Cape Breton's Magazine

are we going ashore?" "We're not going ashore--we're ready to sail any minute! Now get back aft and stay aft!" I said about my working clothes. "You'll get your working clothes --get them from the engineer." The other lads just laughed. "Boy oh boy," he said, "that's old Capt. Patterson." So, it just took us three weeks. We couldn't wait for a convoy-- our ship was too slow. It was loaded with lum? ber. And they put me on as a trimmer--coal- passer. I looked after the ashes and the coal, and wheeled the coal out, and...general handyman for the fireman. A coloured man from Sierra Leone, Africa--Joe Mundi. I remember their names. And Paddy Walsh, from Ireland--but they picked him up from Vancouver Island. He -was a veteran of the First War. Well, I was trimmer for them. But I was firing before I got to England. This coloured fellow and Paddy--well, Paddy didn't get along with anybody. He was a real Irishman! Him and I got along great, but nobody else got along with him. So I was a fireman. And we got to England, on the 13th of De? cember, 1939. So, we were getting paid off. And everybody'd get their pay, and they'd take off. Finally we got our pay, and we stood around and stood around. And finally--waiting for this transportation back to Canada. Finally Capt. Patterson saw us. "What are you two waiting for?" I said, "What about this transportation back Max Basque's medals, left to right: 1939-1945 War Medal, The Atlantic Star, The Italy Star, The 1939-1945 Star, Nonwegian Med? al: 1940-45 for "contribution In the Fight for Freedom." to Canada?" "What transportation? These are the articles you signed. There's not a word said about transportation. We're all done with you. You're paid off--finished. Now get out!" But anyway, I had a few pounds. Three weeks--that'd be 9 pounds. ; So, the next ship I got was the Harrow- gate. This was a weekly run. When I told the other English lads about it, "Yes. Blimey, you're on a suicide run!" Weekly boat running to Antwerp and Dunkirk and B InsuTEince Needs oS the co-opei'to0 Insurance Services LIFE • HOME • AUTO COMMERCIAL • FARM • TRAVEL Insure your life, home, automobile, business, farm or travel with the lead? ing Canadian-owned, all-lines insu? rance company... The Co-operators. Our policies, many with exclusive features, provide you with some of the best, broadest insurance coverages available. Plus, you deal directly with the friendly, helpful people in our service offices around Cape Breton. Learn more about the complete pro? tection and service we provide. Call or come in to The Co-operators today. CAPE BRETON OFFICES: BADDECK 295-3130 CHETICAMP 224-3204 GLACE BAY 849-4547 LOUISDALE 345-2199 MABOU 945-2514 NEW WATERFORD 862-3350 NORTH SYDNEY 794-4788 PORT HAWKESBURY 625-0640 SYDNEY RIVER 562-0565 SYDNEY 539-5315 (toll free)