later in life that you realise the importance of your background and history.
I have just lost one of my daughters to cancer and see how important it is for her children to know as much about their Mothers back ground as possible.
My Father spent the rest of his life in the UK after the war so someone somewhere must know something but getting that info is so hard.
I can remember him going to an Ex servicemans club for the Canadians in Godalming Surrey.
Loved your footnote about the looking out of the window.

Message 5 - Fathers background

Posted on: 06 June 2004 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

kate -
over here is it as bad as in the U.K. for the so-called D Day... I am not too impressed as I served in North Africa and Italy and we had at least three D days long before there was a landing in Normandy.All the TV stations are running all day on it !
An 86 year old Veteran, marching in a Vancouver parade - keeled over and died !
Lady Astor- you know the ignorant American M.P. in the House of Parliament - called us the D Day Dodgers - so there was a song written with about six variations on the theme and it was sung to the tune of Lili Marlene - some of the words can even be printed - but not the ones challenging her parents marital status.

When you get a response from Ottawa, then we can go a bit futher and contact his regimental association etc and find a few of his old buddies - it's surprising how they turn up - So far I am in touch with some people who had relatives in my Brigade - two others in our sister Brigade - they - in turn know others and it is like throwing a stone into a pool - Many of my contacts are researchers for the BBc and it is astonishing what they can do in the way of research etc.
so keep your chin up - it won't take that long !
Cheers
tomcan

Message 6 - Fathers background

Posted on: 06 June 2004 by Kate Pullen

Troopertomcanning-
Thank you once again.
I will put pen to paper-phone to ear and see what the Verterans affairs office have to say.
Not a very good report on the D-DAY Dodgers as you reported.
How unthinking and dis-respectful.
will be in touch when I learn more.
Best wishes Kate.