“Out over the still water, glinting under an early afternoon sun, a lone trumpeter shrilled the notes of ‘O Canada’. Scattered cheers swelled to a roar, a stevedore tossed a mooring line overboard and in a matter of seconds green water showed between the ship and the dock. A further contingent of the Canadian Active Service Force was under— way, bound for England and the battlefields.” This scene, at “an eastern Canadian port,” was repeated many times and, as had been the case a quarter of a century earlier, Mount Stewart men were in the vanguard. Notable among those who enlisted were five men from the same family, sons of Mr. and Mrs. James Walker of Cherry Hill. In April of 1944‘, Pte. Roy, who had enlisted with the P.E.I. Higlanders in 1941, was in Italy, as was Gnr. Ernest who had been stationed in various parts of Europe almost since the outbreak of hostilities. Pte. Sheldon and Pte. Lorne, both with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, were sta- tioned in England and Canada respectively, while Cpl. Leigh, with the Royal Canadian Air Force, was at St. George de Malboie, Quebec. ’

There were many variations, but the usual course for those who enlisted resembled that which was followed by the members of the 8th Medium Battery which was mobilized on September 2, 1939. All Island- ers, except for 16 from Springhill who joined them during the first week, the men first underwent training at Beach Grove Inn, Charlottetown. On May 24, 1940, they left for further training at Petewawa, Ontario, and remained there until September, 1941 when, after much complaining about inaction, they “shoved off” for England aboard the “Pasteur.” They arrived on September 26th and camped, first at Borden and later at Blackdown, Surrey, where their training was completed. They then assumed a role in the air defence of Britain, combatting the “Buzz Bombs” or “Vl’s” between Dover and Folkestone. On August 4, 1944, they sailed for France, landing on the coast of Normandy. During the bitter months which followed, they took part in many famous engage- ments, such as those at Falaise Gap, Boulonge, Calais, Cap Gris Nez, and the Crossing of the Rhine. Many who joined the navy and air force also underwent their initial training on the Island: the navy at “H.M.C.S. Queen Charlotte,” and the air force at the R.C.A.F. Training School at Summerside.

There was great activity on the home front during the course of the war, and patriotism ran high; indeed, it is remembered that a stranger who attended service at the United Church one Sunday morn- ing and stood with arms folded during the singing of the National Anthem was thought to be a German spy. Bing Crosby’s “Get on the Road to Victory” invariably brought rounds of applause and audience participation in the singing of the chorus at the many Victory Loan meetings which were held in Mount Stewart Hall. All of the drives seem to have been successful, and none was more so than the 9th, at the conclusion of which, under the energetic leadership of Francis Mc- Adam and Rev. W. T. Mercer, Mount Stewart was able to report final sales of $83,250., representing 193.6% of the initial objective. War Sav- ings Stamps at .25c each were bought in large numbers by both adults and school children. The campaignSin this respect were often conducted with specific goals in mind; for example, the “Stamp out the U—Boat” drive conducted during the summer of 1943. A chart kept in Clark’s store recorded the village’s progress from day to day.

Mount Stewart was not found wanting in its support of the Red Cross, and, in October, 1940, after one year of activity, the record of

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