Experiencing a different time - From the Cluttered Desk with Keith Roulston

Whether through books or movies, or in our local case, theatre, we have an opportunity to learn about the past. With the case of Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes, the production that wrapped up the season at the Blyth Festival or The Streamliners, the opening show at the Goderich Little Theatre, our own local history is on view.

 

In both cases, the stories illustrate, for those born after the Second World War, how different the world was when Canada and its allies fought against Germany, in Europe, and Japan  in the Pacific.

 

The Farmerettes are an example of the changes in farming life, first commemorated in book form by Exeter author Bonnie Sitter and Shirleyan English. The efforts of women in stepping into jobs in factories to replace the men who volunteered to serve in the army has been celebrated many times. The efforts of young women to replace men on farms was not recognized before Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes. Working most often in fruit and vegetable production, the Farmerettes boosted production in areas like the Thedford-Grand Bend area to help feed not only Canadians, but the much larger population of Britain, which was playing host to allied troops as they built up for the invasion of Europe.

 

The Streamliners tells another part of the wartime story. Few younger people these days know that Huron County had  a significant part in the war effort. There was a big airbase at Port Albert that faded toward the end of the war, a base at Goderich at Sky Harbour,  and an emergency base was set up near Grand Bend, now the Grand Bend Motorplex.

 

More permanent were the Royal Air Force base just south of Clinton for training radio and radar operators that became a Royal Canadian Air Force base at the end of the war and the flying base at Centralia. Both these were closed under cutbacks during the government of Pierre Trudeau. The last commander of the Clinton base was Major Francis (Frank) Golding, grandfather of former Citizen reporter Denny Scott.

 

Back to The Streamliners, they were a band set up among airmen at local stations who played for “big band” dances locally. Blyth resident Duncan McGregor is directing the play.

 

I understand from coverage of air shows like Toronto’s at the Canadian National Exhibition, and London’s, that this is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

 

I had a front-row seat to the last days of the Clinton base because I was editor of the Clinton News-Record beginning in January 1970 and continuing until early 1972. I became friends with the base public relations officer and his wife. I was there when Major Golding oversaw the closing of the base.

 

I was a co-worker with Marg Rudd, the woman who won the contest for naming the community that replaced the air base: Vanastra – the “Van” in honour of the new owner, John Van Gastel and the “astra” for Adastral Park, the name of the former air base. She was supposed to win a house at the base for having the winning name but never received it.

 

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was Canada’s contribution to helping the war effort. Canada set up bases and offered a place for air crews from around the world to train without fear of German or Japanese attacks. As a result, Canadians in places like Huron County, which seldom greeted immigrants, had contact with the volunteers from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries who trained there.

 

I remember my mother speaking about attending dances at Lucknow, Paramount (now a forgotten community west of Lucknow) and Localsh and dancing with airmen from Port Albert. I’m not sure if she ever danced to The Streamliners.

 

It must have been an exciting, and still worrisome time as young local men arrived safely in Britain, but then risked their lives at Dieppe, Italy and Holland when they went into action.

 

Few of us remember that era, although, at the performance of Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes Jill and I attended at Memorial Hall, there were three women who had been Farmerettes, including one who was over 100.

 

It was perhaps fitting that we attended the performance in Memorial Hall in its final week, rather than at the outdoor stage. The hall was built to honour those who served their country in two World Wars. Now it provides a venue for recalling the past, like that play.

 

Those of us who are younger sons and daughters or grandchildren of the participants need a chance to experience, as closely as possible, this part of our shared history. We are blessed to live in a beautiful and prosperous country. Only in plays and stories can we relive this difficult part of history.