55 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca DELGATY, Thomas Neil WWII Thomas’ military service began on August 29, 1941, when he enlisted in the RCAF. He was 19 years old, young, full of energy and had great hopes of becoming a Pilot and soaring through the air like a bird. He had been at a little Saskatchewan town, Lucky Lake, for about 19 days, employed by the Canadian Bank of Commerce as teller with a salary of around $550.00 a year. His decision to enlist seemed to come with little difficulty. The younger generation was flocking to the enlistment centres and he wanted to get into the action before the war ended. Little did he know that it would be four years until the Nazi menace would be silenced. In addition to having the feeling that he would be left alone if he didn’t get his rear in gear and join up too, he did have a smattering of patriotism, at least he thought that was the case. As a high school student, in early fall of 1939, the shrieking voice of Adolf Hitler emanating from the horn of their Spartan radio still left Thomas with a chill. He remembered listening to the world news quite regularly as did his father, James Austin Delgaty. Thomas remembered coming into their house when Hitler’s voice could be heard half a mile away. He asked his mother, Edith Blanche (Burnham) what all the noise was about. She replied that awful noisy man only wants to unite all Germans together. He accepted that, but not for long. Thomas made inquiries to the RCAF recruiting centre in Saskatoon as to procedure for enlisting and was directed to appear at the Birks Building in Saskatoon. After a bumpy ride by bus and train, he arrived at the door of the RCAF enlistment centre on August 28, for his medical. He was told to come back at 7:30 next morning, as that is when he would feel fresher. Little did the medical examiner realize that this was his first trip to the bright lights and getting to bed before midnight in such an exciting situation was not an easy undertaking. However, he did show up at 7:30 next morning and tried very hard to look fresh and rested! The medical officer (M.O. as Thomas later discovered he was called) gave him a thorough going over. He looked, felt, pushed, banged and prodded him all over. He stayed in a hotel another night - a real luxury - and went back next day to see if he was fit enough to become a pilot. The verdict was ready. He was pronounced a sound specimen. Thomas was sworn in, signed on the dotted lines, given a number (R 128114) and ordered (not asked) to report to Manning Depot in Brandon on the next train. After being warned not to be late “reporting in”, he spent his final night in the big city at a show with another young whipper snapper by the name of George Whittington whom he had met in the recruiting centre and who also was destined for Manning Pool. Next morning at eight they were aboard the train rolling in the direction of Brandon. At Watrous, Thomas and George got out for a short stroll while the train stopped to take on water. The attraction for these two innocent young “airmen” was a high tower well lit up with red lights. They wanted to see what it was so they walked and walked and walked. Just when one of them made the suggestion that maybe they’d better turn around and get back to the train, lo and behold, a shrill “toot-toot” filled the air and they were left high and dry. No way could they catch it! Catch it they did, however, when they reported to the gruffy Sergeant 24 hours late, their reasons for being late fell on deaf ears. This was his second day in the RCAF. The first day he was sworn in; the second day he was sworn at! They were directed to their bunk beds in the “Bull Pen” with rather a definite impression of the importance of punctuality in the RCAF. (Their baggage had gone on to Montreal. They wondered if they shouldn’t have gone with it!). Life at Manning Pool wasn’t quite the same as his former living quarters in the bank where he had the whole upstairs of the bank to himself. Showering was a community endeavour. The food wasn’t quite like his land ladies. He was given one hour to get a haircut. He almost got scalped. On having been introduced to what was called the parade square, Thomas was quick to learn which foot was left, and having that well learned the other had to be his right. However, he soon got to like marching especially when they were marched down the streets of Brandon and the girls came out and waved and smiled at them in their spanking brand new blue uniforms. (Continued)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==