07/26/2023
In April a good friend brought in an “heirloom” that her father, George, had left her from his service in the military. She asked if knew I what it was and if I might like to “clean it up a little”.
It was a model resembling a firearm receiver and may have been a project as a test of his skill in the operation of lathes and milling machines while in the Canadian Technical Training Corp. He had joined the CTTC as a “boy soldier” in the 1940’s.
Taking it apart was relatively easy, 25 pieces all hand made. A time to build of “56 hrs” was scratched on the back of the mounting plate.
Taking great care, the polishing went without incident but reassembling it with its small screws and pieces may have generated the odd curse. I expect George may experienced that as well although the harshest from him might have been a “darn”. A bit of oil, polish the plaque and it was returned to his daughter.
I am sentimental and it was so rewarding to having been provided the opportunity and honor to work on something he had produced. I love restoring "old stuff" and I'm not suggesting he was peering over my shoulder on the restore but I would like to think he was smiling. It is those memories that can keep you out of a dark hole.
He was a gentleman and he and his wife June resided nearby. Their home occasionally needed a little TLC and it was a pleasure being their handyman. Some jobs bigger than others but maybe on more than one occasion, some taking only 5 minutes followed by an hour or so visit, while enjoying an Ironhorse.
We had several things in common. The most was that we both had families of daughters. He and I also suffered from PTSD. (The daughters having nothing to do with that)
In 1950 He joined the Canadian Army and as a member of the PPCLI served in Korea. He and I would occasionally talk about his service sharing good and proud memories along with a few of the bad which he felt I could be trusted with to understand. In his latter years I would sometimes pop in and find him napping in his leather recliner with a march playing in the background. As his mobility diminished, I was proud that I could help him with his laying of the PPCLI wreath at the cenotaph on November 11.
He passed in 2015 and at his life celebration, June and the girls provided me an envelope stating George would have wanted me to have it. Most endearing was a photo of George, sitting in a military jeep dressed in khaki shorts, a combat blouse and wearing a bush hat. Although much younger, he was easily recognizable sporting his all too familiar smile.
June passed in 2022 and the girls invited us over for a visit while they were going thru the house. Amongst other things, they insisted that I have George’s chair which had sat unused for 8 years. Such a gracious family. It has its’ place in the TV room where I use it near every day.
