Gossip Sheet # 19 - November 6, 2003
Editor: John Lehnen

Program: Remembrance Day

Club Veterans being piped to their tables

Our meeting began with piper Kelly Buckley leading our Club Veterans to reserved tables.

President Brian called our meeting to order today at The St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. Joining him at the head table were: Foster Zanutto introducing our speaker, Rotarian and Veteran George Irvine, Sgt-at Arms Larry Ross new member Peter Mahoney and Guest Registrar Nigel Riddell.

Angus Adams, Kelly Buckley and George Doty

Our veterans introduced themselves as follows.
Lloyd Buckley – RCAF
Ian Macdonald – RCAF
Dr. Bill Orr
George Doty
Angus Adams – Infantry
Jack Coopman – RCN
Bill Ford
Dutch Erling – RAF
Bob Hamilton – RCAF
Hugh Mahoney – RCN
George Irvine - RCAF

Rick Evans recited a poem titled, “Who are the brave”. Rick then sang “In Flanders Fields”.

Rick Evans and Brian St. Hilaire

Guests
Nigel introduced our guests including Exchange students Erik Dirksen (Holland), Ignacio VeraLoza (Bolivia), Don and Sally McDonald (NOTL Rotary), Sandy Peters (St. Catharines-Lakeshore Rotary), Bruce Timms (St. Catharines-Lakeshore Rotary), Greg Shupe (Niagara Falls Rotary), Jean Armitage (St. Catharines AM Rotary), Art Weaver (guest of Rachel Delaney) and our piper, Kelly Buckley.

Announcements

Auction: While the canvass is now officially closed, if there are a couple of stragglers that can be brought in by Friday, please do so. The Auction Committee will be meeting in the Standard Boardroom at 5:00 pm Monday, November 10. John Snowling is looking for people to sign up for Auction duty.

Remembrance Dollars

Marg Jarrell led the collection by announcing that our World Community Service committee is making a donation of $250 to the Canadian Land Mine Foundation. Family members were remembered by Liz Palmieri, Jacquie Herman, Dave Edwards, Sandy Peters, Alex Elliott, Pat Rooney (email from our out-student living in Belgium and will be in Ypres for November 11), David Stevenson, Bruce Timms, Dr. Don Fraser, John Lehman, John Crossingham, Lloyd Buckley, George Doty, Mark Zammit ( his Dad was a lad in Malta where they were bombed twice every day for 4 years), Larry Ross, Peter Mahoney and Brian St. Hilaire. All remembrance dollars will be added to the WCF donation to the Canadian Land Mine Foundation.

50/50 Draw
Our guest speaker won the honour to try and draw the Queen of spades. He drew the right suit but only a Nine.

The Program
Program: Remembrance Day

WWII Veteran George Irvine

Foster Zanutto

Foster Zanutto introduced George. Foster began with a reference to ‘Canada’s Other National Debt’, our debt to the Veterans who answered our country’s call for service. George was born in Grantham and attended school in Grantham and St. Catharines Collegiate. He attempted to enlist in the RCAF as a pilot but was rejected due to colour blindness; however, he was accepted by the RCAF as a Radar Mechanic and served for three years from 1943 through 1945 in Great Britain. Following the war, he joined Clarkson Gordon and earned his CA in 1951. He moved to Thompson Products in 1953 and became General Manager in 1964. He transferred to TRW in Detroit where he ultimately became responsible for 4 manufacturing plants. Upon George’s retirement in 1985 he and Madeline moved to Lake of Bays where they spent 14 years before returning to St. Catharines. George became a member of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines in 1965; a member of the Warren, Michigan Rotary Club in 1978; a member of the Bracebridge Rotary Club in 1986 and rejoined St. Catharines in 1999.

George Irvine

George began by telling us how dim his memory of the wars years is considering he cannot remember his telephone number; however, recognizing how ‘young’ his audience was, he felt that they wouldn’t be able to challenge him.

George promised to relate only his daytime experiences as a Radar Mechanic in Great Britain. The allied forces developed a magical detection device called radar and the RCAF played a major role in the installation of this device into both continental bombers and coastal protection aircraft. In 1941 George attended radar school at the University of New Brunswick and then practical training in Clinton Ontario. He sailed for England from Halifax in 1942 on a Merchant Ship returning for refitting. The ship was rated for 100 passengers and typically of wartime practice carried 200. Two days out of port the engines were shut down for a few hours while the Corvettes searched for a suspected U-Boat. George was sent to a RCAF station in South Wales; there were 25 RCAF among the approximately 2,000 people on station (many of the 2,000 were WAF’s). The Germans did not have radar so the aircraft, hangers and base were heavily guarded to protect the advantage. Since the radar installation hanger was built a distance from the other facilities, the RCAF personnel were issued bicycles. Many more miles were accumulated by RCAF members riding to the pub in Cowbridge than around the station.

The radar transmitted and received sound waves through a scanner. Metallic objects reflect an echo that is displayed on a calibrated Cathode Ray Tube. In this way a target can be determined where none can be seen by eye. This proved to be an enormous help in nighttime bombing. The device was installed on the belly of the aircraft immediately aft of the bomb bay doors. It scanned through 360 degrees. The coastal aircraft were fitted with a similar device in the nose of the aircraft that only scanned through 180 degrees in front of the flight path. The RCAF crew would install, ground test and air test the equipment. Air testing was carried out by flying an approach to an iron rail bridge spanning the Bristol Channel Estuary. The device was required to detect the bridge from a distance of 35 miles and hold it until the aircraft was directly overhead the bridge. Many of the aircraft receiving equipment were Lancasters manufactured in Downsview and delivered to station by female pilot members of the Ferry Command.

George recalls that the weather was not always cooperative in South Wales; they determined that if the seagulls were walking the runways, the test crews would also be grounded. During this period, a new instrument, the radio altimeter, was developed. The RCAF were given the task of installing and testing this equipment as well. This test procedure called for flying below 200 feet. Following one of these tests George and a Polish pilot returned across the coastline without climbing to regain normal altitude. This meant that they were very low over land after crossing over the high cliffs along the coast. George looked out just as they flew over a German POW camp to see all the prisoners running for cover as fast as they could. The delighted pilot had a very wide grin in his face.

George was coincidentally on leave in London on VE Day. He and his friends went to Buckingham Palace and were there just as the Royal Family, followed by Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony to recognize and thank the assembled crowds.

George’s return to St. Catharines included a voyage on the Isle de France from England to Halifax, a bus ride to Burlington (where it broke down before reaching its destination, Hamilton) and hitch hiking the final leg.

George made reference to a column by Larry Smith from November 11, 1987. In that column Larry referred to a woman in St. Catharines who created a scrapbook containing 670 photos of people from St. Catharines who served Canada in WWII. The photos were of those going to war.

But this album also recorded those who were killed or missing in action, those sunk at sea, those shot down out of the air and those presumed dead. These souls were flesh and blood, they lived and loved, they laughed and cried, they had emotions and fears and none of them wished to die. We must pray that no such sacrifice will ever be required again. We remember them for what they did for us.

Lloyd Buckley took the dais and recounted his recent attendance at the opening of the Juno Beach Memorial and Educational Centre in Normandy. This memorial was financed by Canadian Veterans and opened on the 59th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2003. 300 people, mostly Canadians, attended the ceremonies. Over $9,000,000 of the $10,000,000 cost has been raised to date.

The ceremonies included speeches by dignitaries, ribbon cutting, flag raising, bands playing, choirs singing, Spitfires making low passes and a landing by our paratroops, the Canadian Skyhawks. The most moving part of the ceremony was when 43,000 poppies were released in an enormous red cloud from a helicopter; one poppy for every Canadian life lost.

Lloyd is proud to be Canadian; he is proud to have served. Lloyd says those who served are heroes. He thanked George for being one of our heroes; for helping Canada to be successful; and, for being our speaker today.

George Irvine, Bill Ford, Dr. Bill Orr, Angus Adams, LLoyd Buckley, Kelly Buckley, George Doty, Jack Coopman, Dutch Erling, Hugh Mahoney, Bob Hamilton, and Ian Macdonald.

Community Notes

Do you know a member who could use a little extra attention??
If you know a fellow Rotarian who would welcome a friendly phone call, a greeting card or a visit, please let the Seniors Committee know. Perhaps you know about a Rotarian recovering from surgery, or a Rotarian who has recently lost a loved one, or a Rotarian who is just feeling a little low. A phone call or brief visit might be very welcome to those individuals - and the Seniors Committee wants to make sure these thoughtful gestures happen.

Need a lift?? If you know a club member who would welcome a ride to our weekly meetings, please let the Seniors Committee know. We will be pleased to arrange for someone to pickup and return any club member needing a lift. Just telephone Judith Barker (905-984-8766 ot 905-641-1647) or any member of the Seniors Committee