Anne MacKinnon recalls him reminiscing about other prisoners who were so desperate that they ate mice and snakes to survive. Tommy talked about the black bread which they were served on different occasions, which might have contributed to his stomach problems. When asked by a neighbour how he was treated while in prison, he said, "We were not treated too badly; food was scarce; but they gave us what they had." Sometime later, Tommy returned home to North, and became part of the family farm, helping his father to maintain it. In 1954, Tommy 's brother-in-law, Angus MacAdam , died very suddenly after suffering a heart-attack. His wife, Georgina, Tommy 's sister, was expecting her fifth child. Money was very scarce at that time, so Tommy suddenly had the task of helping to rear five children. Anne was born on May 5, 1945, and V.E. Day (Victory in Europe) was declared on May 6th of that year, so Anne was christened Anne Victoria . Tommy , a man of few words, simply adored the little red head with long hair, and the only girl among the four boys. When the boys tried to tease Anne, Tommy would come to her defense. He was very kind to the five children, letting them drive the horse and truck wagon during the haying season, and later transporting them here and there in his truck. After all the children left home, Tommy married Sadie MacEachern , and they resided in Bear River North until Tommy 's death on November 19, 1987. He was 73 years old. 131