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12- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 1,1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" "The Scugog Kids" team up with Conn Smythe World War II S by Kelly Lown Port Perry Star They were members of the 30th L.A.A. Battery (Light Anti-Aircraft) during the Second World War and would earn the distinct reputation as the greatest single group of athletes in the Canadian Army. They would also become better known as "The Sportsmen's Battery," Major Conn Smythe recruited top knotch athletes in forming the 30th Battery during World War Il. and were also often referred to as "Connie Smythe's Creampuffs;," by men in the other units, said Battery member and township resident Mike Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan, along with five other Scugog Township young men, Grant McDermott, Len Colbear, Fred Colbear, Ken Hillier and Jack Sangster served in the 30th Battery during World War II under the leadership of the legendary Major Conn Smythe. The "Scugog Kids" were attempts to go on active service were thwarted, he came up with the idea of forming a Battery of sportsmen. Major Smythe, a star amateur hockey player in his day, had served in an artillery unit in 1914-1918 comprised of some of Ontario's best young athletes. His long association with amateur and professional sports in Canada drew athletes from all over the country. In his autobiography entitled "Conn Smythe: If You Can't Beat 'Em in the Alley," said "I thought if I could go out and form my own battery, hustle for recruits, and get it organized, they'd have to let me take it overseas." Attracted by Major Smythe's fame as the managing director of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Team, talented athletes not in uniform began signing up and others began requesting transfers from other units. Many recruits were talented football, softball, lacrosse, golf and hockey stars. Golfing stars Clare Chinery and Jim Boechl, Toronto Argonaut Don (Shanty) MacKenzie, pitching sensations Gord Gill and Nossy Atanasoff, Murrary Ezeard of the Toronto Marlborough senior hockey club and members of .the Mimico Moutaineers Canadian Lacrosse Champions were all flocking to Major Smythe's camp. : Well known sports columnists Ted Reeves of the Toronto Telegram, and Ralph Allen of the Globe and Mail also enlisted and sent columns home relating the experiences of the 30th Battery. The 30th Battery would make a name for itself quickly with its athletic prowess. The battery contributed several key players to the regimental squad that won the Camp Petawawa hockey championships. In England the 30th all fairly close in age and at | one time were all in high school at the same time, | "We all knew each other | prior to service," Mr. § Sheridan said. The six Scugog residents [§ would become part of one of | the most famous batteries in the history of the country. "They were the greatest bunch of guys, the members of the 30th Battery," Mr. Sheridan recalled. - "I wasn't always in the 30th Battery and there wasn't anything wrong with fi other units. It was just that the 30th Battery was a great group," he added. The Battery, formed in September, 1941, was formed as part of the 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. Major Smythe was named the 30th's commanding officer. portsmen's Batte household names or gifted athletes, said Mr. Sheridan, as you only needed a dozen men to make up a team. "Everyone expected us to excel in hockey, but we didn't have many hockey players. It was really softball that they excelled in," he told the Star. "We also had some good lacrosse as far," Mr. Sheridan told | the Star. It was written that the only time the Major let his troops slack was in the spring of 1942 when the Major's other troops the Toronto Maple Leafs were making one of the most famous comebacks in hockey history. Major Smythe got a leave to return to players. Archie Dixon, for one 1s now in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame." It was that all but unbeatable softball team that would make the 30th famous with its record of 110 wins and only four defeats. The softball team was such a facination the men were kept on for a two-month stay to entertain the soldiers waiting to go home. Whether athletes or not, all the men of the 30th Battery | Toronto for the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. His team was down 1-0 after two periods and the Major gave the squad a pep talk. The team roared back to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 after being down three games to nothing. The win left the Major in such a good mood, he took it a little easier on were handpicked by Major Smythe. Mr. Sheridan, who was 21-years-old at the time, credits his acceptance into the fold to his brother, who was four years his junior and already a member of the Battery. While at the training centre in Petawawa, Mr. Sheridan said his brother wrote him a letter telling him "they were a good bunch of guys and he thought I would be interested, because I wasn't connected with any unit there." I put in a request to be traded and Major Smythe had to approve it. "He did (approve it), but I think maybe mostly because he knew my brother was there," Mr. Sheridan said. Major Smythe was known to be a tough disciplinarian with a fiery temper, but most cf the men and the Major developed an affection for one another. "Pretty well everyone respected him and liked him, although I'm sure there was the odd fellow who got into trouble and didn't. But usually this resulted in Major Smythe removing him or the party asking for a transfer." "He would often say if I spot any bad apples I'm going to get rid of them, because it only takes one bad apple to ruin the barrell," Mr. Sheridan Port said. | Despite the words in | this message, Mr. Major Smythe, was 45 years of age and a decorated veteran at .the time of the war in 1939, but he still wanted to get in on the action. He took officer retraining courses and was given command of a non-permanent training corps based at the University of Toronto. Constantly frustrated as his Back row from left, produced winning hockey and soccer teams. Its softball squad won the Canadian Army Championships in 1943 and the Army Basketball Championship in 1944 in Holland. gunners Len Colbear, McDermott and Fred Colbear. Front left, Ken Hillier, Mike Sheridan and Jack Sangster. Sheridan says, "regardless of what the Major said we did not have many of what he called bad apples. " "He was a tough taskmaster, but he was always fair. If he thought you were right he would go to no end to help you, but if he thought you were wrong he would go the other way just Grant Perry Sheridan, was one of the "Scugog during drills the Kids" in the 30th Battery. resident Mike the troops following day. Despite his sometimes tough exterior the Major was always looking out for the best: interests of his troops. When he was injured in 1944 in a bombing attack and was sent home temporarily he sent letters to the troops and visited and reassured his troop's families. Years later he still kept in touch, meeting annually with the entire battery for a reunion. The 30th Battery was a rare breed during the time of the war and is still a rare group to this day, as every year for the past 48 years on the Friday before November 11, the men of the 30th Battery meet for dinner and to reminisce about their time together. "I don't think there's any other unit, regardless of the servicé, whether it be air force, navy or army that can boast a memorial dinner every year since the war ended." Mr. Sheridan, now 72-years-old, has attended most of the annual reunions, when time and location permitted and he did serve as president of the Veteran's Association in 1960. . Last year's reunion saw 76 of the more than 300 battery members turn out for the memorial banquet in Toronto. It was the largest contingent the annual affair has seen in 25 years. Mr. Sheridan says he enjoys the dinners, although what was once a small honor roll continues to grow each year. That honor roll includes Ken Hillier and Fred Colbear of Scugog Township. Mr. Sheridan, along with Mr. McDermott still live in the township while the other "Scugog Kids" Len Colbear and Jack Sangster live in Toronto and Campbellford respectively. Major Smythe attended these meetings annually, up until his death in 1980, to be with "his boys". Major Conn Smythe had remained an important part of these young men's hives long after the war ended. He was always available to them for advice, loans and jobs. Several of the men were given jobs at Maple Leaf (Gardens, and some with his other business interests. | | | I DA AAO SSRI os PIPES IH ar