Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 167 In those days we only made about $1.25 a day. Whenever we were in St. John’s, Newfoundland over a 3 to 4-day stint, I would get a bed at the Salvation Army for $1.00 per night. It was like being in a hotel and a bit like heaven after sleeping in those hammocks and it was the best $1.00 I ever spent. On the way to the Mediterranean, the convoys were attacked by u-boats at night and aircrafts by day. Many of the freight transportation ships were torpedoed but we weren’t allowed to stop. We would just scoop men out of the water, one at a time and many men were left behind in the water. One incidence I particularly remember was when we picked up a US Merchant Marine who was badly burnt. I gave up my hammock for him to sleep in and for the next 10-12 nights I slept on the deck. And I don’t think that deck stopped rolling the entire time I slept on it! I recall once we made a half trip to Murmansk, Russia. The reason it was a half trip was because the ship would ice up on one side causing it to tip so we had to go back to Ireland. My superiors recommended me for Commissioning from the Ranks, and if selected I would have been sent to King’s College in Halifax to study. But, they caught up with my eye problem and offered me a discharge. I refused and lied, and told them my records indicated good eye sight when I joined so it had to have happen while I was in the service. I volunteered for Japan but they surrendered before I was sent over. I was released from the military in September 1945 end of demobilization. After the war I went to Nova Scotia Technical College in Halifax and studied Electrical Engineering for three years. It was a special course offered after the war. Upon completion I stayed and taught for five years and then I went to work at Stanfield’s where I worked for 33 years and retired as Vice President. I joined the Royal Canadian Legion Colchester N.S. Branch No. 26 on January 4, 1947. This is my 59th year. I was President when the present building was being built. In 1985 I received the Diamond Jubilee Medal and received Life Membership in 1999. I was also President at the Truro Golf Club, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of the Curling Club. I met Doris Hunt in Truro and in 1950 we got married in Halifax. We have two children, a son and a daughter, who both reside in Truro and two granddaughters. We lost Doris on 29 February 2004 and I miss her very much. If war was on and everyone was joining I’d do it all again! I sure wouldn’t look forward to the seasickness again though! continued ... Sailors ashore Ryland Leroy Marshall passed away on June 23, 2013 at the Q.E.II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==