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Sentimental Journey

David Meakes February 21, 2018

 

October 1, 1943

RCAF HQ, London, England

 

After almost three years in the Canadian Army in Great Britain, I was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force for aircrew training back in Canada. In the three-week period from October 8 to October 30, 1943, I was at a repatriation depot near Liverpool, England. After bouncing off a previous shaky r . . .

Sentimental Journey Continued

David Meakes February 28, 2018

August 25, 1945

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

 

No one could tell me where to sign up for a boat that transports horses, and I searched the docks, walking for over a day before I located the correct location. On the 26th, a Mr. Sylvester was just completing signing up a 40-man horse crew for the next horse boat, but by saying that I had grown up with horses and had . . .

Sentimental Journey Continued

David Meakes March 8, 2018

Sept. 16th to the 25th 1945

On board the Mexican on the Atlantic Ocean

 

Our horse crew of 40 had 3 foremen, 2 cooks, 2 guards, and one Veterinarian— Dr. MacDonald. The Mexican had about 100 horses on a smaller top deck, and about 290 on each of two lower decks. Five of us, including a new friend, Dave Miller, w . . .

Sentimental Journey Continued

David Meakes March 15, 2018

Sept. 26, 1945.

Entering Rotterdam Harbor. The Netherlands.

On board The Mexican In the English Channel.

From where the Rhine River enters the English Channel, it is about 20 miles up the river to Rotterdam, Holland. The harbor pilot had to navigate The Mexican carefully, as there were miles of WWII debris (sunken ships, bombed bridges, etc.). prot . . .

Sentimental Journey Continued

David Meakes March 21, 2018

Thursday, Sept 27th 1945

Rotterdam Harbor -- The Netherlands

 

Though   rather inaccessible, Bremen is the only   German Atlantic sea port.   In September of 1945 the Nuremberg trials were looming in the coming year and   Rotterdam, Holland   had become the most convenient sea port for the panicky Nazi hierarchy to flee from Europe. The r . . .

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    David Meakes

    David Meakes

    David Meakes is a Canadian-born World War II veteran. He is ninety-five years old and a retired podiatris... read more

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