Maurice Smith and I met for the first time on September 26, 1938 when we registered as students for the Degree Course at the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. It was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted almost seventy years. We were roommates for three years during our College days. After graduation in May 1942, Maurice went on Active Service as a Radar Technician. He served in Labrador, England and India. Not long ago, he sent me a letter enclosing this interesting account. He has given me permission to share it with you.

" D " DAY - 1944

The following entries are from a brief diary I kept in early June, 1944. At the time I was stationed at Tarrant Rushton, Dorset, England on #298 R.A.F. Squadron, a Halifax glider- towing squadron.

JUNE 3, Our whole camp C.B’d (confined to barracks). Something is in the air.

JUNE 4, ( my birthday) Bags of activity! All A/C serviced up 100%. All busy painting white stripes on wings and fuselages of A/C. Something is up, but hard to say whether its the real thing. Rome about to fall.

JUNE 5, (Monday) Rome has fallen. Lots of work here. Nobody seems to know just what the score is. Put on 16 hr shifts. Whole camp expectant, but still not sure if this is " it ", or just another big exercise, as the secret has been so well kept. Kites (aircraft) and gliders in readiness all P.M. At 2330 hrs, the first 6 take off with Horse gliders. As they swing away over the darkening horizon I breathed a little prayer for the crews and troops...the first to leave our station on the initial assault. Off shift and to bed at midnight so did not see the main flight take off later in the night. ( Although we returned to our barracks to rest, we did not take our clothes off for some 48 hours.)

JUNE 6, (Tuesday) Up again before 7 a.m. Everyone listens expectantly to the early news broadcast, but no mention of a landing. Although we all expect it, no official word is received until noon, when reports come in of the vast numbers of ships, barges and planes involved. So this is it at last! Find all kites returned safely. Lots of work getting all in top shape again.

1930 hrs. now we are into it full swing! I am sitting in the nose of one of our kites that didn’t go, writing on the navigator’s table. I have just watched one of the most impressive sights I think I ever saw. The skies were full of planes to-night. Some of the boys said they hadn’t seen so many planes since 1940, but this time they were ours! It gives you a funny feeling to watch them heading out for the coast of France.. In a way you feel exultant....this is what we have been working and training for during the past few years. And now the big moment has arrived.

How will things turn out? It also brings sort of a lump in your throat when you watch all the planes and gliders going over, and you think that soon many of them will be smashed, and many of the troops they carry will be fighting for their lives in hostile territory. But what impresses you most is the immenseness of the whole thing... planes and gliders as far as you can see, circling in the distance while they get into formation, then straightening out in a long line from one horizon to the other. And we made our contribution to it too. Just an hour ago (2130 hrs) I watched while our big sturdy Halifaxes roared down the runway with their heavily loaded Hamilcar gliders, bigger than themselves, and climbed slowly into the evening sky. And now the sky is empty, except for the overhanging clouds with here and there an opening through which the dying rays of the sun do their best to brighten up patches of the green fields or darker woodlands. Every few minutes a pair of fighters can be seen just below the clouds, streaking back to their base.

Work is now at an ebb here, and we are just waiting and praying that all our kites will return again. Sometimes we may get tired working around them, but now that the big push is on everyone is trying to do his bit. We are working 16 hrs a day but no one complains. just as long as we can keep up our end of it, we’ll be happy.

It has been quite cool to-day, with a fresh wind blowing. I’m glad it has been cooler these past few days, as you can work much better in this weather than during the hot spell like we had last week.

Maurice V. Smith
Rdar Technician
R.C.A.F. R. 188025

Following his return to civilian life, Maurice became a Professor of Apiculture at the Ontario Agricultural College which has become the University of Guelph. His wife Catherine and family of four have been a vital part of his life. He still lives in Guelph and we were privileged to get together last June.

Accompanied by his granddaughter, he made a journey to France in September of this year, . He visited the Normandy Beaches where the landings took place on D Day. One special location that they visited was Pegasus Bridge. This was the first objective taken by the Allies on D Day.

Six gliders bearing 20 troops each landed or crashed in the dark near the bridge. They completely surprised the guards. There was a cost as several soldiers died or were wounded either in the crashes or by enemy fire. These were the six gliders that Maurice refers to in his Diary. If you wish to know more, check Pegasus Bridge on your computer.

Maurice says that visiting Normandy was a very moving and emotional experience. After visiting Arnhem and Vimy Cemeteries a few years ago, I can identify with his feelings.

Remembrance Day serves to remind us that our freedom today was bought with an overwhelming price. Wearing a poppy and observing two minutes of silent prayer as thanks seems so little and yet is so much because we do Remember.

Lloyd