Various Articles Pertaining to World War 2-Saint Croix Courier

The Saint Croix Courier: Journey Through Time edition

Issue 4 of 6: Good Times, Hard Times: 1926-1945

transcribed by Charlene Beney with permission of The Saint Croix Courier

Various Articles Pertaining to St. George and it's Residents-World War 2

February 22, 1945

Lt. (NS) Margaret McAleenan of St. George and her brother Pte. Gerald McAleenan, of the Canadian Army, enjoyed a happy reunion in Italy in the latter part of December, when they met for the first time in over three years at the Canadian General Hospital, where Margaret is stationed. Gerald spent three days with his sister, continuing on to Rome where he spent the remainder of his seven day leave.

March 8, 1945

St. George native and family freed from Japs

Many friends of Mrs. Ada Jack will be glad to know that her cousin, Clayton O. Douglas has been rescued by the American Forces at Bilibid prison camp, where he had been held a prisoner by the Japanese for three years. His wife , a former nurse from Ontario, who was stationed in China prior to her marriage, and their children, Dorothy and Hugh, were also prisoners. They had been transferred from Baguio, where they were first taken, to Manila and Bilibid Camp. The information received by Mrs. Jack stated that their physical condition was fair.

During their years of captivity the family, although in one interment camp were all separated and were allowed to see one another only a short time each week. An odd incident in Mr. Douglas's time spent in the camp was a friendship he formed with another prisoner, and Mr. Douglas discovered his friend to be Harry McCarten, also a native of St. George, who had left here a number of years ago, and later spent some time in China and the Philippines

April 12, 1945

St. George family has five in service

Five sons, all of them General Service volunteers and four of them overseas veterans, is the proud contribution to the Canadian Army of Mr. and Mrs. Earle Hooper of St. George. The five are; Sgmn. Carroll Hooper, aged 21, who enlisted in 1942 and proceeded overseas in 1943, participating in the invasion of France on D-Day; Pte. Lewis Hooper, age 22, enlisted in 1941, overseas the following year, was wounded in Italy in 1943 and is now stationed in Rome; Pte. Milfred Hooper, aged 25, enlisted in 1940 with the Saint John Fusiliers, went overseas in 1942 and took part in the invasion of Italy in September, 1943; Pte. Joseph E. Hooper, aged 18, at present stationed at Utopia Infantry Training Centre; and Spr. Donald Hooper, aged 20, enlisted in 1943 and went overseas last year, returned to Canada in February, 1945, and is now stationed at Fredericton.

February 28, 1946

St. George-- Flight Officer Mildred A. Spinney, MBE, daughter of Lt. and Mrs. J. O. Spinney, has recently returned home after having served at RCAF Overseas Headquarters, London, England since April, 1943. FO Spinney was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the King's 1945 New Years honours list, and received her decoration at Buckingham Palace November 26, 1945. During her stay overseas, Flight Officer Spinney visited Holland, Germany and Belgium. After spending a leave at her home here, she proceeded to Halifax where she received her honourable discharge and has now gone to Ottawa where she will be employed.

<SPINNEY, Fl/O Mildred Audrey (V30349) - Member, Order of the British Empire - RCAF Overseas Headquarters. Award effective as of 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date, Canada Gazette dated 6 January 1945 and AFRO 89/45 dated 19 January 1945. Home in Saint George, New Brunswick; enlisted in Ottawa, 27 November 1942. Award presented at Buckingham Palace November 26, 1945.

This officer, throughout her service career, has continually displayed outstanding ability in the performance of her duties. During the expansion period of Overseas Records she worked diligently and intelligently on re-organization. An administrative assistant, she has handled the many problems which present themselves with outstanding energy and efficiency. In addition to her regular duties she has voluntarily conducted various trade improvement courses for the benefit of personnel of the Womens Division. This officer's devotion to duty has at all times been exceptional.>

Courtesy G. Christian Larsen

May 2, 1946

Camp Utopia Officially Closed After Splendid Record As a Training Centre

Utopia Military Camp, officially known as A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Center and one of the big reasons why New Brunswick soldiers played their parts so well in achieving victory in Italy and western Europe, closed on April 30, winding up a story of success against all odds which has few equals in the annals of Canada's armed forces.

Although this camp functioned for more than three and a half years in Charlotte County, only five miles from the Town of St. George, and despite the fact that officers and other ranks for this county trained there in numbers, strict war time secrecy prevented the public gaining a complete picture of the splendid work which was done within its borders. Hence there is particular interest in the history of Utopia, noted as one of the finest training grounds in Canada for all types of warfare.

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