Friday, December 3, 2021

From One Combat Theatre To Another

 Milton DeMeuleneare returned home from the war, having had served as a mechanic for the army, and lived out a long life afterwards.


Canadians fought in the Pacific theatre as well. This is a Japanese anti-aircraft gun.


One of the mysteries of the war was the fate of a Canadian flight on a supply run over southeast Asia late in the war. Will Kyle was a member of the crew, and their fate would remain unknown for nearly half a century.


Faces of the past, looking back at us through time.


An initial letter to the Kyle family after the disappearance of his flight.


Another story of the war. Leonard Birchall was a squadron leader assigned in present day Sri Lanka on patrol and spotted a Japanese fleet on approach. Before getting shot down he was able to send out a warning message.


The Battle of Hong Kong involved Canadians, launched in the same few hours as the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japanese forces attacked the city, where Canadians were garrisoned. Many of the survivors were taken prisoners.


Among the civilians who escaped was Canadian Bill Chong, who was in the area managing his father's estate. He would serve as a spy for the Allies afterwards, and was decorated for it.

26 comments:

  1. So many different stories from the time. And strange there was time to laugh even.

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  2. These great men lived to tell their war experiences.

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  3. Milton was one of the lucky ones.

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  4. "From one combat theatre to another" - we do have a way of doing that, don't we?

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  5. Wonder what state of mind these bravehearts would be in during combat.

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  6. It is so important their stories survive.

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  7. @Iris: combat is times of boredom interrupted by intense moments.

    @Nancy: most, anyway.

    @Gemel: definitely.

    @David: that is the way.

    @Magiceye: they knew how to ignore fear, is how I heard it described once.

    @Marie: very much so.

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  8. It goes to show how much of a team effort war is -- and that you need all kinds of people in all sorts of roles to be victorious.

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  9. Now we have another war a Virus war which will probably kill the same amount of people. Probably it's a law from nature we are too many on this earth !

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  10. All of these people were interesting characters who served greatly in the war effort.

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  11. I've never understood why combat zones were called "theatre". "Play" is not involved.

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  12. There are beligerant activities happening every single day...

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  13. All of them are heroes and their stories are important to hear.

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  14. Wonderful tribute to these brave people ~

    Happy Days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  15. Milton tuvo la suerte de sobrevivir a la guerra y poder vivir largos años en paz...otros muchos, no pudieron disfrutar de esa paz.

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  16. @Tom: so it seems.

    @Jeanie: quite true.

    @RedPat: alas.

    @Gattina: possibly.

    @Red: indeed.

    @Sharon: it is an odd term.

    @Catarina: Ukraine, these days.

    @Bill: I think so.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Ventana: thanks.

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  17. I just hope we never have to go through another world war.

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  18. I do think it is important their stories survive.

    All the best Jan

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  19. They all have a well earned place in history with stories that should be told over and over again.

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  20. Wow William Joseph's photo looks like someone from today! Incredible. Enjoyable and informative!

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