TURN UP THE SOUND FOR "ANNIVERSARY WALTZ" (THIS PAGE)
(R.C.A.F. 1942-1945)
APPENDIX 6 - 422 Squadron Association
AND IN THE BEGINNING...You might say this book could not have been developed without a "happening" many years before the millenium.....as a revived spirit of friendship. Such an event was in 1965 when Doug and Jean Doern travelled east from Winnipeg for holidays and on the way stopped at Port Colborne, Ontario, for a short visit with Mary and George Lee (after exchanging Christmas cards since the war). |
With Grace and John Stally, and Joan and Ed Newman invited to joining them, and after twenty years since returning, the four men thoroughly enjoyed renewing acquaintance, and never stopped talking. There seemed to be room for more than four in this revival of #422, and on their return to Winnipeg, Doug discovered that Earl Hiscox, also in his own 500 Wing Airforce Association had also been on #422 Squadron. |
One evening with Earl and Flo Hiscox, Jean let them know the plan of a small group getting together, and his reply was: "Why not try and contact the whole Squadron?" Then Art Ross and Helen responded to a notice in a local paper, and it grew from there.Sixty two men and forty-three wives came to the first reunion for a three day event. |
.. 
..
..
..
With meetings between Doug and Jean Doern, Earl and Flo Hiscox, and Art and Helen Ross, they soon became known as the "Orderly Room". Wing Commander Skey and Wing Commander Jack Sumner attended the first reunion, and reunions were held in the following years: |
1970 (Winnipeg), 1975 (Britain), 1977 (Gagetown, New Brunswick), 1978 (Vancouver), 1982 (Britain), 1985 (Toronto), 1987 (Britain), 1989 (Calgary-Vancouver), 1992 (Glasgow), 1994 (Saint John, N.B. & Maritimes), 1998 (Ottawa), 2000 (Northern Ireland), the 30th. anniversary of the Association. |
| Also involved with the orderly room were those who worked in different locations for a reunion such as Oscar Barnett, Colin and Joan Blackwood, Sid Butler, Jack Greaves, Harry Kerrison, Jack Logan, Dave Patton, Ken and Jean Pye, Bill Rodgers, Al Tomlinson, Don Wells, and Brian Young. All bases of the Squadron were re-visited. |
Every reunion the squadron ever had was a worthwhile trip and, except for our precious moments of remembrance of lost comrades during the war and since, always delightfully different.Pictures and stories of one of these as a recent example is the trip to Eastern Canada in 1994, almost 50 years after the war ended... Colin and Joan Blackwood acted as the travelmasters on the 10-day reunion in late September. |
|
WE SENSED HISTORYApart from the hotel pampering (which all enjoyed more as they get older!), the reunion began in the first Canadian incorporated city (1785), Saint John, N.B., with the Mayor present at the cenotaph memorial service. If the city itself were not so impressive and steeped in history, it is next to the largest deep harbour in the world! WE WERE EDUCATED at Saint John. Touring the shipbuilding industry, visiting St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, our lifetime friendships were again renewed over dinner with an accomplished speaker, Donald Kerr, with insight into the modular system building frigates. |
Before leaving Saint John all witnessed the Reversing Falls..... |
The Bay of Fundy's tidal water moves one hundred billion tons of water up the shores of the Bay of Fundy twice daily. During low tide, tidal water drops 15 feet below the Saint John river level, causing the full force of the 450 mile river to crash through a narrow gorge into the harbour. But as it rises in the bay, the river water first gradually calms and then actually reverses to travel up stream. |
| ...AND CRAFTS at Gagetown |
AND FILLED WITH LOBSTER at P.E.I. |
 As the bus arrived in PEI with everyone, the first item for dinner was a lobster night, which pleased all, especially Wes Maxwell.Near Anne of Green Gables, and Stan Nichols (a hardy Manitoban), went for a cold swim at Cavendish Beach. We saw the Province House where Canada was first conceived, the miniature Woodleigh replicas of famous structures such as St. Paul's Cathedral....filled everyone with a pride for his small island. |
We saw the highlights of Prince Edward Island before moving on to the beauties of the Cabot Trail, a gorgeous fall trip. |
| WE HAD GREAT FRIENDS AND GREAT FUN |
Irene Maxwell with Jean Pye above, enjoying a glorious moment wading in the swirling waters of Black Brook Cove.Below at the Causeway Restaurant en route, Ken Pye, Mary Greaves, and June Crookes kept trying on funny hats. |
BACK WITH OUR LEADERAnd so the bus wound back to Halifax where the highlight of the reunion took place, when we had an invitation from our former Commanding Officer Joe Frizzle to join him at his home in Tantallon for a luncheon, with his family present to share the event. His home was in a beautiful setting on the shoreline not far from Peggy's Cove. The wind-up dinner with Joe Frizzle present made it a perfect ending. |
Just like the war days, Alan Tomlinson Joe Corkindale, Larry Giles, and Ken Pye, share a serious discussion at dinner. |
Colin and Joan Blackwood,the masters of travel had given yet another highly successful reunion. |
And in the millenium year June, 2000 squadron members returned to the squadron's base location in Ireland, an exciting and memorable trip was arranged by Jack and Betty Logan, and with the assistance of Irish author Breege McCusker, it was an important event in Irish news and by the B.B.C. |
CLICK HERE FOR 2007 65th ANNIV. TEN VETERANS (PLUS 18 FAMILY MEMBERS)