WAR DIARY OF NO 19 CDN FIELD AMBULANCE, RCAMC.
FROM 1 NOV 44 TO 30 NOV 44
The following extracts can be located in UVic ACC 80-55 Box 1.2 [National Archives of Canada RG 24 vol. 15888]:
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23 Nov (1730): First news is received that Conscription is being put into effect and that 16,000 NPMA personnel will be proceeding overseas between now and February. Although received as a "Top Secret" telegram, this same news is heard over both Canadian and American radio stations by our men. The news that Conscription is being put into effect has spread like wildfire and forms the one subject of conversation among our men. Although expected, the news is still a shock to most men who still held hopes that some way would still be found to avoid the issue... |
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24 Nov (1400): ...By the looks of things, there is trouble brewing!!... (2100) Rumours of trouble are more and more confirmed. A "General Staff" formed of H.D. men from the three infantry units have decreed a general sit-down strike and have warned men of this Unit that, if they go on parade to-morrow morning, they will be made to suffer. (2300) Word is received that the ammunition dump in the infantry units lines has been broken open and that the "strikers" have more than 50,000 rounds of .303 in their possession, besides thousands of rounds of pistol and sten amn. This amn being handed out to the men "for their protection".... |
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25 Nov (1330): An anti-conscription parade is held by at least 1500 men of the three infantry regiments. Each unit parades from its own lines. Departures are extremely well-timed and all three reach junction point together. Dress is uniform...Parade lasts two hours and covers nearly five miles, including a parade through all the lines in Terrace Camp (including our own) and through the streets of the village. Anti-conscription banners are carried by the men, who sing and yell all through their march. No violence however...When the "dismiss" is given, only 22 men of this Unit (by actual count) leave parade ground and return to our lines. That such a small number of our men should have taken part in the demonstration is to the credit of this Unit, all the more so considering the fact that strikers armed with stens were roaming through our lines, trying to get men to join parade ...(1900 to 2300) All evening, scores of infantrymen roam through our men's huts endeavoring to "convert" our men to their cause and warning them of reprisals if they do not participate in the strike. This system of intimidation is having some measure of success...We hear that strikers intend going to church to-morrow morning with their arms and ammunition, for fear that officers might attempt to lock them in the two drill halls where Bde church services are held. Strikers, having seized equipment, have set up telephonic and wireless communication between the three infantry units to keep each other posted concerning all developments. They have also "taken over" vehicles in infantry lines.... |
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26 Nov ...(1100) Word reaches us that infantrymen have taken Bren guns from their respective Coy Stores (1200) Word received that representatives of the strikers have met their A/O.C.'s to submit their demands to them, which are roughly: Opposition to overseas service, and a desire to return East, but with their arms and ammunition. (1230) Scores of strikers "invade" Sergeants' Mess of nearest infantry unit and strip all badges of ranks from NRMA N.C.O's stating "You're Zombies just like us"...An emissary from the strikers warns N.C.O's of this Unit that they have till 1600 hours to take down their stripes...or else...(1330) ...In order to avoid trouble, NCO's decide to temporarily remove their stripes...(1600).] The warning received comes true -our own Sergeants' Mess is invaded by about fifty men, who enter by all doors at once. However, finding NCO's already stripped and officers present, they quickly disappear... (1800) ...it is discovered that infantrymen, accompanied by a few members of this Unit have broken into the ammunition cache and have taken away 27,000 rounds of .303, more than 360 No.36 grenades, a few thousand rounds of sten amn and quite an amount of explosives.... |
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27 Nov....(0900) Explosives are returned by strikers to man. cache, because of fear some accident may occur if same is kept in their huts. (1000) Reply to strikers' demands received from Maj.-Gen. Pearkes, G.O.C.-in-C. Ammunition must be turned in and Units re-become disciplined. Move to Valcartier camp, P.Q. will take place within a few days...(1215)...an ultimatum is read to men in mess hall. Same is read in other Units...(1330) a near-riot occurs at Bde H.Q., where some seven to eight hundred men (armed), congregate to prevent "L" Sec Sigs from coming out on parade...Following the demonstration, strikers parade once again through the camp and the village...(1800) Effect of the events of the last few days is beginning to be felt: nerves of quite a few men are becoming "shot", they are unable to sleep at night, and have to be given hypo's to calm them. (2000) Rumours are heard that strikers intend blowing up Sergeants' Mess and Skeena Bridge.... |
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28 Nov....[meetings and actions taken to resolve conflict].(2200) Surrender of arms and amm. by this Unit is announced over C.B.C.'s national news summary....(2330) News of surrender of arms and ammunition by men of our Unit has had a most salutory effect. Word reaches us that there is now division in the ranks of the strikers many of whom have participated only through intimidation. Everything now points to a quick break-up of the strike. |
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29 Nov....(0900) Parade is held this morning for the first time since 24 Nov. 44...O.C. speaks at some length to the men, congratulating them on their decision of the previous day. As far as this Unit is concerned, the strike is now a thing of the past. (1200) Word is received that other units are beginning to follow our example...(1700) We are notified by Bde that the Unit is definitely leaving Terrace for the East.... |
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-So ends one of the most eventful months in the history of this Unit-. |
Secret War Diary report by P.A. Costin, Lt-Col., RCAMC. Officer Commanding, No 19 Cdn Fd Amb, RCAMC.
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