Volume 25 www.legionnl.com 41 Newfoundland Labrador Command continued ... continued ... The next nine days were absorbed by a rather boresome crossing of the Atlantic. Where from on December 21, 1918, we sighted once more the rugged and majestic coast of Newfoundland. By noon we were close to St. John's narrows, to witness those eternal hills with snow as forefront of the pine-clad cousins that lay beyond. As we neared the dock, I couldn't but reflect that never before had men witnessed a sight of such surpassing beauty and welcome! Twenty months had passed since I left those shores, during which time I had spent eleven months in those battle zones that I might, never as long as I should exist, forget. Soon from such bemusing were we docked, and I was greeted on the wharf by my widowed aunt, who had secured a horse and sleigh to take me to her home on Pennywell Road. The next day, December 22, was my birthday, and I had just attained the ripe old age of nineteen! My two-week leave soon passed, and I found myself back in St. John's, where following some examinations I was finally discharged with a certificate reading "No. 3662, Private Wallace Pike, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, served with honour and was disabled in the Great War. Honourably discharged on 28th, January 1919••••••••••••• George R.I.” Following such a prestigious “farewell to arms", I was to receive fifteen dollars per month pension for life, and was told that a school for the 'returned bays' was being organized, wherewithin, if I wished, I could apply to Dr. Blackall at the Seamen's Institute, -that being a school whose purpose was to help disabled soldiers improve their education, or learn a trade whereby they might earn an independent living. As my hand was crippled, I could not go back to the lumberjack's life, so I went, in due time, to see Dr. Blackall, who asked me what I would like to study. I thought that I would like to be a mechanic. After some talk and discussion, it became his judgement that my hand would be a drawback to such endeavour and he suggested a ‘general’ education from whence I might later decide on a more permanent fixed and future course. I agreed. On July 9, 1921 I was appointed in charge of 'Famish Cove'. Being at that time still a 'Cadet', I spent a month there and came back to St. John's for the annual 'Congress'. I received my Commission as 'Probation Lieutenant' on August 14, 1921, and was sent to Paradise Sound later renamed Monkstown. In August, 1922, I was sent to Little Ward's Harbour, Notre Dame Bay, where again I was in charge of the Corps as well as the School, encompassing also the 'outposts' at Woodford's Cove, Little Bay Mines, Wild Cove and Southern Arm. Those places generally requiring that I visit them by boat. Altogether it was a most busy year for me. Yet was I happy in the performance of my duties. Meanwhile had I been corresponding with Lieutenant Minnie Pretty for some years, having met her in St. John’s before I entered Salvation Army training. She came in training the following year, and as I had now attained the rank of 'Captain', we asked for permission to marry - which was granted. I finished my term at Norman's Cove and 'Farewelled'. On July 2, 1924, we were married at Dildo, Minnie's home, by Adjutant John Caines. Our first appointment as married Officers was Rocky Harbour on the West coast, where both Corps and School was once more our charge. On November 11, 1925, after a day of hunting, the right side of my face went 'strengthless' - I could eat only with difficulty. I had to walk six miles to Woody Point to see a Doctor who pronounced it 'Bell's Palsy' and said that it would never really be well again. The right side of my face was drawn and I had no control over it. Two of our children were born at this Rocky Harbour. We farewelled the place with a very sick little boy, six weeks old and only nine pounds. The Doctor held no hopes for him. We had to take him by steamer to Corner Brook and thence by train to Dildo where Minnie hoped we might have a few day's furlough. Our next appointment was Moreton's Harbour, Notre Dame Bay, where we arrived in August 1926 to find the Corps in hard shape and we with our last ten dollars in our pocket. The Corps had two schools, one at Whale's Gulch, and the other at Western Head. We found our soldiers a bit discouraged but prayer and visitation seemed to create new life, and soon things began to move in the right direction. Souls were saved and new soldiers were added. After two years and another addition to our family, we 'farewelled', and were appointed to Fortune with the rank of Ensign. Getting to Fortune involved travel by boat to Lewisport and then by train to Placentia, followed by a further boat trip to our Fortune destination. We arrived there sometime in August, 1928. After two years and two more additions to our family, we were appointed to Campbellton Corps and District in Notre Dame Bay. At the time, August 30, 1930, I was the youngest District Officer in Newfoundland. My duties involved the overseeing of eight other Corps.
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