|
In Loving Memory Of My Dear Dad
(Claire lemay)
On July 19 2019, Jean-Bernard Le May passed away at the Ottawa
Civic Hospital, in his 96th year. Family and close friends gathered for the burial service on July 23. Beloved
husband of the late Raymonde Le May (Marenger), son of the late Aldéa Roy and late Alfred Le May; loving
father of Michel (Judy), Claire (Gilles), and Lise (Gerry). Devoted grand-father to Eric, Melanie, Sébastien,
Patrick, Josée-Anne, Stephen, Danny and Alex. Sweet great grand-father to Coralie, Kellianne, Nathan, Nicholas,
Jérémy, Gabryel, Lauryanne, Médrick, Victoria and Olivia. Dear uncle of Denise Lalonde. Cherished
great uncle to Sylvie Lalonde-Gaudreault.
Dad was amongst the brave Canadians who fought on the beach of Normandy during WW2. After returning from the war,
he married our mom on November 9, 1946. He worked for the Civil Service for 35 years promoting safety in the workplace.
He pursued a second career in the printing and engraving business. Part of the basement was occupied with a letterpress,
a Multilith, a rotaprint, and scanning equipment. Dad voluntarily printed the High School newspaper, “Le Feu Vert”.
He was creative and patented a unique ceiling hanging clip which sold well on the Canadian market.
Dad enjoyed the outdoors. The entire family, children and grandchildren, have so many fond memories of his cottage
by the lake at Notre Dame du Laus. We will forever remember all the great family meals. There was never a dull
moment with Dad. He enjoyed boating, fishing, tennis, golf, ping-pong, and billiards. He had a passion for music.
He played the harmonica and a bit of piano. He owned a huge collection of vinyl records. He saved an original sheet
music of one of his favourites, “Lili Marleen”, which he retrieved while overseas in WW2.
At the age of 86, he tackled a long-envisaged project, he put together and typed his memoir: “My First Twenty-Three
Years On This Planet”. His long time friend, Marcel Lemay created a web site: www.rcaf127.50webs.com and posted
dad’s e-book, his CD along with multiple photos and documentation of his years in the military.
On numerous occasions, he was invited to attend as a guest and occasionally participate as a guest speaker, to
several commemorative ceremonies. He would proudly give away his book and CD to all the guests such as the King
of Netherlands, the Governor General, the Ministers, the Mayor, the Ambassadors and other Dignitaries.
He also loved singing. At the age of 95, through the Orchard Walk residence’s living Wish program, he fulfilled
his dream to sing with a band Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way”.
A few months before his passing, with the assistance of G. Matthews, (Aviation museum), and his friend S. Palma,
he posted his war memories on You Tube: “Jean
Le May memories of WW2”.
Two days before slipping into a peaceful coma, he sang his favourite song “You Are My Sunshine”. Our family expresses
gratitude to Dr. A. Gauthier for years of utmost devotion and compassion; we are also thankful to the many others
who helped Dad: Dr. M. Labinaz, Dr. C. Morash, Dr. B. St-Jean, Dr. S. Ziai; to all the staff at Orchard Walk for
the TLC and for promoting Dad’s passion for singing. Thanks to K. Belisle, J. Aradani and S. Palma for the exceptional
care. Dad was generous and contributed to many charities. For those who wish to donate, please consider the Montfort
Hospital Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Foundation, or the Ottawa Heart Institute.
|
|
Before I get to the purpose for creating
this e-book and CD, I would like to give you a brief outline of my career as an Administrative Clerk/Accountant/Typist/Bugler
at funerals etc. From the date of my joining the RCAF on my 18th birthday, on August 25th 1941, until my discharge
and back to civvies on March 16, 1946. One week at Valcartier, then two months at the Manning Depot in Quebec City,
in the bugle and drum band parading up and down the main drag to show how smart we looked in our brand new government
issued uniforms. Then came November and that meant a posting to a Kittyhawk Fighter Squadron in Dartmouth on the
East Coast, under the command of Squadron Leader Hartland De M. Molson, who had just returned from fighting in
the Battle of Britain as a fighter pilot with the No. 1 Fighter Squadron.
Shortly after my arrival, I was paraded in front of the CO and was offered a promotion to become an air gunner,
which I immediately declined. Then came an offer that I could not refuse, to work in the Orderly Room as a typist
under the Chief himself. This lasted until August 1942 when I had to decide once again on a choice of posting.
Pat Bay, about 3000 miles away from Ottawa or Overseas. I chose the latter which would probably give me a chance
to travel all over the British Isles. So, England it was.
I crossed over in October 1942, and arrived at Gorrick in Scotland, parked right next to the Queen Mary, then traveled
by train next day right through to Bournemouth. A couple of weeks there and I was eventually posted to the 401
Squadron at Kenley, Surrey. We moved a few times during the next 18 months until the 2nd TAF was formed and the
127 Wing was part of it. We spent a week or so at Salisbury Plains to waterproof the vehicles and wait for D-Day.
On the night of the 5th of June 1944, the sky was filled with a thousand bombers heading for France, and then we
realized that the invasion of France was imminent. In fact, when the sun rose a few hours later, it was indeed
confirmed by our Commanding Officer and the BBC that the invasion had started. D DAY had arrived. We finally moved
out of that muddy hole about a week later and got aboard a large TLC which brought us to the other side of the
channel and JUNO beach. There was no mistake about where we were, right in the middle of air attacks by the Luftwaffe
which kept us pinned under our trucks loaded with jerry cans filled with gas)
So, we finally left the beach and traveled a few miles inland to our destination, a landing strip which was named
B2 (Brazeville) or Crepon, just a couple of miles from Bayeux and a couple of miles from the front lines. This
was to be our home for the next 5 or 6 weeks or until there was a breakthrough at the front, whichever came first.
Who can forget the contrast between the daylight hours and the constant rumbling noise coming from the front, and
the flares dropped by Jerry during the night over our airfield. Who could also forget the CO's Great Dane roaming
around the camp all night long and accompanying anyone who had to use the facilities, a two-seater with canvas
around it. On a more serious side, one of the chores I will never forget was loading the casualties arriving from
the front on DC3's. This was a daily ritual for a couple of hours after supper. It was heartbreaking to say the
least.
As soon as the Allies broke through and captured airfields, we moved. Paris, Brussels, then Holland to an airfield
called Grave (Near Ravenstein} not far from the Nimegen Bridge. The name GRAVE was very appropriate, it almost
became the resting place for more than a few civilians and also wounded some of our own members, thanks to the
regular 4"oclock visit by Jerry's secret weapon, a Jet Fighter called the Me 262. Surprise, Surprise...nothing
could reach them, by the time the order was given to the RAF Regiment to fire their Bofors, the jet was already
50 miles away. This situation forced us to leave in a hurry and move back to Brussels where we spent the winter
of 1944/1945, incidentally the coldest winter on record. How cold was it you ask, I guess you know the answer involving
the brass monkey.
During my stay at Evere (a few miles out of Brussels) I had the privilege of working for W/C Johnny Johnson as
a clerk in the Intelligence Section, typing the daily reports on the pilot’s previous day's activities. I had the
pleasure of having breakfast with the "Air Commodore" when he attended the Fighter Pilot's Association
annual reunion here in Ottawa some 25 years ago. He invited my wife and I to his room at the Chateau Laurier. Some
members had received special invitations to take part and meet with former pilots and attend certain functions
as a barbecue at Andy Mackenzie’s residence, that was quite a night to remember.
This CD is dedicated to all airmen , ground crews and air crews who served under the 2nd Tactical Air Force , particularly
with the 127 Spitfire Wing. Regrettably, many have died while serving in Europe and many more are no longer with
us in this year of 2010, 66 years after D DAY. The photos on the CD are mostly memories of my four and half years
in the RCAF, (3 years and 2 months overseas) Many veterans of Normandy will no doubt remember the visit of Winston
Churchill a couple of weeks after D Day and some members of the 127 Wing will also remember the unexpected visit
of General Eisenhower and Field Marshall Montgomery at our airfield in Germany a couple of weeks before the end
of hostilities. The General took time out before his meeting to sign autographs and also walked all the way to
the other end of the airfield to meet with American POW's just released from Stalag 11B and personally taking notes
while talking to the GI's. Some of them had been wounded in battle and had not received any treatment. Our own
Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King also showed up in Normandy to visit the troops.
There were some good times to talk about The 2 weeks at Goering's Strand Hotel (his personal cottage) on Steinhuder
Meer, and who can forget Paris, Brussels, London, Bournemouth, Edinborough, New York City, etc. Other good spots
that most servicemen in London will never forget....Covent Gardens , the Opera House turned Dance Hall for the
benefit of the troops, the corner pubs , and more importantly the Sally Ann, (Salvation Army) where one could go
in at any time and find a warm meal and a place to sleep while on leave. Another name comes to mind, Irving Berlin,
that diminutive but giant composer of so many patriotic songs like the one we saw that night at the London Palladium
"This is the Army Mr. Jones". While on embarkation leave in 1942 a couple of airmen were invited to lunch
at the Waldorf Astoria with Xavier Cugat (I have his autograph somewhere on the menu which was about 18 inches
high by 12 inches wide. I only brought back the bottom half with his autograph.
Non-stop music during the working hours was heard on all the military bases with artists like Vera Lynn, George
Formby, American Orchestras, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, and many other well known singers of the era. It certainly
was a morale booster. We cannot forget listening to Lord Ha Ha from somewhere on the other side of the channel
with his nightly broadcasts reading the list of newly-captured aircrews. There were also many sad reminders of
the devastation caused by the daily attacks by the German air force on London and other large cities. The courage
demonstrated by the British people during those long war years was an inspiration to all of us.
However, the best moment had arrived, boarding the Queen Elizabeth 1 (along 15,000 others) for the return to Canada,
via New York City, Lachine, then my arrival at the Union Station in Ottawa on the night of December the 9th, 1945
with my family waiting for me. The rest is history.
John (JB) Le May
|
