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War service was a pinnacle in woman's life Continued from pg. 1 air bases, as well as directing war ships in the Atlantic, who were on patrol searching for German U-boats. Being competent at her job, Bowman (later Burnett) was soon promoted to shift commander of her station and often told family and friends that her time in the service was a pinnacle time in her life. Among her war mementos, she held onto a telegram she received February 14, 1945, which showed how the closeknit group of wireless operators passed the time. It originated from Vallville, Ontario, and was addressed to Cpl. Anne Bowman, RCAF Signal Office, Moncton, N.B., arriving at 0301 hrs (3 a.m.) It read, "Dear Anne, You are the blond, so gay and sweet, That knocks us fellows off our feet, You tap out Morse and boss a shift, You give each downcast sole a lift, You're quite the gal- that's no line, Won't you be our Valentine?" Simply signed `Bob & Ev', Bowman never did know who the senders were. She often told anecdotes of her and other WDs hopping aboard a flight to "Keeping The Memory Alive" 3 Remembrance Day Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Anne Bowman (right) and a friend at the Moncton RCAF base. (Right) A photo of Anne at `Petite Cardiac River, near Moncton, N.B. taken by her brother John-- "the last day I ever saw him." John Bowman was killed in action June 22, 1944. Photos courtesy Burnett family Newfoundland, on a liquor run, to pick time, ready to attack Allied ships leaving up some alcohol for the rest of the mem- Canada, bound for England and Europe bers of her station, since alcohol was with troops and supplies. She experienced many milestones in hard to find in New Brunswick, but flowed quite freely in the British colony her time in the service-- both happy and sad. She experienced the jubilation of on `the Rock'. Interestingly, because of those nu- the war in Europe coming to an end firstmerous `liquor runs' to Newfoundland hand, as she sat beside the very wireless and back, Bowman was designated as operator who received the message that `having served in a theatre of war,' since the war in Europe was over (Victory in the aircraft she was flying in crossed Europe-- VE Day), May 8, 1945, when over the St. Lawrence River, the very Germany surrendered. But sadly, she had to endure sadness place where German U-boats were spotted on numerous occasions during that as her younger brother, Lt. John Bowman of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, was killed in action June 22, 1944, while attached to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. John was buried in the Canadian War Cemetery at Beny-sur-mer, in close proximity to Juno Beach, Normandy. Bowman remained in service as a WD until November 5, 1945, when she was demobbed and transferred to the RCAF Reserves. She would marvel at how small the world was during that time. While stationed in Moncton, she had repeatedly corresponded back and forth with another wireless operator in Halifax, named Al, or Alastair Burnett. Al was just a name of a person on the other end of the wire-- they had never met in person. And when she left the service in 1945, they lost touch with each other, as many in the service did. See IN, pg. 6 Italy Campaign Tour 2011 Hosted by Martin and Helen Boomsma Sept. 18 - Oct. 01/2011 You are invited to join us on our 9th "Keeping the Memory Alive" tour. These tours are especially for Canadian war veterans, their children and grandchildren and other parties interested in visiting the Canadian battlefields, cemeteries and memorials of WWII in Italy. The tour will start in Rome and visit the Cassino area, Ortona, Rimini and Venice. Martin & Helen Boomsma, 42 Byron Street, Georgetown - 905-877-5843 e-mail: mhboomsma@sympatico.com VERSTRAETE TRAVEL & CRUISES 14845 Yonge Street, Suite 300, Aurora, ON. L4G 6H8 Tel. 416-969-8100 Toll Free 1-800-565-9267 www.verstraetetravel.com Ont. Reg. 3367728 905-877-5104 www.chalmersfuels.ca SILVER CREEK Service Centre Where service has been our business for over 40 years Take Time To Remember! NELLIS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED 905-877-9042 A special time to remember our freedom and fortunes. We honour our veterans and our current forces. ACTON Grant, Glen & all our employees THANK YOU. ROAD BUILDING EARTH MOVING (519) 853-0960