27 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BAYES, Cecil Harry WWII In the fall of 1942, they had a very long and hard harvest. They had three weeks of solid threshing and picking sheaves. In late October and early November, when they finally finished the harvest, Cecil decided to join the Army. On November 18, 1942, he went to Winnipeg and joined up. He was sent to Portage la Prairie for basic training. He was just about finished basic training when he got the mumps. He had to spend two weeks in King George Hospital in Winnipeg.When he got out of hospital, he went back to Portage to retake his basic training. When he finished his basic, he was sent to Brandon A4 for 25-lbs artillery training. He was almost finished when he came down with bronchitis and had to take his advanced training all over again. When he finished his advanced training, it was almost Christmas of 1943. On December 24, he boarded the train for Halifax and on the last day in December, he was on a troop ship bound for England and the war in Europe. Twelve seasick days. They arrived in the United Kingdom for more advanced training. They were in England for about two months when they boarded another troop ship for Italy. This time, they were on a beautiful Durban Castle Liner, overcrowded, in a big convoy. They could see battle ships and cruisers of all sizes as well as other British and American troop ships. As far as they could see, the water was full of ships. They had a three-week cruise from England to Italy. If it had not been for depth charges going off all day and night, it would have been a beautiful holiday cruise. They ran into a lot of enemy submarine activity especially in the Mediterranean Sea. They landed in Naples on about May 1, 1944 and took more training. Then, Cecil was sent to the 1st A.T. (AntiTank) which by then was in the midst of the Hitler Line. He had never seen a six pounder A.T. gun before. This was May 23, 1944. His first encounter in action was antitank, supporting the Infantry, blasting any German tanks that were in sight. They advanced through the Hitler Line in Italy and up though the Italian leg until the Canadian Forces left Italy. They then moved up through France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany until the hostilities ceased. After the war ended, he came back to England, then home to Canada. He was demobilized in February 1946 in Winnipeg then came back to farm in Rapid City. In 1947, he bought the NE 1/4 17-14-19. In 1952, Cecil married Doreen Edward of Moore Park. They raised eleven children – six girls and five boys. They retired on their farm and Cecil enjoyed gardening, reading, helping on the farm, and curling in the winter. He was lucky to not have been wounded, but his hearing sure got blasted from loud, noisy, gun fire. Cecil received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence of Britain Medal, Italian Star, France and Germany Star, 1939-1945 Star and War Medal 1939-1945. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Rapid City Branch 49 for 74 years. Cecil passed away in 2020.
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