63 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca CAMPBELL, Colin Ross WWII Colin was born 2.5 miles east of Minnedosa, Manitoba, on April 24, 1920, to Jack and Elsie (McAree) Campbell. His family, which included two sisters, moved to a farm north of Bethany in 1923. By 1941, Colin had been farming with his father for four years when he decided to sign up for the Royal Canadian Air Force at a recruiting drive at the Tremont Hotel in Minnedosa. As the positions of Pilot or Observer were filled, he was not called until March 1942. In the meantime, he was called to take basic training in the army at Portage la Prairie. Upon completion, he was posted to Winnipeg Grenadiers Reserve who were recruiting due to the first battalion being imprisoned in Hong Kong, on December 6, 1941. However, in March, he was called by the RCAF and went to Brandon #2 Manning Depot before continuing at the Initial Training School in Regina. “I was struck off course due to eyesight and sent to Toronto to remuster, where I was issued glasses and remustered as an Armourer.” He was posted to MacDonald, Manitoba, #3 Bombing and Gunnery School, on December 30, 1942, and served there until May when he was posted to Y Depot, Halifax, enroute to overseas. Onboard the Louis Pasteur, he got work helping in the kitchen where the motion was not as bad. Many of the soldiers on the boat were seasick on the rough voyage, and the convoy was unescorted. After arriving in Liverpool, Colin saw the first devastation of the war: sunken ships and barges with men and derricks trying to salvage and clear the debris so that another pier could be opened. Once they were on the train, they were off to Bournemouth in southern England. They were to be billeted in hotels, but two nights before arriving, the hotel they were to stay in was bombed. Colin said, “It was the first devastation I had seen up close and the stench of decomposing bodies, and the dust and rubble of workers trying to dig out and clear up the mess, was depressing. We were put up in temporary billets.” While in Bournemouth, Colin ran into a few guys from back home: Clifford Johnston and Harvey Woodcock were old schoolmates and in aircrew. They were both lost within three months. He met Calvin Moad from Clanwilliam and his brother Flt. Sgt. Harold Moad who were posted to Bomber Command. Harold would soon afterwards go missing in action. Colin was posted to 426 Squadron in Dishforth in Yorkshire. He worked on Wellington Bombers, but his squadron switched to Halifax Bombers and moved to Linton-on-Ouse. While on leave (as they were awaiting new aircraft), he went to London where he visited with cousins Jim Murphy and Clayton McAree. Back in Linton, their 426 Squadron was joined by 408 Squadron, to service 40 new aircraft. After a month, Colin transferred to 9426, which was a maintenance group that serviced armament and turrets on aircraft and did troubleshooting on flight operations when night bombing was in force. When the Berlin Raids were happening, the trips were very long, with aircraft leaving at 7:00pm and returning around 4:00am the next day. It made for long nights for duty crew and the flyers. Colin was able to visit Scotland, where he met some of his mother’s relatives. He was treated royally and made the trip many times, usually taking a friend. (Continued)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==