Dum Vivimus Vivamus: the Lost Identity of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War Dead
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Dum Vivimus Vivamus: The Lost Identity of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War Dead by David Ross Alexander A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfilment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in History Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2017 © David Ross Alexander 2017 I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract This thesis examines the adolescent and wartime experiences of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War dead and how they were commemorated after the war. The memorial plaques on the walls of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute (OSCVI) may have borne close resemblance but the experience of those whose names appeared on the walls was very different. By relying upon the traditional methods of remembrance the diverse experiences of youth and war had been obscured for the OSCVI Second World War dead. The early analysis of this study reviews how Canada’s and the OSCVI’s dead war were interred and memorialized across the globe by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. At the same time efforts were being made to find a meaningful way to commemorate them at home. The decision makers would rely upon the same language, rituals and forms used to remember its First World War dead. But this generation had come of age during the 1920s and the Great Depression in which their adolescent experience especially during their high school years was much different than that of their mother’s and father’s. Soon after war broke out, large numbers of these ex-students enlisted for military service. Not only were they drawn to the army but also to Canada’s burgeoning navy and air force. After all, Canada’s famed Great War flying ace, Billy Bishop, also hailed from Owen Sound. They fought and died in a much more technologically advanced and globalized war than the previous generation of Canadians did. Most died in the air war being waged in European and the Mediterranean Theatres of War while others lost their lives when the First Canadian Army became actively engaged in the ground war. Some were lost at sea during the Battle of the Atlantic while a few succumbed to frivolous accidents after peace had been achieved in Europe. The identity the OSCVI Second World War dead had forged through their youth and war experiences was lost in their commemoration. iii Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank Doctor Geoffrey Hayes for his consultation and assistance in completing this thesis. Doctor Ian Milligan also of the University of Waterloo provided much guidance in developing the Neatline exhibit entitled Dum Vivimus Vivamus: Mapping the Second World War Memory of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute War Dead. Doctor Cynthia Comacchio of Wilfrid Laurier University offered many insights regarding Canadian youth who grew up in the interwar years. I have always been influenced by Professor Terry Copp’s sage approach to researching and writing history. A quartet of individuals from the University of New Brunswick’s Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society including Doctors Cindy Brown, Lee Windsor, Alan Sears and Marc Milner imparted useful advice and encouragement in this process. Major Mathias Joost of the Department of National Defence’s Directorate of History and Heritage and Catherine Paterson of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission furnished many insights into researching Canada’s war dead. Kevin Lambe provided valuable research documents regarding Rifleman Ernest Gilbank. Locally, much support and assistance was afforded by members of the OSCVI Alumni Association and staff of the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library. I am finally indebted to my former students, teaching colleagues and family for their support and interest in this history. iv Table of Contents Author’s Declaration ……………………………………………..………………………….. ii Abstract ……………………………………………………..………………………………... iii Acknowledgements ……………………………………………..……………………………. iv List of Figures …………………………………………………………..……………………. vi List of Tables …………………………………………………………………..…………….. vii Chapter: 1. Introduction to the OSCVI Second World War Dead ……….................................. 1 2. Commemorating Them …………………………………………………..………. 31 3. Their Early Footprints ……...……………………………………………….…… 56 4. Their War on the Sea and the Land …………………………………………..….. 90 5. Their War in the Air……………………………………………………..……… 142 Bibliography …………………………………………………………………..…………….. 190 Appendices I. OSCI Great War Death Register ………………..……………………..……………….. 204 II. OSCVI Second World War Death Register ……………………………………………. 206 III. Educational Achievement and Previous Military Experience for the OSCVI Second World War Dead ……………………………………………………………………..………… 209 IV. OSCVI Memorial Roll …………………....…………………………………………….. 213 V. We Regret to Inform You: Tracking the Notification of the OSCVI War Dead in the Owen Sound Sun Times …………………………………………………………………….….. 218 VI. Where They Lie Today: Postwar Interment and Memorialization of the OSCVI Second World War Dead ……………………………………………………………...………… 222 VII. Where They Lie Today: Postwar Interment and Memorialization of the OSCI First World War Dead ………………………………………………………………………………. 227 VIII. OSCVI War Memorial Fund Letter Log ……………………………………….……… 232 v List of Figures 1.1. Dum Vivimus Vivamus Mapping the Second World War Memory of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute War Dead…………………………………….…….… 9 2.1. Interment and Memorialization of the OSCVI Second World War Dead in Europe….…. 34 2.2. Interment and Memorialization of the OSCVI Second World War Dead in Canada ……. 36 2.3. Interment and Memorialization of the OSCVI Second World War Dead in Africa and Asia ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 37 2.4. OSCVI Second World War Memorial Plaque ……………………………………....…… 44 2.5. The OSCI Great War Memorial ……………………………………………...……….….. 46 2.6. The OSCVI Second World Memorial and Memorial Cabinet ………...…………….…… 49 3.1. OSCVI Second World War Dead Date of Births ……………………………………....… 58 3.2. Early Footprints of the OSCVI Second World War Dead …………………………..……. 59 3.3. Location of the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute ………………...…..….. 71 4.1. Location of Fatalities for OSCVI Second World War Dead ………………………...……. 93 4.2. Their Sea War ……………………………………………………………………….…… 105 4.3. Location Private Harry Tucker’s Fatal Casualty at Puys, France ………...……………… 110 4.4. Location of OSCVI Second World War Dead Fatal Casualties of the Italian Campaign .. 113 4.5. OSCVI Fatal Casualties Associated with the Normandy Campaign ……..……………… 120 4.6. OSCVI Fatal Casualties Associated with the Battle of the Scheldt …………………...…. 126 4.7. OSCVI Fatal Casualties Associated with the Liberation of the Netherlands …………..... 127 5.1. Their Air War in Europe ………………………………………………….……………… 146 vi List of Tables 2.1. OSCI / OSCVI First and Second World War Dead: How were they commemorated? ....... 32 2.2. The First and Second World War Dead of the OSCI / OSCVI and Canadian Forces: Where Were they commemorated? ………………………………………………………….….... 32 3.1. Decades in which the OSCI Great War Dead were born ……………………………….…. 57 3.2. Decades in which the OSCVI Second World War Dead were born ………………….…… 57 3.3. Place of Birth for OSCVI Second World War Dead …………………………………….... 58 3.4. Place of Birth for OSCI Great War Dead …………………………………………….…… 60 3.5. Average Height and Weight of the OSCI Great War Dead versus the OSCVI Second World War Dead …………………………………………...……………………………………… 60 3.6. Vocations and Marital Status of the OSCI Great War Dead versus the OSCVI Second World War Dead ………………………………………………………...………………………… 62 3.7. Professed Religion of the OSCI / OSCVI First and Second World War Dead …………… 63 3.8. Reported Complexion for the OSCI / OSCVI First and Second World War Dead …..…… 64 3.9. Age of Enlistment for OSCI Great War Dead versus the OSCVI Second World War Dead ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 65 3.10. Population by Selected Ethnic Origins for Owen Sound, 1901 – 1941 ………………….. 68 3.11. When did they leave the OSCI / OSCVI? …………………………………..……………. 70 3.12. OSCI September Enrollments, 1912 to 1920 …………………………………………….. 70 3.13. OSCVI September Enrollments, 1929 to 1943 ……………………………………...…… 70 3.14. Educational Achievement of the OSCVI Second World War Dead ……………….…….. 73 3.15. OSCI / OSCVI Students who served during the First and Second World Wars by Gender ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 81 3.16. OSCVI Students who served during the Second World War by Service Arm ………..…. 82 4.1. OSCI Great War Dead Military Service …………………………………………...……… 91 4.2. Location of Fatal Casualties of the OSCI Great War Dead ………………………..……… 91 vii 4.3. Canadian Forces Personnel versus OSCVI War Dead Second World War Choice of Military Service by Branch of the Armed Forces ……………………………..…………………… 92 4.4. Location of Fatal Casualties for OSCVI Second World War Dead ……………………… 93 4.5. First Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force Second World War Fatal Casualties by Theatre of War …………………………………………………..………………………… 95 4.6. Incidence of Fatal Casualties for the OSCI Great War Dead (by year) ………...………… 96 4.7. Incidence of OSCVI War Dead Fatal Casualties versus Second World War Fatal Casualties of the Canadian Forces by Service Arm (by year) ……………………………………..….. 99 5.1. Squadron Affiliations of the OSCVI Second World War Dead at the Time of Their