VOL. I
DECEMBER 1941
NO. 6
Published at the Hespeler, Ontario Plant of Dominion Woollens and Worsteds, Limited
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
L/Cpl. Horace M. Ekins
No. A99441 Det. No. 1
Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
Canadian Army Overseas
Horace Ekins was born in Hespeler 23 years ago, where he resided until enlisting. He attended Hespeler Public and Continuation Schools.
On leaving school Horace started working with D.W. and W. and for six months was a yarn winder in the cloth manufacturing division. Later he assisted with the work of preparing harness and setting up warps for the Drawing-in Department. After a few months on this work he was transferred to the Cloth Examining and Shipping Department where he later became cloth shipper.
Horace was an enthusiastic sportsman, and took an active part in local Tuxis Boys’ work. He was interested in music, and was a member of the school Glee Club.
He enlisted with the royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, London, Ontario, in June 1940 and sailed for England in September 1940, being one of a group of about twenty-four men, selected from the R.C.O.C. rants across Canada, to be sent as special reinforcements. He was promoted to the rank of L Cpl. on August 1st, 1941 and is now connected with the Accounting and Audit Inspection Office.
Replying to McLaughlin
As I sit here with my pen in the air
I think I shall write to the boys over
there.
A few words to Kenneth I think I
will try,
For his interesting letter is worth a
reply.
So to Kenneth McLaughlin, good
old Ken,
I hope that we shall hear from you
soon again.
As he writes us the news from
there, bit by bit,
Spiced in between with his own
natural wit;
As he mentions an Irishman who
wasn’t so tame,
You’d know t’was his letter without
seeing his name.
And we’d like to know when he
gets off on leave
Are the girls quite as distant as
he’d make us believe?
For when he enlisted and from this
town departed
A dozen at least were left broken-
hearted.
So send us some pictures of what’s
on your mind,
But please don’t enclose the one
you can’t find.
Tell your friends over there that we
only walk
And don’t run around with a big
tomahawk.
The old mill is so busy it runs in
high gear,
For we’re working on khaki up to
our ear.
So think of us as you ply your pills
and your salve
And we hope Hitler will be the next
patient you have.
So wishing you luck, I still remain
An old friend of yours, Clifford
Tremain.
Rush Job on Roof
Contractor’s crew rush rebuilding of roof over Worsted Spinning section with anxious eye on the weather
Soft Water for Woollens
The familiar label on woollen goods “Wash in lukewarm soft water” means what it says. One of the ancient mysteries of the woollen trade was the inability of manufacturers in some districts to produce soft handling fabrics. It is no longer a mystery to manufacturers but popular superstition still credits the water and climate of Yorkshire with mysterious properties without which fine woollens cannot be made. The prevalence of hard water in the manufacturing districts in Canada has in the past reinforced the superstitions with some reason.
Every ounce of the half million gallons per day used at D. W. & W. is processed to definite specifications made to fit the job it must do. Three brands of water are treated and piped to the jobs. Each has its own use and contributes to the soft handle, smooth lustre and clear colour of D. W. & W. fabrics. Years of experiment and research have gone into the complicated network of feeders, treating plants, storage tanks and automatic pumping equipment that delivers the ideal water to each job—all for the sake of a little difference in the handle and appearance of your suit length.
The illustration above shows one of the two softening plants. Automatic pumps draw partly treated water from a settling basin at the riverside and force it at carefully regulated pressure through a series of filters, some removing floating impurities and others dissolved chemical impurities. Each unit must be maintained in perfect mechanical and chemical condition as shown by careful hourly tests of the treated water. Chemical softening units must be cut out of production at least twice every twenty-four hours to be regenerated and washed clear of impurities.
Water is the life blood of a woollen mill. Even today when municipal water supply is abundant and relatively cheap woollen mills are still erected on the banks of rivers and brooks. Except in flood season the water of the Speed River that passes D. W. & W. without being drawn into the pumping system is hardly enough to dampen the bed of the stream.
Letters from the Boys
Calgary, Alta., Nov. 16th, 1941
The Editor:
I received my fifth copy of your most interesting paper. I want to thank you very much for sending it to me. I certainly appreciate it, especially when one is away from home.
Is Winston Witwam still there? I took him home one weekend and we got snowed in. I haven’t heard from him and was wondering if he had got stuck in another snow bank and forgot to shovel himself out. He certainly doesn’t like the snow. At least he didn’t that night and I did not blame him. I would like to ask more questions but had better close.
Thanking you once again for your paper, I remain,
L.A.C. H. J. GIBSON.
Wh-e-e-e-e-w
Anne Malloy (Twisting), Dorothy Reeves (Spinning) and Marie Mundy (Drawing) with Marie’s new car.
D. W. & W. Enlistments
Army ……………..58
Air Force ………..31
Navy ……………….2
1941 Works Council Plans Election At Final Meeting of This Year
Election for 1942 Council to be Held This Month
Subject to the approval of the 1942 council the Christmas Savings Fund will begin operation in January and the trustees will continue in office until the new council meets. Distribution of the present fund will be made on December 10th.
Council agreed to a proposal to hold merchandise in the sales room for employees no longer than two weeks. It was reported that unclaimed orders were accumulating and taking up valuable space.
Mr. Klager reported to council that the town authorities had taken immediate action on the request to open another through street to relieve rush hour congestion on Queen Street and that work was progressing. Council recommended that the Queen and Cedar streets’ corner at the mill entrance should be adequately lighted and expressed the opinion that traffic conditions would be greatly improved when the various steps now contemplated were completed.
It was reported to council that walls in new wash rooms had already been defaced although none of the facilities were ready for use. Council endorsed the Company’s intention to deal effectively with any cases of wilful property damage that could be traced to the persons responsible.
Letters from the Boys
Somewhere in England.
The Editor:
I have been receiving your paper and it is good to see some of the hands at work, because I don’t do any now. Just hoping that we will. The boys over here really appreciate what you are doing and I do want to thank you all for the smokes and thank the gang in the Card Room for theirs, so if you see them please thank them for me, will you?
It’s very quiet over here but we hope its gets livelier soon. Nig Inder and the boys are getting along very well and Lloyd Beer has a stripe. I will close now, and Merry Christmas.
Yours Sincerely,
E.B. DAVIS.
MARRIED
Marjorie Hill to Milton Craig. Will reside in Hespeler.
BORN
October 31st, a son, Eric Arnold, to Mr. and Mrs. Hans Bottger.
November 18th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Johnson.
Richard Oliver Loses Left Hand Serious Accident In Mule Spinning Dept.
Richard Oliver, floor boy in mule spinning department, was the victim of the most serious accident of the year when his left hand was severely mangled by the quadrant motion of a woollen mule on November 8th.
Oliver was one of a doffing team preparing to doff a woollen mule in the top floor spinning room when he tripped and fell while passing the quadrant motion of the mule. His outstretched left arm with most of his weight behind it thrust into the heavy quadrant gearing and was severely mangled.
First aid was given at once by Nurse Baker and Dr. R. F. Slater ordered Oliver’s removal to Galt Hospital where it was found necessary to amputate the hand.
The machine causing the accident was fitted with the usual safety devices. No record of a similar accident on this equipment is on file.
ACTIVE SERVICE ADDRESSES
“A” Company, Perth Regt., C.A.S.F.,
5th Canadian Armored Division,
Canadian Army Overseas.
Capt. N. A. Baird, Adjutant,
H.L.I. of C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
Lieut. Chas. Barrett,
Headquarters, 3rd Division,
Canadian Army Overseas.
R114044 AC2 B.C. Beckman,
No. 4 Service Flying Training School,
R.C.A.F., Saskatoon, Sask.
A37397 Pte. Alfred Berrington Jr.,
“B” Company, H.L.I. of C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
R84257 AC1 Gordon Connor, R.C.A.F.
1919 Fernwood Rd.,
Victoria B.C.
R122999 AC2 G.L. Dalgleish,
No. 1 Squadron, C Flight,
No.6 I.T.S.,
Church Street, Toronto, Ont.
A99441 L/Cpl. H. M. Ekins,
Det. No. 1 R.C.O.C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
R118668 AC2, Kenneth Farrow,
Technical Training School,
St. Thomas, Ontario.
R89805 LAC. R. H. Fuller,
No. 1 B & G School, R.C.A.F.,
Jarvis, Ontario.
R131005 AC2 W. D. Wilson,
M.P.O. 303, R.C.A.F.,
Trenton, Ontario.
No. 1 Company, V. G.C.,
Gov’t Bldgs., Exhibition Park,
Toronto, Ontario.
R114201 AC2 Wm. F. Lamb,
R.C.A.F., Security Guard,
Dartmouth, N.S.
A64777 Pte. Arnold Lawson,
55th Field Battery,
Wolseley Barracks,
London, Ontario.
A35325 Gnr. Alex McLaughlin,
16th Batty., 12 Fd. Reg., R.C.A.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
B85416 Dvr. Bruce McLaughlin,
R.C.A.S.C., Adv. T.C.,
Section 2S8B,
Camp Borden, Ontario.
B84070 L/Cpl. Harold Morris,
No. 1 Echelon,
1st Canadian Corps,
Troop Supply Column,
Canadian Army Overseas.
A35344 Bdr. George Oliver Jr.,
16th Field Batty.,
12 Fd. Reg., R.C.A.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
R89844 AC2 R.E. Oliver,
No. 31 Radio School, R.A.F.,
Clinton, Ontario.
A35354 Gnr. John O’Krafka,
43rd Battery, R.C.A.,
12th Field Regiment, C.A.S.F.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
R37433 Pte. Albert Parsons,
“A” Company. H.LI. of C.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
PERSONALITIES
Bert Picken, who reported for duty with the R.C.A.F. in Toronto, was presented with a parker pen and pencil set, a money belt and a set of military brushes on behalf of the office staff.
Milton Craig, who was married recently, was presented with a tri-light lamp and mirror on behalf of the Steam Plant employees.
John Wylie has been honorably discharged from the Army and has now returned to work in the Cheese Winding Department.
Those who have enlisted in the last month include Bert Picken and Kenneth Farrow, both with the Air Force. Also Fred Day, Russell Dahmer, Howard Greaves, Bernard King, Heinz Kroeker and Ed. Meiers, who were called for 4 months’ training, have now enlisted with the Army.
We proudly add to our list of men on active service the names of Tommy Davis and Robert Johnson. These boys, who were formerly employed here, joined the Royal Canadian Navy before the outbreak of war and up until now have not been included in D. W. & W. enlistments.
The Hand Knitting Yarn Department contributed $8 and the Warping and Drawing-in and Jack Spool Winding Departments $10 to the Red Cross Society in response to their appeal for blankets.
Humble Beginning of a Suit Length
Bill Clulow and Alex Kaufman feed matching into a wool opener
Ray Reynolds and Rose his Irish bride married somewhere in England, Dec.16th 1940.
We would enjoy hearing your thoughts on our Newsletter.
We appreciate comments from our men and women based in Canada and overseas. If you have anything to add, we encourage you to also leave a comment here. If you'd like to contact us privately, please write to our switchboard operator. Our Office will respond to your letter as time permits.
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University of Waterloo Library. Special Collections & Archives. Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection. Hespeler, Woolen Mills Union Voting [Published]. 54-6015_001
D. W. & W.
Just a word or two to thank you for your gift of remembrance at Christmas, and I want to thank you for it very much, it certainly is appreciated. Also the D. W. & W. paper which I receive every month. I just received the fifth copy of it and certainly enjoy reading it, as it keeps you in touch with the things that are happening and going on around town. It brings back memories of the days when I worked there myself.
R89950 L.A.C. John H. Reid,
444 Nepean St., Ottawa.
D. W. & W.:
May I take this opportunity to thank you for the most welcome Christmas parcel that I recently received and also for your monthly issue of the mill paper.
I can readily understand the appreciation of the boys, who are not so fortunate to be as near home as I am, upon receiving such a gift as well as the paper.
Thanking you again, I remain
Yours sincerely,
R122999 AC2 Dalgleish G. L.,
No. 1 Squadron, C. Flight,
No. 6 I.T.S.
Church St. Toronto