March 29th In Nevard History

 From 1959 in Bill Nevard's journal. 

Easter Sunday and I was allowed the day off (from Fort San). Mel Pinay working on West 1. Dick and I drove down to the 9 a.m. Holy Communion at St. John's taking the Hutchings and Alf Johnson. We had a congregation of 75 with 60 communicants.

When we got home we set about preparing dinner. Les, Joy, Ralph, David and Uncle Arthur came to dinner to help us eat the turkey. After dinner I took young Ralph up the Woitas hill. Joy played Dick's accordion for a while and Bob Drever came along to see us. Just as they were going home in the car George Birns came over and talked with them. After that we drove down to the evening service taking Alf Johnson. 

2026 March 28 as I drove along that same road 67 years later past Woitas' hill and beyond I did not remember climbing the hill with Bill or anything else about the day. Further up the road as I drove up the Molony coulee out of the valley I took this picture. This little winding back road was the main corridor between Lipton and Fort Qu'appelle back in 1959. 

 

Mary Nevard with sons Bill and Dick about 1918.

Almost 80 Years Ago

A letter written home to his father by Dick Nevard while he was in training at Camp Brandon, Manitoba. Post marked March 9th, 1943. Notice the Knights of Columbus stationary and envelope. All written in pencil in great detail it is an interesting look into the daily life of army training. I've got quite a stack of these letters.

Across The Atlantic in 1944

A letter from Dick Nevard to his brother Bill in August of 1944.
                                                                                                               Private Nevard, R. A.
                                                                                                               L154284
                                                                                                               RCAMC
                                                                                                               Canadian Army Overseas           
Dear Bill:
Well the unexpected has happened and I'm on the high seas bound for the land of your birth I guess. I think from now on I'll give up trying  to predict the future. That stiff medical at Debert never materialized. I guess that 2 or 3 weeks before you get the letter you and dad will get a telegram to say that I have arrived overseas safely.
I expected to be quarantined on the ship for a week or two because Lambier broke out with measles yesterday. But we have heard nothing so I guess nothing will be done.
Next day. Lambier's measles turned out to be something else so don't worry. I won't catch measles.
Our beds are 3 tiers high. They are of canvas stretched across an iron frame and I find them comfortable. The berth we are was reserved for corporals but when the corporals arrived they turned out to be privates. So in that manner we got better beds than some of the officers.
We only get two meals a day but they are pretty fair meals. We can buy chocolate bars and oranges quite cheap here on  board ship. Oranges are 7 for 25 cents so we have nothing to kick about. We wear life preservers as a safety measure although there is no danger.
Well I have landed overseas and am quite ok. I had no sea-sickness. I am in a camp but not allowed to say where. We were told that we would get no leaves so there are no prospects of seeing our relations in England for a while. I will write to Aunt Louie and tell her I am in the land of your birth.
The countryside was pretty and I admired everything. We would wave to men standing near the tracks and they would give us the thumbs up.
I got a five dollar bill changed into English money and got a one pound note and a florin and a penny. We have quite a time talking about and figuring out the English money. Lambier I think is good at but I think he got kind of annoyed because the boys kept coming over to him this afternoon when he wanted to sleep and asked him how much was such and such an amount until he got sick of it. Still I don't think it will take long to get used to once one forgets about Canadian money.
I was not going to send a telegram but then they said that letters get there just as fast sometimes so I thought I would write instead. The quickest way is by airgraph but I couldn't get any forms.
I sent my iron home because the current is different over here and so it would not be any use.
I think I'll like it over here because I will feel I am doing my part in a more necessary spot than back in the army in Canada.
The meals are good and they are better prepared than most camps that I have been in Canada. We had mutton and what do you think? We had peanut butter and that is something I have never had in Canada. I hear that we can buy chocolate bars, two at a time for 3 penny which is as cheap as in Canada.
Well everything is alright so don't worry. My letter will not be so long as usual because in the interests of security we must not mention anything about what we are doing. Just our personal life.
I wrote about six letters on the voyage so I am well up with my correspondence. I just have to finish them off and post them.
                                                                                                                           Cheerio
                                                                                                         Your loving brother, Dick

He did get to visit the English relatives eventually.

New Years Day 1971

From Bill Nevard's journal.
January 1: Started the new year off by resuming work on "The Burning Mountain", second book in the Allader series. The day being fine, we decided to go North and started off just before noonn. I took the 1967 geographics for the Goffs and the 1968s for Silver Birches.
We called in on Mrs. Goff at Lipton and Doris phoned the farm to find out if the road was alright. Getting a good report we continued our journey. Turning West at the German Church we had no trouble. We found the family at home. Also Gladys. When we were nearly through dinner, Uncle and the boys came along. Then later Les drove to Hobetzeders to bring Grace and Ivy over and they were there for a while but Les took them back early to do their chores. Then he drove Gladys down to Belle Van Luven's for supper. Belle had visited Grace and Ivy on Christmas day and got stuck coming home in the evening on old 35. So Les had to go with the tractor and blade and open a road for her to our North grid road. It was 11:30 when he got home.
Our cousins went home in fair time having chores to do and we left about 9:30.
I turned off at the wrong place before we got to the road and Dick pushed on the front so I could back the car up and get on the right track. After that we had no more trouble.

Bill and Dick arrive at the farm New Years day in the 56 Chev.

The Nevard Birthday Calendar

January 19 would have marked the 142nd birthday of Mary (Hall) Nevard. Wife of Ernest Samuel Nevard, mother of Bill and Dick Nevard. Born at Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, she came to Canada to join Ernest on  the homestead in what eventually would become Saskatchewan in 1905.
This photo from the early forties  is possibly one of the last pictures of her. She died in September of 1943.

65 Years Ago In Bill's Journal

1952
November 5: The two Indian women recently admitted to East 3 are Mrs. Nellie O'Watch and Lena Peigan. The latter being Tommy John's cousin.
Dick voted at Bye's today. Dad and I got driven to Balrobie in Sandy Goff's car to vote. Mrs. Wheale and her grandson, Wayne Fushtey, went with us to vote. Then he drove up back to Lipton where Dad bought some groceries. Roy was in town with both Uncles. We had supper at Tom Goff's , then waited for Sandy to drive us home, which he did eventually. We got home around 9 pm. Fred Senft got elected as reeve but the contest between Sandy Goff and August Zielke was in doubt.

Sandy Goff and his Model T Ford with a few friends a few years earlier. 

Heading Home On The Queen Elizabeth

From Dick Nevard's journal. Although the war ended in May of 1945 it was January of 1946 before he  left England on the RMS Queen Elizabeth

January 28
We set sail for New York and said goodbye to dear old England. Saw a cruiser, a destroyer, and a submarine.
January 29
Some of the boys started to get sick but I was ok right through the journey never missing a meal. Went to bible study and sing song.
January 30
Bought a calendar and post cards of RMS Queen Elizabeth. Also a box of 24 chocolate bars. Saw another picture show. Went to bible study at night.

January 31
Sat up on the promenade deck all morning. We had boat drill and then I stayed on deck and took in a picture show. Sweeping promenade deck at 10:00 pm.
February 3
Arrived in New York harbour. Left the ship about 11:00 at night. Had donuts , coffee and fresh milk. Crossed the harbour on ferry and got on board the train.
February 4
Travelling all day across New York. Arrived in Hamilton and had an orange and apple. Arrived at Toronto by dark.
February 5
Travelling all day. It was raining when we arrived at Fort William. Heard the Fort William girls band which I had heard before at Camp Shilo.
February 6
Arrived at Winnipeg and then Regina at 7:00 in the evening. Got blankets and made my bed up in barracks. Then went to Aunt May's.
February 8
Chatted on train with George Macknack on the way to Lipton. Went to Mr. Gray's for lunch. Jim Millward and I hired Campbell to drive us home. I walked in on Dad, Bill, and Uncle Arthur unexpectedly.

Nevards Trip To England

June 4: Gifford took us to see Carlton Church. We saw Aunt Annie's and her parent's graves. After dinner we helped in the garden. I took a snap of Walnut Tree House.

June 5: We walked to East Green Farm and took a snap of it. We visited Sammy and Violet after supper and saw Leslie there too.
June 7: Christine drove us to Sternfield. Later to Benhall and Framlingham. We visited Leslie and Martha after dinner.

1975 Trip To England

Bill Nevard returned to visit the land of his birth , Suffolk and Essex, U.K. in the summer of 1975. A few entries from his brother's journal follow.
May 27: John Strudwick drove us to the airport and we had a nice trip over.
May 28: We landed at Heathrow at 11 am. I phoned Muriel. We went and saw Buckingham Palace.
May 30: We went to the National Maritime museum at Greenwich by river boat. We went to Foyle's book store and then to The Book restaurant for supper. I phoned Kelsale and Gifford answered.
June 1: We went to Holy Communion in St.Paul's cathedral. After dinner we went to Trafalgar Square and saw Nelson's monument and the four lions guarding it. Then on to the National Art gallery.
June 3: We went by taxi to Liverpool Street station and then to Saxmundham where we were met by Gifford. We had a royal welcome at Walnut Tree House. Gifford took us to see Kelsale Church.

V.E. Day

Yesterday, May 8, 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of victory over Europe day. It was a momentous day and mention is made of it in a letter home from Dick Nevard who was stationed in England at the time.
Bill Nevard makes reference to the event in his journal on the 13th of May.
May 13, 1945: Sunday, a special Victory celebration service at Headlands school today at 2:00 pm. Dad and I went in the democrat. Bud and Carol rode with us. Uncle Arthur walked but we caught him up before we got to the school. Uncle Horrie, Joy and Donald went in the cart.  Mr. and Mrs. Tom North and daughters. Ed, Ethel and Bill Dodd. Mr. and Mrs. Millward and Ivadelle. Mr. and Mrs. Radwell and Mrs. Bowman and John. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Barton and Geoffrey. Mrs. Bordass, Mamie and Malcolm. Mrs. Wheale, Mary and Shirley. Mr. Tingey and the same man who was with him the last time.
Roy was home for a while. He has been working for Tom Heggie and now he is going to work for Rudolph Hiske.
I finished writing my letter to Dick. In the evening I went and caught Firelight and Frank, who were both in Uncle Arthur's land, ready for work tomorrow.
Dad went up to Silver Birches.

. A photo of a Church service at Headlands school a few years later in 1951.

Photo At The San

1974 July 18
I walked over to Long's this morning and found out that there is to be a senior citizens meeting in the parish hall this afternoon. Went for the mail and got a letter from Koon-so. A man named Wotherspoon from Melville spoke to me and wanted to take some pictures of me.
3 lads with him and they all had cameras. Apparently they are studying photography with the summer school of the arts. So they took a few pictures up against the West wing. He is a cousin of Mrs. Ernest Senft.
Dick mowed the lawn. I drove down to the S.C meeting. 15 there. Just a business meeting. They are hoping to get the old Pioneer Store for their meeting hall. I got groceries at Suns when I came home.

November 1944 Letter From Bill to Dick

                                                                                     Headlands, Sask.
                                                                                     Nov. 21, 1944

Dear Dick
I have only a week's news to write and nothing very exciting to report. On the 15th I took a load of wheat to Lipton and posted my last letter to you. Donald started out with me but John Senft overtook us in his truck so Donald rode the rest of the way in with him. He was hauling wheat for Uncle Arthur. At the big coulee I met John Senft coming back for another load with Donald. He hauled 4 loads for Uncle and Uncle rode with him the third trip and came home on the fourth.
I got bags of cement to finish the cistern and some planks to make a trough with.
On the 16th we finished the cistern bottom and top. A nice bright day. I had to get a tank of water afterwards. Donald was here to supper. Joy would have come too but she had a cold.
On the 17th I took another load of wheat to Lipton . There wasn't so much traffic on the road as before although it was a nice day. Donald had sent to Eaton's for a pair of skis and I picked them up at the station. Also a carton from Aunt Flo for Uncle A. containing her husband's clothes. Donald went for the mail at night,
On the 18th I was fencing a straw pile and hauling water. Dad making bread. Uncle A brought the mail and I got your letter.
This is now Wednesday morning, the 22nd and I'm eating breakfast. I got 567 bushels of barley. I'm hoping to take the first load of the company's share to Lipton today.
On Sunday the 19th Dad and both Uncles went to Goff's in the democrat. The sale to wind up Alf Goff's estate was held yesterday and Dad wanted to go over beforehand and look the stuff over.
On Monday I took another load of wheat to Lipton. Probably the last for this year. John Senft took two truck loads for Uncle Horrie which pretty well cleans him up.
There were more wagons in town than usual as people were bringing cattle and hogs in to the stock yards to ship. Also it was nomination day for the municipality.
Louis Cohen has injured his shoulder and is unable to use his left hand. He is intending to get an x-ray of it I think.

Back row, Ernest, Bill and Arthur Nevard.

Bill Turns 63

February 20, the wildest day we have had this winter. I walked to work this morning and the wind nearly blew me off my feet going around those two corners. The Eriksens were away and never came home tonight.

February 22, I stayed home today. Went over to Eriksens for a cup of coffee.  The papers say that Saturday's blow was the worst storm in Saskatchewan's history.

February 23. Poor old William Shakebroom has reached his 63rd birthday. Dick gave me a pair of braces for a present. John Isabelle has quit the San after a brief two days work last week. Archie Boyd still in sick bay. The D.V.A. are paying Uncle Arthur's funeral expenses and sent me a cheque for $35 to reimburse me for what I had paid.

January 28 1946, Hogs to Market

January 28: We loaded up four of our young hogs in the sleigh and I took them to Lipton, Uncle Horrie going with me. Not too bad a day but a cold wind developed making it somewhat unpleasant. The sleigh seemed to drag heavy but we got down in plenty of time. Our pigs being the first stock there. John Fleming was right behind us with a steer loaded in his sleigh. After unloading our stock and putting the teams in, John Fleming, Uncle H. and I went to Joe's restaurant for dinner. I went to Andy Gray's after dinner and gave him the certificates to fix up. Mrs. Gray is much better now.
Quite a bunch of teams in at Kellsey's. I saw the train come in but Dick was not on it.
Blowing harder and snowing a bit on the way home. Bud took Carol to Lipton in the cutter about 9 p:m.
January 29: Snowing today so I didn't do a lot. Uncle Arthur went up to Winstanley Grove to feed Bud's pigs. Uncle Horrie and Donald came down in the afternoon with our rack and took their sleigh back and their groceries. Uncle Arthur brought the mail down with two letters from Dick who thinks he will be home in February. Bud came back tonight and told us that he and Carol are the proud parents of a son born at 9 o'clock this morning.

 A somewhat unrelated photo but it shows how deep the snow can get some winters in Sask. Centre is Margaret (Daisy) Nevard when she worked at a farm near Pense in about the winter of 1912-13.

January 13, 1965 Continued

I drove back home for dinner. In the afternoon I went back to Lipton, called on Mrs. Goff. She phoned Joy to let them know I was going to see Uncle Horrie. I drove out to the cemetery again and gave Lerat a thermos of hot coffee. He thought he might be finished about 4:00 pm.
I drove out to the farm, parked by the gate and walked in to Silver Birches. They were not surprised to hear about Uncle Arthur. I did not stay too long as I did not want the car to get too cold to start. When I got back to the cemetery about 4:00, Lerat still had an hour's work in order to finish. I drove into town to see Bud but he had gone off again. So I called around at Mrs. Goff's for a while. Then drove back to the cemetery, waited til Lerat had finished, then drove him home. Hannah came along this evening with a few boxes of Uncle's things including the Waterloo stick.

January 14:Dick and I both off work today and we left home in good time going down to the Fort to pick up Lerat. Inclined to snow a bit but much milder. We drove right up to the cemetery as Lerat wanted to make sure everything was ok. Then going back to Lipton and we left Lerat at the hotel. Then went to Mrs. Goff's where Les, Joy, Ralph, David and Ivy Hobetzeder were there. . Uncle Horrie and Don soon arrived. The service was delayed as Mr Ellis got his car stuck near Jim Potter's and had to be pulled out so we went to Bud's place next door and waited.
Nothing else untoward occurred and at the close of the service most of us went to the grave side. Pat Neil, John Senft, Tom North, Philip Fisher, Manuel Miller and Melvin Grainger were the pall bearers. Then we came back to Goff's for a while. When we thought Lerat had time enough to fill in the grave we went back to pick him up. He wanted to go into the hotel for one quick beer so we left him and went to Our Store to buy a few groceries. We talked a bit with Tom North and Philip Fisher and then Dick went to look for Lerat. Met him coming back from the hotel. We drove back to the Fort and I paid Lerat with a cheque for $25.

Arthur Nevard January 11 1965

When Dick got home this evening from work he received a phone message from Regina General Hospital that Uncle Arthur was in serious condition.  While we were having supper Bud phoned Birns and told us that Uncle had died.
January 12: When I got through my work I drove to Lipton calling in at the San on the way where Dick told me that Mr. Ellis could hold the funeral either Thursday or Friday. When I called at Buds he wasn't home from Regina. He had to go to sign a release before the hospital would let Uncle Arthur go.
I then called at Walton's to see about the grave plot. Then to Mrs. Goff to see if she had any suggestions as to pall bearers. We were expecting Bud to call in on his way home but he never showed up. As we had been up late the night before we went to bed fairly early. Hannah (undertaker) phoned up Birns and they got Dick out of bed to provide the necessary information so he could put a death notice in the Leader.
January 13:  Dick phoned Bud from work and found out that he couldn't start his car when he got back to the Fort last night and had to get a ride home. Bill  Lindsey let me off work at 8:30 and I went home, started the car and drove down to Lerat's home in the Fort. He wasn't ready, told me to come back in an hour so I went home, kept the fire going and went back for him about 10:30. We drove to Lipton and he stopped at the hotel for lunch while I called at Bud's where Mary told me that Bud had got a ride back to the Fort to get his car.
I went to the municipal office and Walton told me where we could dig.  I picked up Lerat and we drove out to the cemetery. We had to  shovel some snow at the entrance where the snow had drifted. I made a couple of rounds with the car and Lerat started digging about 11:45 and I went home to dinner.

A Funeral On Christmas Eve

More from the journals of Bill Nevard
December 24, 1970.
Dick got the Christmas pudding made yesterday and started cooking it this evening. I got the half turkey in to thaw out and we made the stuffing.
 I went to the San for the mail this morning and got my senior citizen's travelling card. The wind was blowing hard and a fellow said the Lipton road was blocked by drifting snow. After dinner Harry Lindsey phoned up up to say he was going to the Sid Phillips funeral and would pick us up about 2;45 so he did and we rode with him to the Lipton town Hall. We met the snow plow on the highway. Snow drifting across the highway both going and coming but we had no trouble getting along. A lot of people there and Mr. Badham took the funeral.
 Dick, Phil fisher, John Radwell, Edwin Senft, Hugh Robertson and one other were the bearers. Pat Neil, Charlie Hook, Fred Wagner, Ernest Senft, Sandy Goff and I were the honorary bearers. We all rode out to the cemetery after the service. The bearers in Edwin Senft's car and the honorary bearers in Ernest Senft's car. Cold and windy at the cemetery although we were sheltered from the wind  by a tarp. Then we drove back to town hall but did not stay for lunch, coming home with Harry Lindsey.

Coming into the valley we passed a car that had gone off the road into the deep snow and been left. We had supper and Dick went to bed for a while. He got up in time for us to go to the Christmas eve service at 11:30 pm. It was not cold and the Church was well filled. Mr. Badham asked me to light the Christmas candle. We had a good sized choir and they sang well but I could not sing in exultation having a cold and a sore throat. I helped Harry to count the collection. It was after 2 am when we got home to bed.

December 1970

December 11: I cut the beef up this morning and Dick took it out to the shed to freeze. Then we jacked up the Beaumont and put blocks under it to take the weight off the tires. In the afternoon I drove to Lipton and visited Syd and Rose. Their daughter, Irene Huber was there with one of her boys. Rose gave me a cake when I left. Then I went to see Mrs. Fisher. Olive was just leaving. Gladys was there. We had a game of Chinese Checkers. Mrs. Fisher also gave me a cake. I visited Mrs. Goff and Doris, then went to Dave's store for groceries before driving home.

December 18: I got up in good time this morning and got ready to go to Regina with Don on the bus. Dick thought he might be along about 9:50 as he had done before. Dick started the car to warm up at 10:00 am but no Don arrived. When 10:30 rolled around we knew we had missed the first bus and were likely to miss the second but just then he arrived with a truck load of firewood. Dick drove us to the bus depot and the bus arrived just as we were buying the tickets and we were the only passengers. One old lady got on at Qu'appelle and 13 other passengers at Balgonie.

Don was not particular where we had dinner so we walked from the bus depot to the Chi Gardens. It was closed, to our sorrow, so we had to look up another eating place and on the way back we landed up at the Town And Country where we had a nice meal for $2.94. We went to the book exchange where I bought six old books. Then Don wanted to go to the Bay so we did. It was the first time I had been in the store. Don bought three records and I bought two. Then we went to the Medical Arts building between Scarth and Cornwall to keep Don's appointment. We got there by 3:00 pm but had to wait until 3:45 before he could see the doctor. I think the doctor was satisfied with his progress. He has to keep on with the diet and come back in two months.
Then we had to go to a special store to get the stuff Don has for his diet. Then to Simpsons where I stood guard on our stuff while Don looked around and bought some shirts. By then it was time to get back to catch the bus. They had to put on a special bus to take care of the home coming passengers and that one was filled right up.

1956 Landslide And A New Chevrolet

58 years ago last week the Fort Qu'appelle landslide was the big local news. As seen here in Bill Nevard's journal.
May 12: We started to clear away a space for our garage today. In the evening I went with George to Balcarres. We saw Bob Greenfield and he took us for a ride in his Chevrolet Bel Air demonstrator as far as the hill down to Lebret. He let me drive back to Balcarres. He has a nice two toned green Chevrolet on the lot but it is a standard drive.
May 13, 1956 Sunday, Dick switched over to morning shifts and I started on evenings again. A landslip has developed on highway 35 a mile west of Fort Qu'appelle and about 80 feet of the highway is covered with earth from the hill about 12 feet deep. Hundreds of people went to see it.
May 14: Dick went with George, Mrs. Birns and Dad to Balcarres this afternoon and bought the 1956 Chevrolet hardtop from Greenfield who is going to two tone it for us before we bring it home.
May 16: Mrs. Birns and I went to see the slide on 35 highway this morning. It has cut a gorge in the coulee 500 yards long.

A partial view of the Fort Qu'appelle landslide in May 1956. Borrowed from the Everett Baker slide collection which you really should have a look at.

On The Road

An edited account of Dick Nevard's trip from B.C. to 14th Field Dressing Station, Wainright , Alberta.

Dear Bill:  Yes, I have arrived safely in Wainwright on May 30th (1944) and found your letter waiting for me. So Bud is back in England now! I wonder if he will be sent back to Canada soon?
Now I'll continue my journey. I think I got as far as Prince George in my last letter. We left P.G. on the 19th. It was dusty but I enjoyed it. Passed through Quesnel in the afternoon and followed the Fraser River. Crossed it at Prince George. I built kind of a shelter out of short straight saplings for the night.
The 19th and 20th we were passing through the famous Cariboo district which tourists like to travel along in peace time. The road curves and twists about in many directions so one is seeing an ever changing scene. It was interesting to hear the various comments the different fellows made. The boys from Ontario liked the mountain sides partly covered with evergreens with the river flowing past. That was lovely. The rest of it was no good in their estimation. I saw a groundhog. It looks like a gopher only bigger, about the size of a cat.
The second night I built a shelter and shingled it with cedar branches. It served the purpose for it kept the snow and rain off all but the top part of my blanket. Some of the fellows got soaked in the middle of the night and had to get up and collect wood to light a fire and dry their blankets. I never heard any of it but heard later that the air was warm from their language.
The 21st was a cooler day. The country side began to flatten out somewhat as we passed into the Kootenay. Sage brush country although it was still mountainous. There was a river running along the valley with willow and poplar trees growing along the banks. We went into the Indian village of Ashcroft to gas up. Then we went into a bull pasture to camp for the night. We set up the canvas tarp covering from the truck and 15 or 20 of us slept under that.
When we arose the next morning it was raining hard. I helped wash the pots at the field kitchen at meal times that day. We had dinner at Kamloops exhibition grounds. It rained most of the day but the tarps over the trucks kept us dry. We camped that night at Salmon Arm where we were in barracks. It rained most of the next day but we had a good time waving at the residents who lived along the roadside. (especially the girls)
At night we put the vehicles in Revelstoke park while we slept in the arena.
The 24th we traveled the longest distance covering 121 miles that day. We went around the big bend and when we nearly around we came upon a wrecker which had gone over the side into the Columbia River the day before. At the time we reached the scene it was being hauled up by another wrecker.
That night we slept in the back of the truck. The following night we got back to the CPR line again and camped at Golden. There was a dance in the Legion building that night. I guess the residents, musicians and girls were quite tired because that was the third night in a row they had been entertaining soldiers.
May 26th we had dinner just outside Field. All that morning we were gradually climbing until at dinner time we were up to the snow line. It looked rather odd to see green leaves coming out on the poplar trees and snow nearby. We could see a coal mine in a mountain side. We went through the Kicking Horse Pass and could look down into the canyon. As we neared Banff in the afternoon we could see mountain goats on the cliffs and crags, and elk down on the green slopes. We slept in the camp grounds at Banff that night where they have those tables with roofs over them. I slept on a table and rolled off during the night but did not hurt myself. In the evening I walked up town going without supper in camp in order to get more time to see Banff. I went to see the famous gardens that Edward North had sent me a picture of . Only a few flowers in bloom. There was a foot of snow there just a week before. Still the layout of the gardens and waterfalls was well worth seeing. I visited the fish ponds and saw fish in all stages of development. And Bow Falls and Banff Hotel.
The next morning we left the Rockies behind and entered the foothill country where Wilf Carter wrote some of his songs about. We drove through part of Calgary which looked quite pretty with green lawns and trees. The lilacs were in bloom. We camped about six miles outside Calgary that night much to the displeasure of some of the fellows. But they were pleased after supper when two or three trucks drove them down to Calgary. I did not go myself. Well at any rate it seemed more like home. The atmosphere seemed different somehow.
Well cheerio Bill
Your loving brother Dick.