大象传媒

February 1941. A cold,wet Friday.
It took me about ten minutes to cycle home to the cottage from St Andrews school, Nuthurst, long enough to get soaked that afternoon. I was warming myself by Auntie Law's fire in her parlour when there was a gentle tap on the front door.
Outside stood an Army officer. The rain was dripping from his greatcoat and I saw on his arm the flash "Canada" and above it the words "Royal Regiment of Canada."
He looked down on me no doubt wondering what to say to a scruffy 13 year old, but then asked if I knew who owned the chapel next door.
Auntie Law, old, arthritic, shuffled up to my side and the officer politely saluted. He said he needed to know whom he should contact since his soldiers were on an exercise and he wanted to requisition the chapel next door for two days. He also enquired about the field beyond the chapel. The owners had to be told and could be compensated.
Auntie informed him the owners were in Horsham and a telephone number was on the chapel notice board.
He asked if we had a telephone but Auntie said the nearest phone box was in the village about a mile away. Another polite salute and we watched him walk back up the road where a staff car and three covered lorries were parked.
A sergeant exited the staff car following a brief word with the officer, and ordered the soldiers out of the back of the lorries. They tried to find cover from the rain under some trees as the officer and sergeant drove off in the staff car in the direction of the phone box.
Auntie Law was most concerned as she saw the soldiers about to get wet, and told me to take them to the large shed behind the cottage where they could wait in the dry.
"And if they want some tea, tell them to bring their mugs," she added.
The first soldier I saw seemed delighted with my message and the word spread. Soon I was leading about thirty armed soldiers across the road and into the large barn-like shed behind the cottage. I felt most important.
In the shed were many large bails of straw and the soldiers made themselves comfortable sitting on them. A couple of ancient paraffin lamps were lit and their glow seemed to give some warmth.
Auntie Law shuffled in from her kitchen with a teapot, milk and sugar on a tray and the soldiers gathered round. Unfortunately the teapot only filled about six mugs.
"Go and put the kettle on again." Auntie looked at me.
"Yes Auntie."
Immediately the soldiers started,
"Thanks, Auntie."
"Lovely tea, Auntie."
"Really appreciate this, Auntie."
In Canada language "Auntie" sounded like "Antee." I do believe Auntie was blushing.
Tea and sugar was rationed but I don't think it worried that kind old lady.

So while they were sipping their tea one of them asked me if I had been to school and we started talking.
I asked, "Why did you have to get out of the lorries?"
"Well, if a Heinie came over he'd see the trucks and might take a shot at us."
Heinie? That was a new word. Oh yes, Heinkel bomber. Enemy aircraft. I was learning the language, fast.
I asked a silly question. "You are from Canada?" But added quickly, "From what part?"
"Toronto, know where that is?"
I liked geography and replied,"Yes, in the middle. On one of the lakes."
His companion said, "I'm from Saskatoon. Know where that is?"
I was defeated.
Another soldier asked me whereabouts they were. What is the name of this place?
"Maplehurst," I said, "about five miles from Horsham."
It didn't mean much to him and he said, "Anywhere near London?"
"London is a long way away." I pointed in the general direction. "Thats where I'm from.
Been here since September. Evacuated."
"Say, were you bombed out?" He was most concerned.
"No. A bomb fell in our street but didn't do much damage."
Soon the sergeant came in and ordered the men to leave.
As they trooped out there was a chorus of "Thanks Antee."
I noticed that Auntie was having a conversation with the officer in her kitchen and that he was sipping tea from one of her best china cups.
It was getting dark. The lorries were driven to the back of the field and parked under some trees. A detail was digging a trench. A couple of tents were erected and from one we could hear and smell a meal being prepared.

Saturday. The trucks and most of the soldiers had gone before I was up but I went out to have a look at the chapel. A soldier stood casually on guard in the porch and called to me to come in out of the rain.
He said four soldiers were there, the rest had gone on exercise.
"Has Antee any more of that nice tea?" he asked.
I went and got him a cup.
We chatted. I told him I was a stamp collector and asked if he had any Canadian stamps.
He gave me an envelope and I noticed it was addressed to a Private Tucker.
He told me his Dads name and address was on the back and he asked if I would like to write to him. "Tell him you've met me and I'm well.Tell him about yourself, he would like to know."
Another soldier joined us. A great joker and I asked him for any stamps he may have.
He searched in his wallet and found a book of stamps, three 3cent stamps were inside. He wrote in the stamp book, words to this effect,
"This book was purchased in Montreal, on to Iceland, Glasgow and Maplehurst.
Private Neveu R., R R of Canada."
I told him that the Canadian Post Office had cheated him since it said on the cover
"Eight 3cent stamps, price 25 cents."

They were two of the nicest men.

So the soldiers came and went over the Saturday and Sunday.Always a cheerful word and I must have collected a hundred Canadian 3cent stamps.
The "White Horse" pub in Maplehurst and the "Black Horse" in Nuthurst saw a big improvement in business that Saturday.

Late on Sunday afternoon, still raining, the tents were dismantled. The field looked as if it had been ploughed.
The soldiers boarded their vehicles. We didn't want them to go. To shouts of "Bye Antee" they went.

I wrote to Mr Tucker in Toronto. His replies were always encouraging saying how brave Londoners were. What we have we'll hold.
It will all be over by Christmas.

Christmas 1941 and I received a Christmas card from Mr Tucker.
On the front a perplexed Santa Claus and the words
Santa took a look around
And shook his head in wonder
What will become of Christmas
With Gerry out to plunder?
Inside a cheerful Santa looking down at the top of the globe. Canada and the USA on the left, UK on the right and several ships loaded with planes,tanks,guns crossing from left to right. The words continued
His worried frown turned to a smile,
Those Gerries must be fools.
They'll always be a Christmas
While Britain gets the tools.

I kept that card for many years. Then I heard that the Army museum in Aldershot was opening a Canadian section. I took it there and the curator seemed most interested. I told him the full story and left the card with the museum.

In the course of time I lost Private Neveu's stamp book and indeed my whole collection.

Since retirement I have traced, mainly through the internet, the history of the Royal Regiment of Canada in Europe. Their battle honours are legion.

I looked for names. I found a Private H.G.Tucker, killed
19 August 1942, the day of the infamous Dieppe Raid. He is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial.
I found Private Ronald Neveu, killed 19 August 1942. He is at rest in the Canadian cemetery near Calais.

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