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Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 25,1995 -- 13 a by William Osaduke I was a D Day survivor on May 8,1945 VE day. I was with the Stormont Dundas Glengarry Highlanders on staff with the Regimental Aid Post, 3rd Canadian Division. We landed about 10 AM on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944. We were soon attending to casualties and I recall the doctor saying to us "this is the real thing." From then on over the next 11 months we fought many battles, and always there were casualties. I saw all kinds of terrible wounds, transfusions, amputations and so on. In all this time, by the end of the war our Regiment suffered about 1500 casualties and 287 dead. I myself suffered no personal injuries. But I had several close calls. I guess I was in the right place at the right time. The Second World War ended on our front on May 5, 1945. The night before I had heard on BBC news the war was to end at 8:00 Scottish port town lit up on May 8, 1945 by Sadie Hobbs Where was | on May 8, 19457 1 was in my birthplace, the port town of Greenock, Scotland. This is a town where naval ships were a common sight during the war, and we watched them come in and anchor until a certain number had gathered. The next day, they would all be gone, having left in a convoy under the quiet cover of darkness. For most of my childhood, up to 1945, when the natural light faded, the street lights did not automatically switch on. All our houses had to be black with no light showing from the windows, which. made everything incredibly dark. As a consequence, nobody went out after sunset if they didn't absolutely have to. The nights were very quiet. We got used to the quietness and " were very thankful for it, especially after going through those nights of bombing. When we heard that victory in Europe had been declared, my mother, sister and myself decided to go downtown to see what was going on. * What a sight! The ships in the harbour were all lit up, decorated, and their sirens were blaring. The land defense searchlights were criss-crossing the sky, but there were no [J 3 Health Care Service LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1978 a Secombe enemy planes in sight that night. The street lights were on and everything looked so different. There were sailors and the townspeople dancing and singing in the streets. What a noise! Everybody looked so very happy and I wondered if 1 would have to go to school the next morning, or if there would be a holiday.' But our school was open next day, just as it had been after the nights of bombing. » 1 will always remember that night when the war ended for the sight of the lights and the sounds of so much happiness. a ran into the other room to tell the others that the war was ending in the mofhing. They were playing cards and I had to say it twice before they realized what I had just said. All of a sudden we all realized that finally we would be going home. "Next day, all was quiet and we spend a lat of the time just talking abaut what we would do when we got home. On May 6, 1945, we entered the German city of Emden. As we drove in the German military troops and civilians were) walking around, but ignoring us. It-was like something you might see in a movie. We occupied the large naval barracks after disarming the naval personnel on the ships and on the land. In one case, our colonel had to supply a ship captain a revolver who threatened to kill anyone who would not surrender. Irecall in a few days it was VE Day May 8, 1945. We took congratulations from Brigadjg Cunningham (Rocky) for d accomplishments. On May 16, we returned to Holland the city of Helversum. I stayed with a Dutch family in their home. They were wonderful people. Because I had some soap, TUESDAY is ALWAYS SENIORS' DAY Save 10% on All Regularly PricediMerchandise. BR@CK'S 168 QUEEN STREET, PORT PERRY Service, Quality or Style since 1881 985-2521 Dr. Kevin Dunkerley Dr. Lionel McTague Dr. Robert Boyko, Orthodontist ® Nancy Baldan, Periodontist Complete Family Dental Care ® Dentistry for Adults & Children W INSURANCE ASSIGNMENT A CCEPTER (ws collect from insurance companies) & 1 PAYMENT PLANS ARRANGED W SENIOR CITIZENS' DISCOUI #8 EVENING APPOINTMENTS BNEW PATIENTS WELCOME 985-8459 4 1462 PAXTON ST. $=) Gor from Port Perry "i _ Community Hospital) II II IIIIIIIXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIXIXX SPRING SPECIALS Army medic recalls end of World War 2 +I was able to get some laundry done, for myself, the doctor and the Dutch family. There was a shortage of food. But I was able to get extra helpings for the family and they were very grateful. A few weeks later they invited me to a dinner of eel. I never let on that I had never eaten eel in my life. It reminded me of snake. As we had to wait ourturn to go home we were taken back to visit all the cemeteries of the Canadian' war. dead, and in the places we had seen action over the last 11 months, all the way back to the beaches at Normandy. We stopped at Vimy to see the Memorial and spend a few days in Paris. That November, I left Holland and was able to visit friends. in Birmingham) Eng. I happened to be in py on November 11 to witness the remembrance ceremonies at the Cenotaph. ~ It was Jan. 1 1946 when | landed back in Canada, and Do you earn any of your income from a foreign country? when I stepped off that ship in Halifax, my first reaction 'was to kiss the ground, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. A day or two later, I arrived in Toronto and was greeted by my wife Teresa and son who was going on five years old. It really was unbelievable that I had survived. I would like to say something that happened later on at a Regimental reunion. I was medical personnel, a non- combatant, and never so much as fired a shot in anger. One of my colleagues gave me this answer: "Don't you ever say you never did anything. We all were glad you were there. We could not do what you did." To this day, I still get choked up when I think of it. I was also glad I was there. Finally, I would like to say to the Manchester Red Cross woman and Jean Holtby. "Thanks a million for your parcels and letters." forget. I will never Find out about the income tax consequences from You can trust H&R Block. 174 Perry St., Port Penry 985-9803 Professional Dinner Theatre * "STABLES AT For Tickets Phone (905) 985-1598 x Foard Lroductions * TE ee a a aa As Member ONTARIO HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' ASSOCIATIONS BR OSHAWA Toll Free 1-800-461-6756 | . O OX) -med (lindsay) td. 462 Paxton Street, Port Perry 985-3115 90 McLaughlin Rd, Lindsay 324-1790 XX XXXXXXXXXIXXXXXXXIXITIXIIXIIXXIXIIIXIXIIILINX be ® M +B a pd Wain Sree! Messenger TF 24 ® Warbler Walker inc. 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