VOL. II
OCTOBER, 1942
NO. 4
Published at the Hespeler, Ontario Plant of Dominion Woollens and Worsteds, Limited
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Cpl. Fred Day
A58085
A8 C.A.C. (A) T.C.
Wireless Wing, Camp Borden
Fred Day was born in Hespeler twenty-three years ago. He received his Public and High School education at Hespeler, where he resided until enlisting.
On leaving High School, Fred joined D. W. & W. Cloth Finishing Department staff in July, 1935. Four years later he became a cloth percher and after five months as cloth examiner in the Burling and Mending Department he was transferred to the Weave room floor staff, as a warp hanger. He made rapid progress on this work, due to this mechanical ability.
Fred was quite active in sports of all kinds during his school days, but later, apart from retaining an interest in them spent all his spare time in furthering his mechanical knowledge. He qualified as an electro-technician and had commence a further course in radio mechanics which he was unable to complete before leaving for active service.
Called for military training in June, 1941, Fred enlisted for active service two months later with the Armoured Division Signallers and was later transferred to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signallers. He is at present stationed at Camp Borden as a radio instrument mechanic, attached to the wireless wing.
I Shall Buy A Victory Bond
This war has gotten beyond me. I can’t understand it. I don’t see how it is going to be finished.
I am tired of reading the experts who do know all about it—and are always wrong.
I am sick of hearing that the Government are fools – that the generals are out of date – that the Tories are jealous – that the C.C.F. are just politicians – that the unions are grasping – that the employers are lying down—that there is no roast beef – that the cost of living is too high – that there are no silk stockings – that taxes are too heavy.
What of it? They may all be true but I am not suffering anything. I am warm. I am eating. And I have a job at more than $1.30 a day. I am not hanging on the barb wire at Dieppe like a limp dish rag with a machine gun slug through my wishbone. I am not lying in a gutter in Hong Kong with my hands tied behind my back, trying to cringe away from the dirty bayonet that a grinning Jap monkey is about to jab into my vitals. But I know some fellows who were. And I am not happy about it.
I wish I could do that to some Germans—and some Japs.
I wish someone would tell me just once what I CAN do. I don’t care who tells me or how. I don’t care if I am told politely or violently. I don’t care if it violates my rights or privileges. I don’t care if it’s clean and gentlemanly or bloody dirty. Maybe I’d sooner have it dirty.
I am going to stop reading the experts and listening to the whiners. They aren’t fighting. They are just bleating about their own confusion. Why talk about it?
I may not be able to do much but when I see it I’ll do it. I guess wars aren’t won by talk. They are won by a few million people doing something. The ones who hindered can be dealt with later.
For a start I am going to save, borrow and beg all the money I can find to put into Victory Bonds. What does money matter? I’ll get it back anyway.
And then I’m going to shut up and wait for the next job to do.
Betty Garside and Betty Roscoe of Winding Dept. checking in.
Bert Cooper putting a fine edge on a shear cylinder in the Finishing department
WHO’S A WELSHER?
The smug seat polisher who persuaded the Government to brand all bond buyers who sold their Victory Bonds as welshers is as far removed from the facts of life as was Marie Antoinette when she said, “Let them eat cake.” The ones who had cake probably thought that Marie was profoundly wise.
If you bought more bonds than you could afford (as you should have done) you did yourself and your own people a service. You came to bat with some money or some credit that some other fellow couldn’t get at the time. You kept at least one bond happy and contented until that fellow did find his money. He is grateful to you because you did him a favour. It was a favour that did not cost you more than a dollar or two so don’t get heroic about it. But a favour none the less.
You know, and so does every one else over the age of sixteen and with reasonable intelligence that once you have bought a bond you don’t go through the formalities of selling it just to go to the movies or to buy six months’ supply of groceries.
You give those bonds a home and don’t let anyone call you a welsher.
PERSONALITIES
Earl Constant, who reported for duty with the R.C.A.F. in Hamilton on Friday, Sept. 4, was presented with a Gladstone bag on behalf of the office staff before he left.
Kathleen “Mickey” Davis inspecting at a rough perch.
Soldier’s Family
Mrs. Arsene Gehiere and Elaine, Gary and Arsene.
Pte. Jimmy Crane at Dieppe
Mrs. James F. Crane has received a letter from her husband, Pte. Jimmy Crane, one paragraph of which she has kindly allowed D. W. & W. News to publish.
“We landed in a smoke screen and the next 8 or 9 hours was a ‘hell on earth’. We were well prepared for it and felt that our training had not been in vain. The hardest part of all was seeing the boys fall, especially those whom you knew, and not being able to do anything for them. I thank God that I came through safely except for a slight shrapnel wound in my arm.”
Letters from the Boys
This might come as a surprise to you as I have never worked in the Woollen Mill, but as I am a Hespeler boy, I would just like to write a few lines concerning the D. W. & W. paper which you send to your boys who are overseas. I never miss a copy of it and I enjoy it very much. It’s a wonderful paper, as it sure cheers the guys up when they read it. There are five Hespeler boys in th Regiment, Baker, Levitt, Spencer, Zvaniga and myself. We just gather around one of the beds and start talking about the old town, and the people mentioned in your paper. We have a real good chat, it’s like being back home.
So all I can say now is it’s a wonderful paper; keep up the good work
Hoping to read many more copies,
One of your readers,
A11167 Pte. Chas. P. King,
“A” Coy., Perth Regt. (Motors) C.A.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
The Editor:
I wish to thank all concerned for the cigarettes which I have just recently received. I do not think I need run through the usual routine of “shortage”, but they did come at a most opportune date. Thanks to all who made this and other shipments possible.
At this time I wish to thank the firm for the monthly paper. I have been receiving it monthly up to date and have them put away until some day, when I hope to be able to look back on them as many happy moments spent over in England.
Once again, thanks for everything.
Yours sincerely,
A9119 Pte. Fred Bloomfield,
1st Div. Petrol Coy., R.C.A.S.C.,
Canadian Amy Overseas.
The Editor:
Just a line to let you know that I received your parcel of 300 fags today and was very happy to get them as there are not many coming through.
I guess you have a heard by this time that I am getting married on October 24th, so it won’t be long before I am an old married man. At times you would never think it possible that we have been over here for almost three years, it is almost like home now.
Thanking you again for the fags.
Yours sincerely,
A28090 Gnr. Wm. Donahue,
40th Batty.,
11th Field Regt., R.C.A.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
VICTORY LOAN QUOTA $56,000
D. W. & W. Must Better Last Loan by at Least $12,000
Works Council were informed at their October meeting that industrial quotas just released by Victory Loan headquarters set objectives for all concerns approximately 25% higher than in last campaign. No difficulty is expected in raising this substantial sum if a larger number of employees participate. While D. W. & W. exceeded its objective in the last Victory Loan, only 44% of employees bought bonds. This proportion was the lowest reported among textile concerns in South Waterloo. Next lowest was 61% and the average participation about 77%
The new loan is intended to cover a twenty-five week period and all industrial quotas are set alike at a fixed portion of twenty-five weeks’ payroll less estimated sales of War Savings Certificates. Interest rate and instalment purchase arrangements are expected to be the same as before.
Works Council decided that some changes in procedure were required and that the advertising and publicity given to the last campaign were no longer necessary. The company having agreed to make available to Council a small fund for expenses, it was decided to put the whole amount into prizes to be drawn by bond buyers at the end of the campaign. Four prizes will be offered, of $100, $50, $25 and $25. Every $50 in value of bonds bought will entitle the buyer to one chance in the draw. Selection of canvassers and other details of organisation are left to the discretion of the company.
Christmas Savings Club Fund was reported to have $15,217.10 on deposit, with 350 contributors.
Rationing of tea and coffee now make it necessary to restrict sales of these beverages in the lunch room to meal hours only.
Mr. Johnston drew attention to the severe accident hazard involved in the increasingly large number of empty soft drink and milk bottles left lying in the departments and in the millyard. Broken glass is being found around machines, in trucks of yarn and in waste. It was suggested that only by demanding a deposit on bottles or by forbidding their removal from lunch room could this danger be avoided. Council was reluctant to recommend either alternative, which would deprive many employees of a welcome pick-up, until a month’s trial had been given to correcting the situation without restricting sales.
Air Compressor
Air compressor recently installed in boiler house to provide compressed air for extension of humidifying system.
PERSONALITIES
Elsie Highton, who reported for duty with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in London on Sept. 21st, was presented with a chenille housecoat and slippers to match by the members of the Woollen Spinning Dept.
On Thursday, Sept. 17th, when Audrey Arndt left the employ of the Company to enlist with the C. W. A. C., she was presented with a leather writing case, a Parker pen and pencil set and a leather billfold by the members of the Worsted Spinning Dept.
Edward East was presented with a pen and pencil set and a money belt by the members of the Dyehouse staff before leaving to report for duty with the R.C.A.F.
Enlistments for this month include Audrey Arndt, Elsie Highton, Helen Sault and Fred Coughlin with the Army and Edward East with the Air Force, also Karl Cusack, who was called for military training, has now enlisted with the Army.
On Friday, Oct. 2nd, the office staff presented an aeropack to Queenie Hasted, who left the employ of the company.
Bill Devine, Harold Gilkinson and Ronald Lindhorst have been called for military training.
Robert Oliver, Hand Knitting Yarn Dept. foreman, has now taken over the duties of manager of the Galt office of the Unemployment Insurance branch. He will also act as a selective service officer for this area.
Karl Cusack was presented with a signet ring by the members of the Top Mfg. Dept. before leaving to report for duty with the R.C.O.C. in London.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bloomfield have received word that their son, Pte. Fred Bloomfield, who is serving overseas with the R.C.A.S.C., has been awarded a good conduct stripe in recognition of 3 years’ service. He enlisted in September, 1939, and has been overseas for 2 years.
Bill Devine, who was called for military training, was presented with a set of military brushes and shaving kit on behalf of the Top Mfg. Dept.
Sgt. Albert E. Parr, R.C.A.F., an ex-employee of D. W. & W., has been officially reported as a prisoner of war in Germany. His brother, Sgt. Instructor Ken Parr, was seriously injured in a flying accident just one year ago.
Helen Sault, who reported for duty with the C.W.A.C. in London on Sept. 21st, was presented with a dressing down by the girls of the Drawing-In Dept.
The girls from the Cloth Perching Dept. honored Kathleen (Ball) Dyer, whose marriage took place on Sept. 24th, at a cup and saucer shower on Wednesday evening at the home of Louise Kirschel.
Kathleen (Ball) Dyer was presented with a Duncan-Phyfe table on behalf of the Burling and Mending Department in honour of her recent marriage.
MARRIED
Elsie Pulbrook to Norman DeLong. Reside in Hespeler.
Kathleen Ball to John Dyer. Reside in Hespeler.
Pte. Margaret Robson of Scotland to Gnr. Tommy Richardson, who is serving overseas with the R.C.A.
BORN
September 18th, twins (boy and girl) to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gadke.
Sept. 20th, a daughter, Diane Marie, to AC1. Alfred Scheffel and Mrs. Scheffel.
Letters from the Boys
I’ve wanted to write for a long time, but I have only got around to it now. I’ve been very busy and hope you won’t think this just an excuse. Of course I have been doing quite a bit of letter writing but mostly to friends and relatives and have had scarcely time to say I appreciate your paper very much.
I was very pleasantly surprised to get your most welcome carton of cigarettes. Thanks a million. It sure is nice to know that the folks you worked with are still thinking of you.
Sorry to hear my picture which I had taken at the mill didn’t turn out so well, of course I never did have a good picture taken.
Say hello to Jimmy Sewell and Frank Dugmore in the Yarn Shipping and give them my best (if they’re still there).
I see by your papers that the Mill has made a few changes in the lunch room and I guess all around for that matter. I’ll have to drop around and see the place when I get back from this war.
So long for this time, hoping to get more papers from you. Thanks a lot for the fags.
Yours
R118668 LAC. Farrow, K. W.
409 R.C.A.F. Squadron,
R.C. A. F. Overseas.
D. W. & W. ENLISTMENTS
Army……………………. 79
Air force ………….…… 51
Navy………..……………. 7
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Many thanks for the copy of D. W. & W. NEWS which I received today. I did not know that the old Firm was publishing a paper or I should have asked to have my name put on the mailing list long ago. Hope you can spare me a copy every month from now on.
Thanks, too, for the welcome shipments of cigarettes, one of which arrived last Monday. They really mean something over here as the local smokes are scarce, expensive and not up to our standard.
Shall not make this (my first “letter to the editor”) too long, but perhaps at a later date, may come again with some of my experiences, which may interest some other readers—in thirty months in England, one has had some odd ones.
Once again, thanks for the paper and the smokes. Best wishes to all.
Yours truly,
B.S.M. Giroux J.L.
1st Medium Regt., R.C.A.
Canadian Army Overseas.