VOL. III
OCTOBER 1943
NO. 4
Published at the Hespeler, Ontario Plant of Dominion Woollens and Worsteds, Limited
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Prob. Sub-Lieut. Percy T. Harvey
H.M.C.S. Cataraqui
Kingston, Ontario
Percy “Punch” Harvey was born in St. Georges, Newfoundland, on August 8, 1913. He came to Hespeler with his parents in 1919 and made it his home town from that time until his enlistment. He attended Hespeler Public School and Galt Collegiate Institute.
He graduated from school in 1932, and became a clerk in the General Office at D. W. & W. in February, 1934. He proved himself very adept at this work and made steady progress. He advanced to the position of Coast Estimator, and aside from a year spent in the Knit Goods Office, he continued at this work until he enlisted.
Punch took an interest in sports including tennis, lacrosse and hockey. His love of the water encouraged him to spend as much time as possible at Puslinch Lake. Each year with the coming of summer he moved to his cottage at the lake and spent all his leisure time boating and swimming. Punch was very fond of music, and to use his father’s words, was “not bad” on the piano.
Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a seafaring man for a number of years off the coast of Newfoundland, Punch joined the Navy on June 4, 1942. He was first stationed at London and later transferred to Halifax where he went to sea at intervals on a minesweeper. On June 1st, 1943, Punch was awarded the commission of probationary sub-lieutenant. At the present time he is stationed in Kingston, Ontario.
New Women’s Residence
Wartime Housing Comes to Rescue with Residence for 150 Girls
Following up our comments of last month on the housing shortage in Hespeler we can now report that the Government through the agency of its own company, Wartime Housing Limited, has appreciated the necessity for relieving the local situation and is proceeding to erect a residence for 150 girls. While D. W. & W. was responsible for bringing the situation to official attention it will have nothing to do with the erection or future management of the residence other than furnishing a large building lot and doing the necessary grading and drainage at its own expense.
Wartime Housing Limited will design and erect the building and operate the residence with its own staff. All D. W. & W. is required to do is to send along 150 customers. If you know any good prospects tell Fred Hutchings. He and his staff now have to make good in a big way.
The property now being prepared has a 300 foot frontage on Cedar Street extending from the parking lot to Maple Street and is about 200 feet deep. Bull dozer and power shovel are now pulling stumps, digging drains and leveling off the ground. Wartime Housing has called for tenders on construction and there is a possibility that the contractor will be on the job by the time we go to press. The residence should be complete by the end of the year.
Plans call for a two storey building of two wings joined by a central section at right angles. The wings will contain single and double bedrooms (mostly double) and the central section kitchen, dining room, lounge and recreation rooms. Those who have seen other Wartime Housing residences say they are tops in comfort and convenience.
Christening Government property is none of our business but if you think of an appropriate name let’s have it. We’re willing to ask Wartime Housing to adopt it.
The Haks — Runners Up
Left to right, back row: Elmer Goebel, Tubby Marriott, George Wolfe, Mervin Eaton, Ralph Stark, Wally Stark. From row: Wilbur Armstrong, Frank “Red” Wildfong, “Boots” Furness, Horace Winton, Jerry Schwantz, Charlie Brueckner. Mascot, Frank Carroll.
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
R89844 Corp. Robert Oliver
No. 31 Radio School, R.A.F.
Clinton, Ont.
Bert Oliver was born in Hespeler on September 23rd, 1922. He commenced work at D. W. & W. on July 20, 1938, and enlisted from the Mule Spinning Department on May 16th, 1941, with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is now a radio technician at No. 31 Radio School, Clinton.
R103319
LAC. Jack A. Crawford
R.C.A.F. Station, Tofino, B.C.
Jack Crawford was born in Kitchener on February 27, 1920. He commenced his employment with D. W. & W. on June 3rd, 1940, and enlisted from the Accounting Department on June 7th, 1941, with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is stationed at the R.C.A.F. Station in Tofino, B.C.
R89965 LAC. Ian Reid
128 Airfield H.Q.
R.C.A.F. Overseas.
Ian Reid was born in Glasgow Scotland, on September 19th, 1915. He became a member of the D. W. & W. staff in January, 1939, and enlisted from the Recombing Department on April 25, 1941, with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He has been overseas since April, 1943.
Hello
John Taylor and his grand-daughter, Jacqueline.
LETTERS FROM THE BOYS
Hello Hespeler, this is England calling. How is the work going at the mill? I haven’t heard much about it since I came over here and would like to hear from you. Could you please send me the mill paper? I’d appreciate it very much.
I miss the noise of the looms and the shuttles going back and forth rolling in the money. I work twice as hard now for $1.40 a day. But the Canadian khaki sure wears well. Tell the boys to keep it up and we’ll be back soon to make civilian cloth instead of khaki. I’d love to have my old job back on 13 to 18 loom.
I have met a lot of boys from town and they all look fine, but are hurrying to get this over, so they can return to the mill and their families again.
Maurice Bruce came in last week just after I did so we are together once more.
Please send the mill paper.
One of your faithful mill hands,
A105843 Pte. John Durnford,
“B” Coy., No. 3 C.I.R.U.
Canadian Army Overseas.
The Editor:
Well here I am at last folks, and before you ask me, my arm hasn’t been broken, but as you can plainly see I do not write many letters.
I am taking this opportunity to thank you for your paper which I have received, also the cigarets, for they really make you think of the good old gang back home. It is nice here at times, but I know of a better place just the same. I am not alone though, as Maurice Bruce, Cpl. Greaves and several boys are right here with me.
Say hello to the gang in the Finishing rooms for me.
Thanking you again, I remain
A61066 Pte. Robt. Caswell,
No. 3 C.I.R.U.
Canadian Army Overseas.
D. W. & W. ENLISTMENTS
Army……………………. 104
Air force ………….……. 74
Navy………..……………. 12
___________________________
190
PERSONALITIES
MARRIED
Pte. Elsie Highton to Pte. Leonard Nagle of the Provost Corps, London.
Margaret Robinson to Aircraftman William McKittrick. Reside in Thornbury.
Hazel House to AC1. Dolph Little, who is stationed at Halifax, N.S.
Jessie Scott to Hugo Hamp. Reside in Kitchener.
Beulah Falle to Rev. John Moran. Reside in Kingston.
Irene Bartley to Bob Nelson. Reside in Hespeler.
BORN
Sept. 7th, twins, Arthur and Arlene to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ziegler.
Sept. 13th, a son, Gordon Douglas, to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pannabecker.
Sept. 20th, a daughter, Anna Jean, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beesley.
Jessie (Scott) Hamp, whose marriage took place on Sept. 25th, was presented with a crystal salad bowl, when she was guest of honor at a gathering of the members of the Payroll Dept.
John Foss, who left on Sept. 15th to report for duty with the R.C.A.F., at Hamilton, was presented with a signet ring on behalf of the Top Mfg. Section.
Enlistments for this month include Shirley Harlock, Annie Stoddart, Jean Masterson and Kenneth Ferris with the Air Force, Jack Caswell with the Army, and John Wildman with the Navy.
Toppers Win Cup
In the first game Toppers were in the lead until the eighth inning when the Haks put on a drive and went ahead to win. The second game was close and hard fought. Toppers again took the lead and this time held it. In the next game both teams were out to break the tie. The Toppers showed their determination by going out and piling up a nine run lead in the early innings. In the fourth game Toppers again piled up an early lead and were coasting along when the Haks made a final effort to pull the game out of the fire and force a fifth game. Haks scored eight runs in the eighth inning before Toppers could put out the fire. Going into the ninth Toppers held a two run lead, adding two more to clinch the game and the series.
Christian Linder Dies
The death of Christian Linder occurred on Thursday morning, September 23rd. In his 81st year the late Mr. Linder had been ill for the past five months.
Mr. Linder was D. W. & W.’s oldest active employee and on January 22nd of this year completed 62 years’ continuous service with the Company. He was a member of the Drawing-In Department and worked until May 13th when ill health forced his retirement.
Mr. Linder was a man of kindly nature and deep religious belief. He gained the highest respect not only of those who worked with him but of the entire community.
Cooks Capture Hun Airman
Major Neil Baird who was in charge of the camp said that the men woke him in the early hours to tell him they had taken a prisoner. He went out and found the airman who had hurt only an ankle in the descent, sitting with a foot in a bucket of cold water—extremely timid and subdued.
The captured airman was wearing an Iron Cross. He told Neil he had an uncle in Canada.
Traffic Cops
School Patrol trained by Chief Harry Noble. Back row: Principal G.A. Smith (Public School), Norman Panabaker, Donald Leader, David Dougall, Ralph Scheffel, Roy Aitchison, Donald Mead, Sam Inglis, Frank Welsh, Doug. Ekins, Miss Helene Kelly (Separate School). Front row: Kenny Jaggs, Bill Schwantz, Michael Flynn, David Finch, Howard Munch, Louis Cameron.
Skater
Dot Ritchie (Time Study)
PERSONALITIES
On Thursday evening, September 16th, the members of the Woollen Spinning Dept. enjoyed a weiner roast at Idylwild. The presentation of a writing portfolio to Jean Masterson, who left to join the Air Force, was the highlight of the evening.
The Worsted Spinning Dept. lost two girls to the Air Force last month—Annie Stoddart and Shirley Harlock. Before leaving, both girls were presented with pen and pencil sets and writing portfolios, on behalf of the department.
The Dry Finishing Dept. held a party at the Queen’s Hotel in honor of Clarence Arndt and John Tunn who left to join the Air Force. Both boys were presented with bill folds.
Beulah (Falle) Moran, who was married on Sept. 25th, was presented with a Duncan-Phyfe coffee table and a hostess plate on behalf of the Burling & Mending Dept.
Before leaving to report for duty with the R.C.N.V.R. at Hamilton, John Wildman was presented with a money belt and a pen and pencil set at a dinner given in his honor by the members of the Yarn Shipping Dept.
On Sept. 24th when Kenneth Ferris left to enlist with the R.C.A.F., he was presented with a pen and pencil set and writing portfolio, by the members of the Woollen Carding Dept.
Charles Klager was a member of the graduating class at No. 19 S.F.T.S., Vulcan, Alberta, on Thursday, Sept. 16th. In addition to receiving his wings, he was commissioned as a pilot officer.
John Ellis, who on Saturday last left the employ of the Company to return to Renfrew Woollen Mills, was presented with a traveling bag by the overseers prior to his departure.
UNION NOTES
The appointment of Leonard Snyder as steward for the Top Manufacturing Section was approved. Len is replacing John Foss, who enlisted with the Air Force. He was runner up in the election of last April.
The treasurer has been authorized to invest the surplus funds of the W.W.U. in the forthcoming Victory Loan campaign.
The next Victory Loan drive opens on the eighteenth of this month. You are going to be asked to lend more than before. I know how most of you feel about these loans, but there are some who think that if we continue to oversubscribe these loans the war will last forever. Well, the United States have just completed their drive with an oversubscription of about two billion dollars, seventeen billion in all. Australia went over the top in their latest drive and they have a strong Labour government. New Zealand oversubscribed their last drive and they have just returned a Labour government. South Africa has always met its quota, and of course England has never failed on any loan or war stamp drive. So if you think that the failure of Canada to meet her obligations will affect the length of the war, think it over again. But don’t forget that the Government knows the amount of every payroll in the country and that they set the objective for every community and factory. They know the amount of money in circulation and are very much afraid of the bogey “inflation”. You know that if you want a thing bad enough you don’t care about the price and will even bid higher than the ceiling price. That’s the start of inflation. Now your Government is giving you the chance to invest your money in bonds at a good interest rate and if you don’t come across they will of course resort to higher taxes, so it’s up to YOU. Apart from the patriotic angle, this is worth thinking over. If you have any loose change around invest it in bonds and help Canada to keep up her end of the “lend lease” program.
The Safety Committee discussed the complaint made by many of you who are just about fed up with being splashed and shoved off the road by traffic along the north side of Queen Street from the mill to the four houses. You will likely be asked to sign a petition to the Town Council requesting a sidewalk along this part of the main drag.
How about coming out to a meeting sometime? We meet the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00 p.m. in the Town Hall.
President, W.W.U.
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Saturday afternoon again so I must take time out to express my appreciation for the D. W. & W. News and the cigarettes which I have received so very regularly for more than two years.
The paper is really something to look forward to receiving and several of my chums who have never been to Hespeler never miss reading it. As for the cigarettes, well there’s just no way of explaining how everyone over here appreciates them. For some time now I have been smoking “Wild Woodbines” (when I could get them) but this morning D. W. & W. came to the rescue once more with 300 “Sweets”. I’m smoking one now and it’s sure a pleasant change.
Well, the news from the Mediterranean does sound pretty good and rather promising, but sorry to say, I’m still in England. It’s hard to tell just when and where the next move will be, but I still have hopes and we are all looking forward to that final drive that will bring victorious peace and of course, bring us back to our old friends and old jobs.
Must close now, so my heartiest thanks to those responsible for the cigs and thank you again for those most welcomed copies of the news of the plant.
Yours sincerely,
B85416 Gnr. Bruce McLaughlin,
16th Fld. Batty., R.C.A., 12 Regt.
Canadian Army Overseas.