WAR DIARY OF 15th COLN. INF. BDE.

FROM 1 NOV 44 TO 30 NOV 44

The following extract can be found in UVic ACC 80-55 Box 1.2 [National Archives of Canada RG 24, vol. 14172]:

24 Nov: ...News about conscription travels fast and is not completely accepted by tps. Two coys from Fus du St L refused to go on parade at 1300 hrs, a group raided the unit magazine and live rds and grenades were distributed to the men.  Offrs stood guard at the ammunition from then on.  Unrest was noted amongst PA Vols and PEI Highrs personnel but no demonstrations of any kind....

25 Nov: ...Fus du St L personnel again refused to appear on parade and the same situation was found at PA Vols and PEI Highrs where only the Offrs, Senior NCOs & about 50 Ptes were on any parade.  Offrs from both units tried to persuade the men to back on parade; this action prompted the Fus du St L to parade down to HQ with banners reading: "Down with conscription" - "The Zombies strike back".  Half of the HQ personnel joined the Fus du St Ls parade and were later joined by the PEI Highrs and the PA Vols.  The whole group marched through the village of Terrace.  The parade was conducted in an orderly fashion....

27 Nov:... Fus du StL personnel held a meeting and tps from PEI Highrs and PA Vols attended.  There was another demonstration by the tps in the form of a march through Terrace at 1330 hrs.  As in previous demonstration by the tps there was no violence of any descriptions....

28 Nov: ... At 1200 hrs PA vols were scheduled to leave Terrace area but were apparently threatened by personnel from other units not to move from Terrace.  A small demonstration was held at the hour of their scheduled departure and PA Vols could not leave as scheduled.  A few but not all the tps are attending parades.  19 Fd Amb gave up their ammunition and arms this afternoon....

29 Nov: ...Special Orders issued by Brig A.R. Roy, OBE, were read to all the tps and parades were called in each unit.  Bde HQ trg as usual - 19 Fd Amb was on parade but only 50% of the other units were back on parade.  Main body PA Vols, 14 Offrs & 346 ORs left at 1326 hrs for TOFINO.

30 Nov: Snow. The situation is quite normal now.  Fus du StL are getting ready to leave for Valcartier, P.Que. towards the end of the week....

This War Diary was signed by A.R. Roy, Brig., Comd 15 Cdn Inf Bde.

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