Battle Lines by J. L. Granatstein

Author:J. L. Granatstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HIS027160, book
ISBN: 9780887626180
Publisher: Thomas Allen Publishers
Published: 2010-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

August 1, 1938

One could not but feel how great an ideal of service men must carry in their breast, who devote their lives to the military career, especially one to be lived in the Spartan simplicity of early colonial days. . . .

August 19, 1938

At Camp Borden, Brigadier Elkins drove me over the fields in search of the infantry. We were unable to discover them but came across the mechanical transport and saw them go through part of their operations. Returning to headquarters, we passed the tanks manoeuvring and saw the cavalry returning. The different services were brought together for a review at the saluting base where I took the salute. Before this, however, I went over part of the airport with Air Vice Marshal Croil. The day was very warm and the driving over the ground, which was very rough, quite an exertion; also standing for the saluting at the base. I shall always remember a dog running in front of the horses at the head of the procession. The London band played just opposite the base. McCuaig, M.P., and his wife, and MacLean, M.P., and his wife, along with Jennie, Jean and Rosabel were with me at the saluting base. Later we were given tea in the Officers’ Mess. Met the Officers and some of their wives, and later had a special inspection of one of the new tanks recently arrived from England.

I confess the effect of the visit was on the whole depressing. To begin with, such buildings as there are, are very dilapidated and out of date; fire traps, primitive kind of sanitary arrangements. The ground is overgrown with poison ivy; except a muddy stream, there is no water for bathing, and there is little in the way of interest for the men at the Camp.

On arrival, I have been greeted by the guard of honour—French Canadian Regiment from Montreal. An exchange officer, a young lad from India, was among the number of Officers. It seemed to me the life was excessively hard for the young men, as it expressed only privation. Life itself, I should think, would be hardly endurable in the tanks. Men must have some great ideal of service or heroism in their breasts to engage in the work of the kind to enable them to go on.

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