January 1940

ENGLAND

1-6 January 1940

Arrived at the government rail siding at 0830hrs and the Toronto Scottish Pipe Band was there to play is in. Both bands played the unit up to Corunna Barracks. General McNaughton was at the siding as well to meet us. Spent the morning drawing bedding and other stotes. I was assigned to B Coy and quartered with them. The Band is split up which makes it difficult for us as we are used to being together. Out on pass at night. Battalion parade on Tuesday morning. Spent the morning cleaning the area and the barracks. The weather was very cold and damp and we were expected to heat each of the barracks rooms by means of a coal fire in a very small fireplace. It was very definitely cold and uncomfortable. Some of the men started to go on leave on Wednesday, however, I am not scheduled for leave at present. Weather still cold and foggy. We require a pass to stay of of the barracks after 2200hrs. The British troops can stay out until 2300hrs without a pass.

7-13 January 1940

Voluntary church parade this Sunday. Not very many chose to attend. Battalion started training syllabus on Monday. Precision drill being practiced. Required to do a number of stints as Orderly Bugler and the number of calls we are required to sound are many more than when we were in the Horse Palace. Proceeded on leave to Reading. Stayed in lodging house together with workmen and other soldiers. Quite primitive conditions as I remember. Why I did not go to London I cannot recall. Went on leave by bus if you can imagine anything so stupid.

14-20 January 1940

Battalion inspected by Major-General Sir James Burnet, C.B, C.M.G. D.S.O, the Colonel of the Gordons. He addressed the parade but his words have been quite forgotten. Part I Orders officially notified us that the pay of a Private soldier was $40.30 per month and $20.00 of it had to be deferred and would be accumulated in the pay book and made payable at the end of the war. However, if you assigned the pay to your dependent in Canada it was possible to have it banked in Canada. Ambrose and his Orchestra and Di Vito and his Ladies Band played at the Garrison theatre this week, quite close to the our unit lines.

21-27 January 1940

Seen our first Bren gun carrier on Monday and the unit is to be assigned two of them for training purposes. Lieut J.E.W Wright is the carrier officer. Started rehearsals on Tuesdays for the inspection of the unit on Wednesday by HM the King. We were inspected by HM the King on Wednesday but he was very late getting to us and we were required to stand around for several hours. General McNaughton and other brass were with the King.

28-31 January 1940

The remainder of the month was spent in training around the barracks in the various lecture rooms. The weather was terrible, sleet, snow, freezing rain. The weather was responsible for many men getting very sick with ailments associated with damp and cold weather. One of the members of the band, Al Bond, was continually in hospital with rheumatoid arthritis and it was attacking his back. He was returned to Canada and when I seen him after the war he was a total cripple- a direct result of the very severe winter of 1940. The Gordon Highlanders, 6th Battalion, in the barracks next to us were delayed in their departure for France. They left us before the end of January.

[note: it was from this inspection with the King that the Regiment earned the nickname, "The Glamour Boys." The brigade was being inspected by the King, but there were not enough regulation khaki puttees (leg wrappings) for all the soldiers. The 48th had to wear unofficial blue puttees. The King inquired as to why the 48th wore different puttees from the rest of the brigade. He was told that there were not enough khaki ones for all the units. The King replied that he liked the blue puttees better and that they should keep them. The 48th Highlanders continued to wear blue puttees until battledress was eventually phased out.]