I remember the day well. The Gimli School District #585 had decided to ask all preschool kids planning to enroll in
grade 1  to attend a special informal meeting. The reason was that with the construction of the R.C.A.F base outside of Gimli,  there was a lot of new families in the District. They wanted a head count as space in our school was limited. Well new faces and old were literally hanging from the rafters. All the principal could do was to say “Good Morning”.

Word came that morning that the Canadian Army and other Allied forces had landed on occupied shores in a place in France called Dieppe. As this was designed as a morale booster for the folks back home, the CBC had carefully crafted the announcement ahead of time. There was much jubilation among the teaching staff. More so when it was learned that Manitoba units such as the Camerons were taking part. Due to the Great Depression, many young men and women from the District had enlisted when war broke out in 1939. Patriotism played a part but the promise of free room and board and $1.25 a day also entered into the picture.

Then the second shoe dropped. In one hour the celebrations turned to despair. Details were sketchy but it was clear that the Allied armies had suffered a horrendous defeat. How bad would be learned later when the whole story was known. The battle casualties published in the papers told the grim facts. Unfortunately this was only the tip of the iceberg. In the coming years the casualty lists would occupy pages of the newspapers. Over the years I was fortunate to meet many veterans of the Dieppe Raid. I always had and still do have the greatest respect for the military, fire fighters and police personnel.

The principal thanked all for coming and said a decision would be made at a later date about the now over crowded school system. The outcome affected me immediately. Only those kids who were 6 years old before January could start grade 1. As my birthday was May I had to wait one more year. I always regarded this as my contribution to the war effort.

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August 19, 2012