1985
Pedler Palmer Canada
Myself and Major Brian Hill, the Quartermaster, were 'on a swan' and just meandered about the place visiting spots of interest. Major Brian was a good boss to me and a good friend. He arranged for him and I to be accommodated on a farm some miles from Camp Crowfoot.
Me and Allan Jackson either side of a totem pole - a real totem pole at that.
The camp was renamed from Camp Crowfoot to Camp Crowditz (after Colditz penitentiary), because some of the lads were not allowed to leave because of the live ammunition being fired by the 'mobile guns' and tanks.
Myself, AN Other, Allan Jackson and, the then Corporal Stevie Kinrade - we were supposed to be the Escape Committee.
Major Brian Hill and AN Other having a confab.
The Escape Committee - the lad Jeff Parsonson and myself are holding up had been, allegedly, shot trying to escape.
A dickey bird who adopted our position - we thought we might use it as a carrier pigeon and send a message to Minden that we were being held prisoners in Camp Crowfoot, but after releasing it, it returned to anyone's hand that was outstretched.
Me holding the 'carrier dickey bird'.
Allan holding the 'carrier dickey bird'.
88 and 91. Tanks dug in on the prairie. I was sent out there by Major Hill to take some photographs of a mobile gun which had caught fire. When I arrived I decided to take photo's of other things. However, I did manage to get pictures of the mobile gun, but they are possibly restricted. It caught fire, however, when the Corporal in charge of this expensive piece of machinery dropped his lighted cigarette amongst the packs of 'extra charge' powder used to increase the shot length of the shell. They caught fire and when I arrived the ammunition left on the gun was exploding all over the place. Talk about bonfire night!!! The corporal, by the way was a Geordie Artillery chappy.
As previous.
2 RGJ on the move across the prairie.
93, 94 and 95. Tanks dug in again.
As previous.
An excellent shot of a mobile gun, but not, I hope, a restricted shot because you cannot see the internal workings.
97 and 98. Buffalo that roamed the prairie.
As previous.
Maj Brian outside the farm house where we stayed. The girl on the horse was a champion rider on the rodeos. The lady is the farmer's wife.
Major Brian and myself with the young rider - the dog on the right asked to be in the picture!!
101 to 105 inclusive (excluding 'me') are excellent views of a very famous place called 'Dinosaur Valley', you may have heard of it. There are hundreds of whole dinosaurs laying around (dead, of course). The lady in one of the pictures with me was the farmer's wife - very friendly!!!
Part of the escape committee again.
Me, Sgt Allan Jackson and four AN Others playing cards in the Quartermaster's store
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