September 1939

So I finally got a hold of my Granddad's old journal he kept from 1939 to 1942. Called "Journal of a Highlander" it recounts his time with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. I also have in my possession Edward's letters but as this blog will go in chronological order we will be getting to those in a few weeks. I'll start off in 1939, when Frank headed back to Toronto.

4-9 September 1939

I left the farm on Monday and started to hitch hike back to Toronto. I was lucky and was able to catch a ride all the way back home. Tried to find out as much as possible from Bill Elms (Granddad's best friend and future RSM of the 48th Highlanders) about what the 48th Highlanders were doing. I was told that the unit had been mobilized and there was to be a general muster parade on Tuesday evening. Went to the general muster parade on Tuesday evening. Went to school (Jarvis Collegiate) and told my home room teacher I was going to enlist and would not be returning to school. On parade with the Battalion on Tuesday night at 2000 hrs and it was on this parade that the Commanding Officer called for volunteers for active service. Volunteered for service this evening. Down to armouries on Wednesday morning and started the necessary procedures to enlist in the Canadian active service force. Had medical board at Grace Hospital and back to the armouries to proceed through the remainder of the enlistment procedures. Allocated regimental number B-72774. I know I was the 274th person to be enlisted as the Regimental Number allocation started at B-72500 and that number was given to RSM Frank Jamieson, a very fine soldier and gentleman, Required to report each morning at 0800hrs at the armouries to commence training. As I was a bugler I had the job , along with others, of sounding the calls to signal the various times when markers, fall-in, Officers call and Orderly Sergeants were required. Started to use the North Campus of the University of Toronoto on Friday for daily parades. Saturday in addition to the morning parade we paraded at 2045hrs to Fort York armouries to march to the CNE to take part in closing ceremonies of the 1939 Exhibition.

10-16 September

No parade on Sunday. Canada offically declared war on Germany on the 10th of September. Training commenced Monday at the North Campus of the University of Toronto. I paraded with the pipe band and will eventually have to learn to play a side drum. The battalion mounted a small picquet on Grace Hospital. Parades were canceled on Wednesday due to heavy rains ans as a result the training was done indoors. I am still living at home and going to the armouries each day. Back on campus Thursday for training. The band practiced bugling and drumming. Friday I received my first pay of a $1.30 a day, in addition to this we were to receive a small subsistence allowance. I received $15 which included my pay from the 6th of September plus the subsistence allowance. This is the most money that I have ever received at any time for anything and I felt like a millionaire. The unit stopped recruiting on Friday as the quota for the battalion is filled. Finished parades on Saturday at noon and the rest of the weekend was free.

17-23 September

Parades commenced at 0800hrs on Monday. New regimental routine established which required that a duty bugler be available each day around the appropriate calls. The battalions now mounting a full guard on the armouries each day and if you are detailed as a duty bugler you are required to sleep in the guard room at night. A regimental barber shop opened in the armouries which is quite convenient but the line-ups are quite long. Weekly route marches started friday. The route for the first march was South on University, West on Front to Spadina, North on Spadina to College to South Campus of the University of Toronto. Half day training on Saturday with the rest of the weekend free. Toronto was still quite a blue town as far as Sunday entertainment was concerned. In 1939 there was absolutely no entertainment available for anyone anywhere and shows had not opened in Sundays until much later in the war.

24-30 September

Training commenced again on Monday at the North Campus. For the first week we trained in the afternoon on vacant land at Harbour and Front. All the ranks were told Monday that we must wear unifrom on at all times and off duty. Training was restricted during the week due to rain. Route march Friday, Elizabeth St to Gerrard, East on Gerrard to Parliament, South on Parliament to Fleet West on Fleet to York, North on York to Front, West on Fleet to York, North on York to Front, West on Front to University, North on University to the armouries. 20 men detailed this week for duty with the City of Toronot Police.