The Creemore
Echo
Thursday, November 10, 2011 Vol. 11 No. 45
News and views in and around Creemore
INSIDE THE ECHO
Double Book Launch
A Birthday Bash
Collingwood Taoist Tai Chi turns 15.
Ken and darci-que are throwing a party.
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When Boys Go to War: Stanley Royal Remembers World War I Local History
Bands were playing, and Stanley Royal was one gifts and farewells were of the local soldiers who delivered on us. returned home from the “At Val Cartier the first First World War. As you contingent was formed know, a large number of with recruits from all over lives were lost in that war, Canada, 33,000 men in all. men who were Canada’s Helen After the battalions were finest. Many who returned BLACKBURN organized, we were in the refused to speak of their 15th. At the conclusion of experiences, which were a month’s training we were taken to too terrible to imagine. Stanley Quebec Harbour and embarked on Royal, however, was not one of the Megantic. As each boat loaded it these when he returned home to sailed down the St. Lawrence to Gaspe the family farm on the Sixth Line Bay. Here we waited four days till the south of County Road 9. As was the whole convoy of 33 boats arrived. We family’s tradition he “neighboured” crossed the Atlantic together three with the Websters, who were on the abreast, about one hundred yards Sixth Line south of County Road 9. apart. We were given a naval escort After Stanley returned safely from which increased as we continued the battlefields of Europe, he often our voyage. The Megantic was on spent evenings recounting his war the left, leading that line of boats. It experiences with F.E. and Alice was a very fine boat and we travelled Webster. This couple compiled the second class. stories and made a typewriter copy. It “During the passage we had read is from that account I bring you, not to us on three different occasions a one of the horror stories, but tales of list of “don’ts” – looting, showing the early days of enlisting. cowardice in the presence of the “Early in July of 1914, I was enemy, insubordination of a superior working in a factory in Meaford officer – every one of them punishable where all factories were in full swing by death. It sounded liked stories of when they suddenly closed down. the “boo-man” to scare us. The boys I had been told there would be a made a joke of it. place for me if I went to Tilbury so “We arrived at Plymouth after 29 I went, was engaged and then that days on board. The soldiers who were closed. From there I tried London and on fatigue duty were busy unloading then Toronto but found everything the officers’ baggage. Bob Gilpin of closed. This was just before war was Collingwood suggested to me that declared. Was it foreknowledge on we get up town by joining the fatigue the part of Canadian industries or all party. We each took a load of baggage due to a financial crisis? to the dock and found it quite easy to “Naturally, this was an important get out of sight among the piles of factor in deciding men to enlist. When heavy guns in the naval yard, but were war was declared Kelly Johnston and disappointed to find a high stone wall I enlisted with the 48th Highlanders enclosing the docks, with but one gate. under Colonel J.A. Currie. After As we reached the gate we met our spending two weeks at Long Branch commanding officer, Col. J.A. Currie, (west of Toronto) we went to Val returning in a car. He saw us but kindly Cartier, Quebec. We were given a looked the other way. grand send-off before leaving Toronto. We were lauded as brave heroes. (See “A spot” on page 5)
LEST WE FORGET
The Creemore Legion’s outdoor Remembrance Day Service will begin on Friday, November 11 at the Creemore Cenotaph at 10 am. Its indoor service will follow at the Creemore Legion. People are asked to be seated by 10:45 am, and are asked to come earlier to view a variety of Remembrance Day artwork done by students at NCPS. The New Lowell Legion’s Remembrance Day Parade will leave the Firehall on Friday, November 11 at 10:30 am and arrive at the New Lowell Legion for an 11 am service.
Echo Briefs A Community Get Together
The Creemore Echo and the Bank Cafe are hosting a BIA After 5 event on Monday, November 14 from 5 to 7 at the Bank Cafe and invite all area businesses and community groups to send representatives. It is hoped that everyone will bring their 2012 event dates and mark them on the Echo’s Community Calendar. This is a chance for the Echo to update everyone’s information on their online business and community directories as well.
Hort Society Meet & Greet
The Creemore Horticultural Society is holding a Meet and Greet Evening for members and guests and anyone else who would like to join or find out more about the Society. The meeting is at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, November 16 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
Tree Society Meet & Greet The Tree Society of Creemore’s 1st Annual Meet & Greet on Friday, November 18 at the Station on the Green from 7 to 9 pm. The event will pay tribute to Diane & Brian McKay in honour of their 20 years of leadership. There will also be a guest speaker, John Bacher, author of TwoBillion Trees and Counting. Bacher will discuss the legacy of Edmund Zavitz and Ontario’s reforestation, with particular emphasis on how it impacted our region and the watersheds of the Mad and Noisy Rivers. Tickets are $10, available at the Creemore Echo, Cardboard Castles & Curiosity House or by calling Ingrid Schilling at 705466-2658 or iesch@rogers.com.
One Stop Christmas Shop
Duntroon Central Public School will host a One Stop Christmas Shop on Friday, November 18 from 4 to 9 pm. There will be friends, food, fun and of course, shopping!
Garbage Day is still on Friday this week! Serving Mulmur & The Creemore Hills for 35 years
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