WILLIAM HUTCHINSON ROBERTSON
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Birthplace: Enlisted: Date: Place: Tour: Rank: Discharge: |
Windsor, Ontario The Royal Canadian Air Force March 30, 1940 Windsor, Ontario UK - March 12, 1941 408 Squadron Group 6 Bomber Command Sergeant October 23, 1945 |
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Ruby and William Roberston - July 28, 1945
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WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON
Submitted by Ruby Robertson |
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The Southern Ontario Military Muster would like to thank Ruby Robertson for sharing her story which was originally given as a speech on November 8, 2007.
LIFE OF A WAR BRIDE
When speaking with Dianne recently, she said “ I didn’t know ‘such and such’” about war years. No. How could she, when returning servicemen needed to shut that part of their lives out of their minds, and our tight lipped media. We had to endure - no news escaping anywhere. She referred to my comments as History, and there is so much more could be told.
It was almost 70 years ago, when World War Two was imminent. I was still in Boarding school, hearing depressing newscasts ... Like Prime Minister Chamberlain meets with Roosevelt, and Germany attacks Poland. Britain went to their aid, and declared war on Germany.
I remember the day we each trooped into the study to be fitted for a gas mask - a frightening experience. These, in a 5 x 6 x 4 box, fitted into a canvas bag, became part of our clothing in the ensuing months, for we carried them constantly.
On September 3, 1939 at 11:00 a.m. war was declared. I was in church with my gas mask beside me, someone had brought in a message to the vicar, and he gave the announcement we were all dreading. As weeks and months passed on, we became accustomed to the realities of wartime living. Mostly unpleasant and inconvenient, but we made life the best we could.
We were prepared for gas attacks which never happened, but had so much trauma in the country, both to humans and to property ... Children were evacuated from coastal cities to safer areas, breaking up families, and changes in schooling, etc. We had three little boys from the Tyneside area. I remember how Mother cried as much as they cried to go home. Once air raids started and shelters built, most all went home. Canada housed many British children. Imagine crossing the Atlantic, so dangerous with U Boats, submarines, torpedoes, etc. Many ships were sunk.
The loss of lives, sadness and even hunger were unavoidable. Rationing of food, gasoline, oil, clothing etc. was soon put into effect with coupons. We learned quickly, “Make do, and Mend!”
Many items were made UTILITY quality and had a special stamp. Anything considered luxurious were soon unobtainable. Factories turned out war items - tanks, trucks, guns, ammunition. Our country lost all wrought iron railings - cut off, to make bombs, shrapnel, everything made of metal. We moved into Double Daylight Saving Time to have fewer hours of darkness and less time for the enemy to take advantage for bombing missions.
My home area of North Yorkshire became little Canada with Canadian Airforce personnel (All volunteers, not conscripted) stationed on the quickly built aerodromes, made for 4 engined aircraft. Our farm being on the flight path, we would watch those heavy, noisy aircraft leave on missions to bomb strategic points in Germany, and pray that they would all return safely. Which they didn’t, of course. I saw one spiraling down a few miles away, left my Fordson tractor in midfield, and ran home to tell my parents. ... Crazy. What could they do? We had Canadian, Polish, Welsh and New Zealand servicemen stay at the farm, to help them overcome nervous breakdowns. Often, one would come wandering down the fields to ride with me, as I ploughed pasture land, in order to grow more food.
My father was a Sergeant in the Home Guard, spending night on watch for dropped incendiary bombs and keeping strict watch on light escaping blacked out windows or in farm buildings. Home Guard watched out for the community.
Group 6 Bomber Command had 12 aerodromes, manned by R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. In January 1943 Halifax and Lancaster bombers with Canadian servicemen arrived. They were welcomed into the community, hence the fact so many married and took wives and children home to Canada. This is where I fit in !!! One of 44,000 plus, actually we were told 64,446 wives and children, between 1942 - 1948. 93% British.
I was born on a farm in a rural area of Yorkshire, England, known as Hutton Bonville, where during World War 2 I worked as a Land Army Girl. It was at a local village dance where I first met Bill. I was 19 years old when this dashing young man with a Canadian crest on his shoulder, and who asked me to dance a Tango, convinced me I’d be happy living in his home country, Canada.
It took two years of friendship, before I decided I wanted to spend my life with him. We would marry before he was repatriated, and take advantage of the Canadian Government scheme to transfer wives. July 28, 1945 was the big day. We honeymooned in Scotland, spending time with his relatives, and a cruise on Loch Lomond. The morning I left the local train station, 20 friends were there. They seemed to think they would never see me again. We returned regularly until my parents passed on.
I sailed from Southampton on April 24, 1946 with mixed feelings, but longing to see my husband. It had been 34 weeks since he left.The voyage on the R.M.S. Aquitania was quite pleasant, except for one day when we had rough seas. They had yellow ropes fastened everywhere to hold on to, to get to different decks. No sitting on deck that day, and have a steward come along and tapping my shoulder and saying “Wakey, Wakey, Tea and Cakey”. A post card signed by the ship’s commander was given to each of us, stated “The Ship’s Company of the Aquitania send you best wishes for happiness and good fortune in your life in the Great Dominion, the country of your adoption”. It is my favourite possession of that voyage, as my different stewards autographed it. We slghted land April 30th at 7:30 p.m. and docked in Halifax at 8:10 p.m. I didn’t disembark until 2:30 p.m. the next day. I had a special treat, too, by being allowed off the ship for a few hours, as requested by a former friend - a bride who landed in Halifax, earlier - My first steps on Canadian soil.
After identifying our trunks, which were all lined up on the dirty, dilapidated Pier 21. I had two wooden steamer trunks and one had been dropped and damaged, so I had to check the contents - mainly wedding presents! - the only broken item was a water tumbler.
We left by train at 5:30 p.m. stopping at Moncton, N.B. during the night, arriving at Montreal at 8:30 p.m. the next day - May 1st. Left at 10:20 p.m. arriving in Windsor, 9:00 p.m. May 3rd, 1946. Finally! What a huge country!!! All this time, we were escorted by Red Cross ladies who were wonderfully helpful and kind ... they must have been relieved to see husband and family members taking over the responsibility of wives and children at each station.
After meeting Bill’s father, sister, brother and wife and boys, we climbed into a huge car. I will never ever forget the magnificent neon lights and signs on Ouellette Avenue, as we headed to a family gathering that first night. I welcomed the Scottish influence here and was accepted and loved. Stayed with family 9 months until we bought our first house, near the Airport, on Riberdy Road.
I was here when the first tornado hit the area in June of 1946. Everything was much bigger than at home, even the storms. Food items were still rationed, but adequate supply and greater variety. It tasted different - potatoes, in particular. I loved potato salad, but corn on the cob ! Well, no, thank you ... that’s pig and poultry food! I soon changed my mind. I wasn’t used to electricity and was afraid of the vacuum cleaner! The next door neighbour was a wonderful help. Later, she was Grandma Alice to our two children.
Being a church attender, and playing the organ, I quickly got involved and was able to pinch hit for funerals at St. George’s in Walkerville. Bill was working at Fords and going to Veteran school, so I didn’t see much of him at first.
Family and neighbours held two showers for us. What is a shower? I asked. All those wonderful presents! I didn’t know how to thank people. I’m still using some of the items, and think of those caring, total strangers, who were so kind to a foreigner, 61 years ago.
There were many different customs and expressions we had to cope with. I know I was quite a novelty, when neighbourhood kids would sit on the steps to listen to me, talk.
There were iceman, coal man, rag and bone man, (sheenyman) and scissor sharpener. We never saw these tradesmen in the country. I can still hear the mailman whistling as he came down the street, twice a day. How different to life today. As much a contrast as from the farm to the city.
Bill had a 1937 car, in poor shape when he got home. Not drivable when I arrived - much to his disappointment - the kids at Ford Trade School were quick to finish it, and get it running. We were fortunate to have a vehicle. Soon we had friends and could enjoy going to Colchester dances or swimming at Point Pelee - major events in those days!
The friends we made were mainly other British war brides. Some couples have passed on, some are widows and are still part of my life. We all agree we have loved life here. When I’m asked if I had any regrets leaving those picturesque broad acres of Yorkshire. My answer is always the same. I love those fields and woods, I roved as a child and toiled as a woman, but I love Canada, more. This is my home. Our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are still products of British war brides, with support of loving husbands, knew they would only be as happy as they made up their minds to be. (to quote Abraham Lincoln)
Sometimes, when we get reminiscing about those bygone days. The black bread, made from unbleached flour, baking with dried milk and eggs, no sugar, many other absurdities, we laugh at how we existed. I had scurvy - lack of Vitamin C, no oranges for years, and I didn’t like vegetables, ended up living on green beans. Served me right!
You may have noticed the pin I’m wearing, duplicates the centre top circle on my display board. It was designed in Saskatchewan for the Year of the War Brides 2006. 60 years anniversary of our arrival. You can see the sea and the sky through the ship’s porthole. The rings and the Maple Leaf explain themselves!
I see Joanne McMurren in the audience. I have her to thank for reminding me that I was a war bride 62 years ago. She observed the Year of the War Bride with two lovely celebrations, and displayed some of the material I’m using. Thanks, Joanne.
To conclude, I’d like us to remember that Sunday is Remembrance Day, and we think especially of our Veterans, both alive and departed.
Bill was a Ground Crew member of 408 Goose Squadron which, when overseas, was sponsored by the Town of Kingsville. Much memorabilia can be seen at the Charlie Campbell Museum located behind the Royal Canadian Legion there.
I am a Life member of the Squadron Association. Have visited their Edmonton base and seen their helicopters. A far cry from their Lancaster Bombers !!! - but are often deployed to other parts of the world.
Thinking of all our Military Service Personnel.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Ruby Robertson, November 8, 2007
Note: We must apologize for the poor quality of the photos as the camera was not working properly during our visit with Ruby.
It was almost 70 years ago, when World War Two was imminent. I was still in Boarding school, hearing depressing newscasts ... Like Prime Minister Chamberlain meets with Roosevelt, and Germany attacks Poland. Britain went to their aid, and declared war on Germany.
I remember the day we each trooped into the study to be fitted for a gas mask - a frightening experience. These, in a 5 x 6 x 4 box, fitted into a canvas bag, became part of our clothing in the ensuing months, for we carried them constantly.
On September 3, 1939 at 11:00 a.m. war was declared. I was in church with my gas mask beside me, someone had brought in a message to the vicar, and he gave the announcement we were all dreading. As weeks and months passed on, we became accustomed to the realities of wartime living. Mostly unpleasant and inconvenient, but we made life the best we could.
We were prepared for gas attacks which never happened, but had so much trauma in the country, both to humans and to property ... Children were evacuated from coastal cities to safer areas, breaking up families, and changes in schooling, etc. We had three little boys from the Tyneside area. I remember how Mother cried as much as they cried to go home. Once air raids started and shelters built, most all went home. Canada housed many British children. Imagine crossing the Atlantic, so dangerous with U Boats, submarines, torpedoes, etc. Many ships were sunk.
The loss of lives, sadness and even hunger were unavoidable. Rationing of food, gasoline, oil, clothing etc. was soon put into effect with coupons. We learned quickly, “Make do, and Mend!”
Many items were made UTILITY quality and had a special stamp. Anything considered luxurious were soon unobtainable. Factories turned out war items - tanks, trucks, guns, ammunition. Our country lost all wrought iron railings - cut off, to make bombs, shrapnel, everything made of metal. We moved into Double Daylight Saving Time to have fewer hours of darkness and less time for the enemy to take advantage for bombing missions.
My home area of North Yorkshire became little Canada with Canadian Airforce personnel (All volunteers, not conscripted) stationed on the quickly built aerodromes, made for 4 engined aircraft. Our farm being on the flight path, we would watch those heavy, noisy aircraft leave on missions to bomb strategic points in Germany, and pray that they would all return safely. Which they didn’t, of course. I saw one spiraling down a few miles away, left my Fordson tractor in midfield, and ran home to tell my parents. ... Crazy. What could they do? We had Canadian, Polish, Welsh and New Zealand servicemen stay at the farm, to help them overcome nervous breakdowns. Often, one would come wandering down the fields to ride with me, as I ploughed pasture land, in order to grow more food.
My father was a Sergeant in the Home Guard, spending night on watch for dropped incendiary bombs and keeping strict watch on light escaping blacked out windows or in farm buildings. Home Guard watched out for the community.
Group 6 Bomber Command had 12 aerodromes, manned by R.A.F. and R.C.A.F. In January 1943 Halifax and Lancaster bombers with Canadian servicemen arrived. They were welcomed into the community, hence the fact so many married and took wives and children home to Canada. This is where I fit in !!! One of 44,000 plus, actually we were told 64,446 wives and children, between 1942 - 1948. 93% British.
I was born on a farm in a rural area of Yorkshire, England, known as Hutton Bonville, where during World War 2 I worked as a Land Army Girl. It was at a local village dance where I first met Bill. I was 19 years old when this dashing young man with a Canadian crest on his shoulder, and who asked me to dance a Tango, convinced me I’d be happy living in his home country, Canada.
It took two years of friendship, before I decided I wanted to spend my life with him. We would marry before he was repatriated, and take advantage of the Canadian Government scheme to transfer wives. July 28, 1945 was the big day. We honeymooned in Scotland, spending time with his relatives, and a cruise on Loch Lomond. The morning I left the local train station, 20 friends were there. They seemed to think they would never see me again. We returned regularly until my parents passed on.
I sailed from Southampton on April 24, 1946 with mixed feelings, but longing to see my husband. It had been 34 weeks since he left.The voyage on the R.M.S. Aquitania was quite pleasant, except for one day when we had rough seas. They had yellow ropes fastened everywhere to hold on to, to get to different decks. No sitting on deck that day, and have a steward come along and tapping my shoulder and saying “Wakey, Wakey, Tea and Cakey”. A post card signed by the ship’s commander was given to each of us, stated “The Ship’s Company of the Aquitania send you best wishes for happiness and good fortune in your life in the Great Dominion, the country of your adoption”. It is my favourite possession of that voyage, as my different stewards autographed it. We slghted land April 30th at 7:30 p.m. and docked in Halifax at 8:10 p.m. I didn’t disembark until 2:30 p.m. the next day. I had a special treat, too, by being allowed off the ship for a few hours, as requested by a former friend - a bride who landed in Halifax, earlier - My first steps on Canadian soil.
After identifying our trunks, which were all lined up on the dirty, dilapidated Pier 21. I had two wooden steamer trunks and one had been dropped and damaged, so I had to check the contents - mainly wedding presents! - the only broken item was a water tumbler.
We left by train at 5:30 p.m. stopping at Moncton, N.B. during the night, arriving at Montreal at 8:30 p.m. the next day - May 1st. Left at 10:20 p.m. arriving in Windsor, 9:00 p.m. May 3rd, 1946. Finally! What a huge country!!! All this time, we were escorted by Red Cross ladies who were wonderfully helpful and kind ... they must have been relieved to see husband and family members taking over the responsibility of wives and children at each station.
After meeting Bill’s father, sister, brother and wife and boys, we climbed into a huge car. I will never ever forget the magnificent neon lights and signs on Ouellette Avenue, as we headed to a family gathering that first night. I welcomed the Scottish influence here and was accepted and loved. Stayed with family 9 months until we bought our first house, near the Airport, on Riberdy Road.
I was here when the first tornado hit the area in June of 1946. Everything was much bigger than at home, even the storms. Food items were still rationed, but adequate supply and greater variety. It tasted different - potatoes, in particular. I loved potato salad, but corn on the cob ! Well, no, thank you ... that’s pig and poultry food! I soon changed my mind. I wasn’t used to electricity and was afraid of the vacuum cleaner! The next door neighbour was a wonderful help. Later, she was Grandma Alice to our two children.
Being a church attender, and playing the organ, I quickly got involved and was able to pinch hit for funerals at St. George’s in Walkerville. Bill was working at Fords and going to Veteran school, so I didn’t see much of him at first.
Family and neighbours held two showers for us. What is a shower? I asked. All those wonderful presents! I didn’t know how to thank people. I’m still using some of the items, and think of those caring, total strangers, who were so kind to a foreigner, 61 years ago.
There were many different customs and expressions we had to cope with. I know I was quite a novelty, when neighbourhood kids would sit on the steps to listen to me, talk.
There were iceman, coal man, rag and bone man, (sheenyman) and scissor sharpener. We never saw these tradesmen in the country. I can still hear the mailman whistling as he came down the street, twice a day. How different to life today. As much a contrast as from the farm to the city.
Bill had a 1937 car, in poor shape when he got home. Not drivable when I arrived - much to his disappointment - the kids at Ford Trade School were quick to finish it, and get it running. We were fortunate to have a vehicle. Soon we had friends and could enjoy going to Colchester dances or swimming at Point Pelee - major events in those days!
The friends we made were mainly other British war brides. Some couples have passed on, some are widows and are still part of my life. We all agree we have loved life here. When I’m asked if I had any regrets leaving those picturesque broad acres of Yorkshire. My answer is always the same. I love those fields and woods, I roved as a child and toiled as a woman, but I love Canada, more. This is my home. Our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are still products of British war brides, with support of loving husbands, knew they would only be as happy as they made up their minds to be. (to quote Abraham Lincoln)
Sometimes, when we get reminiscing about those bygone days. The black bread, made from unbleached flour, baking with dried milk and eggs, no sugar, many other absurdities, we laugh at how we existed. I had scurvy - lack of Vitamin C, no oranges for years, and I didn’t like vegetables, ended up living on green beans. Served me right!
You may have noticed the pin I’m wearing, duplicates the centre top circle on my display board. It was designed in Saskatchewan for the Year of the War Brides 2006. 60 years anniversary of our arrival. You can see the sea and the sky through the ship’s porthole. The rings and the Maple Leaf explain themselves!
I see Joanne McMurren in the audience. I have her to thank for reminding me that I was a war bride 62 years ago. She observed the Year of the War Bride with two lovely celebrations, and displayed some of the material I’m using. Thanks, Joanne.
To conclude, I’d like us to remember that Sunday is Remembrance Day, and we think especially of our Veterans, both alive and departed.
Bill was a Ground Crew member of 408 Goose Squadron which, when overseas, was sponsored by the Town of Kingsville. Much memorabilia can be seen at the Charlie Campbell Museum located behind the Royal Canadian Legion there.
I am a Life member of the Squadron Association. Have visited their Edmonton base and seen their helicopters. A far cry from their Lancaster Bombers !!! - but are often deployed to other parts of the world.
Thinking of all our Military Service Personnel.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Ruby Robertson, November 8, 2007
Note: We must apologize for the poor quality of the photos as the camera was not working properly during our visit with Ruby.
