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Stewart Oliver | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Canadian army 1942 to 1946 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Canadian army 1942 to 1946

This site is dedicated to my father (Michael Oliver) and my mother (Eileen Channer) who endured the bombing of London from 1939-1945.

At 28 years old, I would like to say that it took a lot of courage for my father to volunteer in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (R.C.A.S.C.) in 1942, trained in Huntingdon (Qc) and Red Deer (Alberta). In December 1944, their unit was deployed to London, England. For the entire journey, their troop ship was chased across the Atlantic Ocean by a German U-boat (U-772). At one point, all soldiers on the ship had to stand for 18 hours while wearing their entire gear - waiting for the torpedo to hit. Lucky for them, the HMS Nyasaland (K587 - Colony-class frigate in the Royal Navy) was in the vicinity and managed to sink U-772 on December 17. The Canadian soldiers finished their voyage and arrived in Southhampton, England. What brave men!

During the period between 1942 to 1945, our Canadian men and women had to endure 3 years of bombing in the city of London, England. During training in Canada, he was injured and he was unable to join his buddies and participate in the D-day crossing.

He served as a cook, prison guard, truck driver and a batman to a Lieutenant. He was offered a commission as an officer in the Canadian army (1946) but he declined the promotion and in 1946 he decided to return to civilian life in Montreal, Canada.

Before leaving England, on Sept 1, 1945, he married Eileen Channer (Mom) in London. She endured the bombing for 6 years and she was nearly killed twice during two bombing raids.

Here is to all the brave men and women who endured so much!

*See link http://www.albertasource.ca/homefront/living_with_war/communities/urban/lethbridge.html
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Dad-Canadian army_1942.jpg
Dad-Canadian army_1942.jpg
Dad-Canadian army_1945_2.jpg
Dad-Canadian army_1945_2.jpg
13 mile march .jpg
13 mile march .jpg
Another march_1942.jpg
Another march_1942.jpg
Bigelow,  John Dalzell  and Michael Oliver.jpg
Bigelow, John Dalzell and Michael Oliver.jpg
Dad  & friend_1942.jpg
Dad & friend_1942.jpg
Dad  & friends_1942.jpg
Dad & friends_1942.jpg
Administration building_1942.jpg
Administration building_1942.jpg
Friend_1942.jpg
Friend_1942.jpg
Dad in front of barracks_1942.jpg
Dad in front of barracks_1942.jpg
Dad and friend_1942.jpg
Dad and friend_1942.jpg
Army barracks_1942.jpg
Army barracks_1942.jpg
Friend with Dad_1942.jpg
Friend with Dad_1942.jpg
Dad  and unknown soldier_1942.jpg
Dad and unknown soldier_1942.jpg
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