No soldier photo found.
Rank Private
Unit # 2nd Canadian Division

Cole had enlisted in Chatham with the Kent Regt.

The CDN 24/12/45 reported that the 22 year old soldier arrived in Chatham after a trip across the Atlantic aboard the aircraft carrier HMCS Puncher and a long train trip with the dream of spending Christmas with his invalid father in Corunna. His train arrived in the in Chatham two days before Christmas only to be confronted by a snow storm and blocked roads.

Knowing no one in Chatham he went to the police station looking for help. The police contacted A. E. Goodman chairman of the Reception Committee. In a matter of minutes Cole was having breakfast at the Goodman house. An attempt was made to drive Cole home by Mr. Earl Glover only to be blocked by impassable roads. Alderman Goodman then made arrangements to have the soldier travel to Corunna vis London and Sarnia. In a matter of hours the young soldier was finally at home and hiving dinner with his family, thankful for the help he had received.

Curator note: I wrote up this story two days after making a difficult trip to see my grandchildren on a miserable trip on the 401 to Toronto. It struck a cord.


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