VOL. III
JULY, 1943
NO. 1
Published at the Hespeler, Ontario Plant of Dominion Woollens and Worsteds, Limited
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
A.D. & M.S.
Woodstock, Ontario.
Everett Ziegler was born in Hespeler on March 15th, 1909, and made it his home town until the time of his enlistment. He attended the Hespeler Public School.
On leaving school Everett worked for short time at the Hespeler Furniture Company, but having a preference for the textile business, he started with D. W. & W. in February, 1932. His first experience was as a machine operator in the Worsted Drawing department, and later in the Worsted Spinning department. After spending approximately a year in this work, he was transferred to the Knit Goods department where he was a presser. He spent two years in various other departments before returning to the Worsted Twisting where he remained until his enlistment.
Everett took an interest in all sports, but baseball was his favourite. He was a member of the Hespeler team for a number of years. Another special hobby of his was hunting and there was nothing he enjoyed more than roaming the fields and woods with his dog and gun.
On June 5th, 1940, he enlisted with the 16/43 Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery at Guelph, where he remained for a short time. He also received training at Petawawa, and Sussex, N.B. At the present time he is stationed in Woodstock where he is an instructor at the Driving and Maintenance School.
INDUSTRIAL SOFTBALL LEAGUE
D. W. & W. Furnishes Two of Five Teams in League
Hespeler’s first season of industrial softball is well under way with five teams in the league. Teams include two entries from D. W. & W., the Weavers and the Toppers; the Merchants, sponsored by the retailers of the town and having the services of unattached players; the S. & J. Combines, employees of Stamped and Enamelled Ware and A.B. Jardine & Co.; and the Haks, recruited from Hespeler Wood Specialty, Artex Woollens and the W.A. Kribs Co. Games are played twice a week on the schedule that lasts until August 25th, and is followed by playdowns for the championship.
The teams have now completed one round of the schedule. The Haks and Toppers have played one game in the second round. One of the two most exciting games so far was Toppers and Weavers. The game was fairly even until Davidson left the box for the Weavers. Toppers gained a big lead, but in the last of the ninth the Weavers came from behind to almost tie the score.
Weavers expect to win the next one. Haks and Toppers in their first encounter played a good game until Johnston of Haks weakened, then Toppers went ahead with Erb pitching a good game. In their next game Haks won after a game that saw both teams taking the lead at different times. Feeling ran very high in this game and it looked as if it might get out of control at one time. Their next game should be a standout with both teams determined not to given an inch.
Merchants have been playing good ball with Reg Prior throwing them as well as ever. The Combines have been unfortunate in the fact they cannot line up a pitcher. They lost one hurler before the season started and have lost another to the Air Force. However, they are still in there trying.
The Rev. Mr. Weir, the new Presbyterian minister has taken over the presidency of the league. Other officers of the league are: Vice-president, Chris From; secretary, Fred Gilstorf; treasurer, Horace Winton; directors, Ernest Midgley, H. Clare and Wm. Parr.
The Toppers
One of D.W. & W. teams in the Industrial League. Left to right: back row – John O Halloran, Ernie Lee, Gilbert Povey, Vernon Erb, Ronald Masterson, Elmer Trommer, Douglas Barclay; front row – Fred Beesley, Clarence Arndt, Carl Krueger, Fraser Nightingale, Fred Stahlbaum, Johnny Wildman, Emerson Leslie; mascot, Buck Hillis Jr.
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Sgt. Reginald (Ted) Fuller
R89804
No. 9 S.F.T.S.
Centralia, Ont.
Ted Fuller was born in Picton, Nova Scotia on August 2nd, 1918. He became a member of the D. W. & W. staff in October, 1935 and enlisted from the Worsted Spinning department on March 29th, 1941, with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is now stationed at No. 9 S.F.T.S., Centralia, Ont.
R131005 LAC. Donald Wilson
R.A.F. Air Transport Command,
Dorval, Quebec.
Donald Wilson was born in Hespeler on April 5th, 1920. He became a member of the D. W. & W. staff in August, 1938, and enlisted from the Cloth Examining and Shipping department on September 2nd, 1941. He is stationed with the Communications Department of the R.A.F. Air Transport Command at Dorval, Quebec.
R75912 Sgt. Ross Hartrick
No. 5 S.F.T.S.—R.C.A.F.
Brantford, Ontario.
Ross Hartrick was born in Hespeler on March 15th, 1921. He became a member of the D. W. & W. staff in September, 1935 and enlisted from the Filling Winding Department on November 26th, 1940, with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is stationed at No. 5 Service Flying Training School at Brantford, in the Control Tower.
LETTERS FROM THE BOYS
For the past eighteen months I have been receiving regularly a copy of the D. W. & W. News, for which I take this opportunity of thanking you very much.
If this paper is not printed for the purpose of keeping in touch with Hespeler boys who are serving in His Majesty’s forces I wish to retract every statement which I have written below. But if it is printed for the boys and girls away from home, I hope you will not take any offence at the suggestions I have submitted.
I would like to convey to you my suggestions for improvement of your paper.
First. No more baby pictures. In your May issue you printed a photograph of a soldier’s son. There is only one person that will be interested in that picture and that is the father himself and not any of the boys overseas or in camps in Canada.
The snapshots of machinery are fine but should not appear too often. I would suggest pictures of changes around town. Perhaps the new theatre, a picture of the inside and outside of it would be appreciated, or maybe a picture of the new town council would prove interesting.
Your story on the front page of the May issue “You Can Save a Life” which told how pedestrians and motorists should be more careful at the mill crossing, I personally don’t think that anyone that has been away from home three and one half years would appreciate a story of that nature.
The suggestions I have made are entirely my own personal opinion and I sincerely hope that no offence is taken, as I believe that a little constructive criticism is sometimes very helpful.
Yours truly,
R89508 Sgt. R.H. Fuller,
No. 1 B. & G. School, R.C.A.F.
Jarvis, Ont.
(Sure it’s your paper. We must admit, though, that we’re amateurs and our ideas run dry every once in a while. Sometimes we pinch your space to try and put over something for the folks at home and we apologize for it. Better luck next time. – Editor.)
Wading Pool
D. W. & W. has arranged to have a power shovel, now digging drains, beside the parking lot, transferred to Forbes Park, before it leaves town, to excavate a wading pool for the children of Hespeler. Neither the Parks Board nor the Board of Works had provision in their budgets to cover the expense so the Company came to the rescue.
LETTERS FROM THE BOYS
I have received several copies from friends of your D. W. & W. News and really find it an interesting paper. May I be so bold as to ask if my name could be entered on your mailing list. Since I was at one time in your employ, naturally I find your news very interesting.
At present I am firing a boiler at our new Naval base near Digby, Nova Scotia.
It has been seven months since I last saw the fair town of Hespeler and I must say it’s cheerful to get news from the home town.
Hoping that my name maybe entered on your mailing list, I remain
Harry A. Munn,
V-43736, Stoker 1/c,
Naval Training Est,
Deep Brook, N.S.
The Editor:
Again I am writing you to thank you for the paper and the cigarettes which arrive, thanks to the Navy, quite regularly. In my three years’ service over here I have never met a man who is remembered more than those of us that come from the mill. It is impossible to show the appreciation that I know each and every one of us feel for such good friends as you folks back home.
In the past three years there have been so many changes that some of us are going to need a guide to show us around the “old home town.” It is so nice to receive the D. W. & W. News as it helps to keep us posted on just what is going on.
Once again may I say thanks a lot for what you are doing for us who are in the services.
Sincerely yours,
B84070 Sgt. Harold Morris,
41 Cdn. Gen. Tpt. Coy.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
ACTIVE SERVICE ADDRESSES
2 Cdn. Inf. Bde. Coy.,
R.C.A.S.C.
Canadian Army Overseas.
A105841 Pte. Maurice Bruce,
No. 1 Coy., No. 3 Pl.,
Camp Ipperwash,
Forest, Ont.
A17013 Pte. Kenneth Mclaughlin,
R.C.M.C.,
5th Can. Fld. Amb.,
Canadian Army Overseas.
A105806 Pte. Wm. Cox,
C.S.T.C.
M.P.O. 312,
Kingston, Ont.
A-58085 S/Sgt. Fred Day,
A8 C.A.A. (A) T.C.
Wireless Wing,
Camp Borden, Ont.
A37994 Pte. Bruce Ellis,
E. Company,
3rd Cdn. Inf. Reinf. Unit,
Canadian Army Overseas.
W306925 L.A.W. Jean Finch,
No. 3 F.I.S.
Arnprior, Ont.
A56867 L/Cpl. Greaves H.,
A. Wing Provost,
3rd Cdn. Inf. Reinf. Unit,
Canadian Army Overseas.
A61123 Pte. Jack Greig,
No. 4 Coy., No. 4 P.L.T.
A.11, C.I.T.C.
Camp Borden, Ont.
PERSONALITIES
On June 25th Rosalie (Highton) McIntosh was presented with a bedroom chair and a pair of pictures on behalf of the Burling and Mending Department in honour of her recent marriage.
Florence (Hartrick) Lamson was presented with a bedroom chair and lamps by the Burling & Mending Department on June 26th, when she left to be married.
Enlistments for this month include Bernice Hyatt with the Army, Verne Kribs and Tommy Foss with the Air Force, and Jack Greig who was called for military training has now enlisted with the Army.
Kathleen (Bolton) Gowing was presented with an end table and book ends by the night shift of the Worsted Spinning and Twisting Dept. in honour of her recent marriage.
Bernice Hyatt who enlisted with the C.W.A.C. and is now stationed in Kitchener was presented with a pen and pencil set by the night shift of the Worsted Spinning & Twisting Dept. before leaving the employ of the Company.
Robert Hughes-Games was a member of the graduating class at No. 1 Air Observer School, Malton, on Friday, June 25th. In addition to receiving his wings he was commissioned as a pilot officer.
D. W. & W. News has reported 38 marriages and 25 births in the last twelve months.
MARRIED
Jean Hope, R.N, of Stratford, to Kenneth P. Parr. Reside in Hespeler.
L.A.W. Lillian Mary Creaser of York, England, to P.O. Douglas E. Midgley, who is serving overseas with the R.C.A.F.
Rosalie Highton to L/Bdr. Leslie McIntosh who is stationed at Woodstock.
Florence Hartrick to Pte. Verne Lamson, who is stationed at Brantford.
Kathleen Bolton to Albert Gowing. Reside in Hespeler.
Amanda Huehn to Private Rothwell Blake, who is stationed at Sydney, N.S.
BORN
June 22nd, a daughter, Loreta, to Mr. and Mrs. J. Neil Watkins.
June 27th, a daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Hart.
D. W. & W. ENLISTMENTS
Army……………………. 100
Air force ………….…… 66
Navy………..……………. 9
__________________________
175
Hillside Lodge
D. W. & W. has leased Hillside Lodge on Guelph Avenue for a residence for girl night workers. Together with Nelson House and Gordon Hall, 56 girls can now be accommodated in Company residences.
UNION NOTES
The regular monthly meeting of the W.W.U. was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday, July 7th, at 7.30 p.m.
Among the items of business discussed and approved was the setting up of joint production committees throughout the various departments of the mill. This looks like a good thing to us. It will give the workers a chance to have their say, and also give them the opportunity of understanding the why and the wherefore of some of the practices carried out by the different departments. We understand that from now on they will be expected to decide on a lot of the problems that crop up in production and that the recommendations of these committees will certainly be carried out.
Another matter discussed was the new set-up of the Safety Committee. Now you and your stewards realize that this is a very important thing in a plant of this size. When a person is hurt he suffers in two ways – physical pain and loss of pay. If he has shown that the accident was through no fault of his own actions, then let’s find the person responsible. On the other hand if a worker is found to be careless and indifferent, or if the Company is not safeguarding the job as it should, let’s get it fixed. Bear this in mind – if you are found to be careless in your work to the extent of endangering your fellow workers, expect no sympathy from us. If the Company is found to be careless in the safety practice set up by the Industrial Accident Prevention Associations, we are prepared to make an issue of it. Won’t you help?
Housekeeping. Some departments are guilty of poor housekeeping. Milk bottles and pop bottles all over the place. Did you ever stop and think how little effort it takes to return an empty bottle? If the lunch room were to demand a deposit on every bottle, you would, no doubt, put up a kick. Do you know that there are 200 to 300 bottles broken in a week in the plant? So far we have been rather fortunate in that no accidents have occurred as a result of these broken bottles, but it is possible. Think it over, all you are asked to do is place your empty bottle in a receptacle provided in each department for this purpose. Please do your part.
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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Our community invites you to share this with your community
It has been quite some time since I last wrote you and as I just received one of your papers I decided to let you know how things are here.
As you probably know I am overseas now. Things here are not as bad as I expected. The country here is quite nice and it is sure good to see green grass and trees after being out in our last camp in Saskatchewan which was very sandy.
Since I came over I have already met two fellows from Hespeler and had a very cheery talk with both.
I am looking forward to receiving your paper each month as it contains some addresses which will come in very handy, as well as the news from home and the mill. In my last paper I read about the Union which has been started in the shop and it sounds pretty good.
I guess that is enough chatter for now. So long and keep the wheels turning. Good luck to everyone and I hope to be with you soon.
A61802 Tpr. Ronald Lindhorst
“C” Sqdn. 17th Duke of Yorks
Royal Canadian Hussars,
7th Rcce. Unit,
Canadian Army Overseas.