A Sapper’s War - 12 Fld Coy RCE History, Part 17: March 1945 – Joining the War in Northwestern Europe
A Note on Blog and Book
This series of blogs, entitled "A Sapper's War" follows some units of the Royal Canadian Engineers in World War 2, primarily the 12th Field Company, which was my father's unit. The main sources are the unit War Diary, Daily Orders, official military histories, and The History of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers Volume 2. I will also include some personal accounts of his, when this is appropriate to the history.
The
blogs will mostly relate to their time in Italy, from Oct 1943 to Jan 1945,
though it will ultimately be extended to the later events in Northwestern
Europe and the earlier events in the U.K.. They will be put together in
book form eventually, but until that time the blogs will be available for
interested readers on this "Dodecahedron Books" blog site. I
encourage anyone who in interested to read the blogs, and buy the book when it
comes available.
Naturally, I am claiming copyright, though you can make "fair use" of content, of course, if you are writing about similar times and events.
Though the overall history of the war will be noted, as context, the text mainly relates to the experiences of the 12th Field Company, as indicated in their War Diary and related orders, and other documents. If you want a more general history of the war, there are many other sources to more completely fill in those details.
There will be a fair bit of focus on what might be called "social history", in addition to the sometimes routine, sometimes harrowing military activities of a group of Allied sappers in the Italian Theatre of WW2. The daily orders and company War Diary often provide an interesting window into this day-to-day world that the strictly military lacks.
Though this account is based is a Canadian engineer company, it is likely that British, other Commonwealth and American sappers would have lived through similar experiences at this time, so families and interested parties from those nations might also find it interesting.
I will fill in links to the blog series below, as they are posted.
Oct 1943: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Nov 1943: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Dec 1943: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history_30.html
Jan 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Feb 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history_27.html
Mar 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Apr 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
May 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Jun 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history_31.html
Jul 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/06/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Aug 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Sep 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Oct 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Nov 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history_21.html
Dec 1944: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history.html
Jan 1945: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-sappers-war-12-fld-coy-rce-history_31.html
Feb 1945: https://dodecahedronbooks.blogspot.com/2021/02/12th-fld-coy-rce-february-1945-stepping.html
March 1945 – Driving through France and Joining the War in Northwestern Europe
The movement to Northwestern Europe of the elements of the Canadian army that had been in Italy was now in full swing. Operation Goldflake was its name. It was a massive administrative undertaking that came off surprisingly well. The order of movement was:
· 1 Canadian Corps H.Q. moved first (13 Feb – 3 Mar),
· followed by 5th Cdn Armoured Division (13-27 Feb),
· then 1st Cdn Armoured Brigade (26 Feb – 12 Mar),
· and finally 1st Canadian Infantry Division (25 Feb – 23 Mar).
From Marseille, France to Leuze, Belgium was about 660 miles or about 1050 kilometers (according to the “Goldflake” document). There were 5 bivouac areas, about 100 to 130 miles apart, along the route. After reaching Belgium, units would be dispersed to join up with their assigned new comrades-in-arms. Where that would be would depend on various strategic considerations and the progress of the war.
Generally speaking though, it would be relatively close to the northern coast of northwestern Europe, as that was the area assigned to Canadian troops during this stage of the war. By now, that meant Belgium, Holland or Germany.
Then it would be back to the regularly scheduled war. Although there was only about 2 months left in the European war, nobody could know that in March. By this time, the Germans were definitely in retreat, but it was a fighting retreat. And Canadians who had served in Italy knew just how skilled the German army could be in retreat.
12 Field Company War Diary, March 1945
Following is a condensation of the 12 Fld Coy War Diary notes for March 1945.
March 1 to 6 – Marseilles, France to Cambrai, France
Upon landing in France and moving to the transit camp, the company cooled its heels for a couple of days, busying itself with maintenance and inspections. It then learned that its destination was to be joining up with 1st Canadian Army, now in Germany.
They then took their trucks and headed off, passing through a number of other staging camps along the way. The war diarist notes that “A highlight of the march was the sight of hundreds of German vehicles and guns of all descriptions destroyed by the Air Force along Route 2 from Orange to Valance”.
By the end of the week, they were in Cambrai, France, sight of some huge battles in WW 1. That included the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a famous action in Canadian history. It also included the first use of tanks in warfare, by the British. The city suffered serious losses during WW2, first by the Luftwaffe in 1940 and eventually by the Allies in 1944.
An RCAF bomber went down near Cambrai in June of 1945. One member of the crew amazingly survived the crash without bailing out. The flight captain won a Victoria Cross posthumously, for going to great efforts to free that same man, a tail gunner who was trapped in the back of the burning plane.
March 7 to 12 – La Hulpe, Belgium
The company was now billeted in La Hulpe, Belgium. They had a fairly quiet week, with several officers and NCOs obtaining 7 days leave in England and the remaining personnel engaged in personal and vehicle maintenance. A number of sappers were loaned to a Royal Engineer outfit for a few days, on an unspecified works project. The local café owners threw some dances, which the men enjoyed immensely.
March 13 to 18 – La Hulpe, Belgium to Reek, Netherlands
The company were now in La Hulpe Belgium, about 60 km from the French border. The town was also just down the road from Waterloo, also a location of some historical note.
They were then visited by a number of highly placed officers, among them Brigadier Walsh, C.E. of 1st Canadian Corps (i.e. the commanding officer of the Engineers). He and some other big shots gave them a hearty welcome to Northwest Europe. Some more officers and sappers also received 7 days leave to the U.K..
The company was now given Sten guns, to replace Thompson Machine guns, that they had to leave behind in Italy. I gather that wasn’t an altogether welcome trade, as the Stens were fairly notorious for jamming.
They then loaded into their vehicles and headed to Reek, Holland, where they settled into billets and were to be headquartered for the next 8 days. They then got back into the business of military engineering.
1 Platoon was to head to Nigmegen to train (along with a R.E. company) on the construction and maintenance of floating booms which were meant to protect floating bridges from underwater mines that could be floated down the river by the enemy to destroy the bridges at Nigmegen. 2 Platoon was to engage in rafting training on Class 40 rafts at Ravestein. 3 Platoon would be given road maintenance, though the various duties were to be rotated among the platoons.
March 19 to 22 – Reek, Netherlands to Nigmegen, Netherlands
The platoons carried on with their respective jobs of training on Bailey pontoon rafts, working on the river booms, and maintaining a supply dump. By week’s end the officers began returning from their respective leaves in England and 3 Platoon started its Class 40 raft training. There were some changes in officer complement as well, with one going to the Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit (CERU) in the U.K.
March 23 to 26 – Nigmegen, Netherlands
1 Platoon offloaded a Class 40 raft into the Wall River and took over maintenance chores at some important bridges and roads in Nigmegen. 2 Platoon worked on rafting on the Mas River at Ravenstein and also prepared an exit for a ferry crossing. 3 Platoon was helping out with a stores depot for the RCASC (Army Service Corps).
Later during this period, 1 Platoon a Class 40 raft in order to launch an 8 ton Bailey anchor (i.e. for a bridge site). They also took infantry on storm boats to position them upstream in order to machine gun anything coming downriver that could hit the booms or bridges. 2 Platoon continued working with Class 40 rafts on the Mas. 3 Platoon moved back to where HQ Platoon was located, though it held a few men back to continue helping the RCASC with their depot.
Both 2 and 3 Platoon then set to work on some bridging over the Mas, a 210 foot triple-single Bailey bridge as well as some piers for a Class 70 bridge and a Class 40 Folding Boat Equipment bridge.
March 27 to 31 – Nigmegen, Netherlands
1 Platoon continued with bridge and boom maintenance. One section also carried on with providing storm boat service for infantry to patrol the river while on protection barges.
2 Platoon dismantled some bridging that was no longer needed and improved the Bailey rafting site. They also installed a sliding bay at the Ravestein site.
A section of 3 Platoon helped with that,
while another section continued with the RCASC job. Later they ferried
tanks at Ravestein with the Class 40 raft, both day and night. 2 and 3
Platoon also had training on the Polish Mine Detector Number 4.
Other Notes and Observations from March 1945
Following are some selected quotes from the report on Operations during March 1945 in France and Belgium, written by the military (Report Number 181, Operation "GOLDFLAKE", the Move of 1 Cdn Corps from Italy to North-West Europe, February-March 1945):
1 – The Drive through Europe
This trip must have been a relief after the 14 months in Italy. For a couple of weeks there was no fighting, no road work, no bridges to build and no mines to disarm. The trip was well planned and the men were taken care of properly. Plus, the civilians of France were happy to see Allied troops (they were liberators), while the civilians of Italy were more ambivalent in their attitude to Canadian troops (conqueror, liberator, co-belligerent, or ally?).
“After the squalor and filth of the Italian towns and cities, Southern France was a welcome change, as noted in 1 Cdn Corps' War Diary:
The drive to the camp took us through Marseilles. The contrast to an Italian city was very great. The streets were clean, the people clean and well dressed and the shops full. Except in the dock area, there was very little bomb damage. The people appear very friendly, every child and many adults waving to us as we rolled by.” (page 21)
“The road route through France was well marked with "GF" signs at all junctions and bends, and while accommodation arrangements were not all that could be desired in the early stages of "GOLDFLAKE", this situation was soon corrected. Each staging camp provided a hot meal for every convoy, and as morale was very high in view of the move there was no grousing. In addition, the Auxiliary Services were much in evidence at all camps, providing plenty of picture shows, chocolate bars and free cigarettes.” (page 22)
2 – Hospitals Leave Italy
It was an awkward time to be injured, for my dad and others. Some hospitals were closed and some were transferred to Northwestern Europe, where they would take care of the wounded in that theatre. It probably wasn’t the greatest time to be convalescing, given the uproar that the facilities must have been in, as they packed up and left. I suppose it was like a “bug-out” on the old M*A*S*H television show, but on a much larger scale, though without the panic of retreating from the enemy.
“Of the hospitals located in Italy, 14 and 15 Cdn Gen Hosps were disbanded, and personnel returned to England in April. 1, 3 and 5 Cdn Gen Hosps were despatched to North-West Europe by way of Naples; 3 Cdn Gen Hosp left Cattolica on 16 Feb, 1 Cdn Gen Hosp departed from Jesi on 28 Feb and 5 Cdn Gen Hosp from Rome on 7 Mar. Owing to there being no facilities for female personnel in staging camps, Nursing Sisters were staged in Rome at the Canadian Officers' Hotel - the "Chateau Laurier" - and were not called forward for embarkation until the last possible date. Where necessary, they were lodged for one night in Naples at the Nursing Sisters' Rest Home or at 194 Brit Gen Hosp. On arrival at Marseilles, Nursing Sisters were despatched by air from Martignano Airport to North-West Europe. 28 Cdn Gen Hosp, a 200-bed hospital at Avellino remained until 19 Apr when it was disbanded, and personnel despatched to the United Kingdom. Various small units, some of which had been formed especially for service in the Mediterranean, and others which would duplicate similar unit is already in North-West Europe, were disbanded and their personnel returned to the United Kingdom.” (page 30)
And here’s a parting story from the Engineers’ perspective, as found in “The History of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers”:
3 – No Regrets
The History of the Engineers is in conflict with the “Goldflake” document as far as mileage for the trip goes (my instinct says an engineer will have the more accurate figure) but they were in agreement on the fact that the troops leaving Italy had no regrets about the matter.
“From Naples and Leghorn the troops moved by sea to Marseilles; then on through France by St. Rembert, Macon, Les Laumes and Melun to a dispersal point in Cambrai. The total road mileage was about 1150 miles…If the War Diaries are any indication, no unit seems to have had any regrets at having to leave the “sunny” Mediterranean.” (page 262)
4 –Disaster for the 11th Fld Coy
March 1945 was a largely travel and settling in month for 12 Fld Coy, so there were no dramatic incidents to report. The same couldn’t be said for 11 Fld Coy, who were very unlucky indeed.
“On the 18th March a number of R.M1 43 mines were reported along the road, ditch and woods a few hundred yards from our camp. Some had been lifted by our infantry and a number remained in the ground. Lieut Owen Taylor took out a small party from HQ pl and lifted the rest of them, and placed them in two dumps, near the road. After lunch they started out to remove the mines to a nearby Anti-tank ditch to destroy them. The party just arrived at the first dump when it went up killing Lieut. Taylor, Sgt. Richards, C.V., and Sprs Brown, Steffler, Sponagle, Mayo, Anderson, Inkpen, and McLellan. As everyone in the party was instantly killed the cause of the explosion will forever remain a mystery and the most unfortunate accident to befall the 11th Fd Coy during its many months in action. Our padre H/Capt CacRitchie conducted the funeral service at the Bedburg Cemetery where they were buried.” War History 11th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers 1945’, John Silz (page 21)
Orders and Documents Archived with the 12 Fld Coy War Diary, March 1945
Following are some selected quotes from the documents associated with the 12th Fld Coy War Diaries during March 1945:
1 – Privileged Leave to the U.K.
As is clear from reading the War Diary, leave to the U.K. (and Canada) was becoming a significant issue. For a group like 12 Fld Coy, who had been far away in Italy this prospect must have seemed awfully exciting. No doubt there would have been some griping about who got to go first and just how quickly people could get their leave. So, this order seems to be an effort to keep these expectations from getting out of hand.
March 27, 1945
Under NO circumstances should definite dates be given to relatives or friends in the U.K. when personnel expect to be there on leave. Everyone can count on getting their leave, and everyone will get their leave, but no one is in a position to state exact or approximate dates as to when they will be in the U.K.. This only misleads and disappoints relatives and friends. All officers and NCOs down to and including L/Cpls are being given their leave first, as when operations start they will not be able to be spared, but as many sappers as possible are being sent each time. Sappers leaves will continue irrespective of operations. There are the added circumstances of weather and tides which can do affect the time and day that boats can cross the channel.
2 – Rotational Leave to Canada
This must have been even more enticing to the men. With the end of the war in sight (though nobody knew how many months it would be), sappers and soldiers would be sharpening their pencils and calculating their scores, in order to see where they stacked up in terms of leave, and ultimately in terms of demobilization. Here is an example of the mathematics of the situation.
I would estimate my dad would have had (35 months overseas) + (16 months theatre of ops) + (wound) = 35+16+6=57. So, no go. Since his wife was in the U.K., a trip to Canada probably wouldn’t have been of much interest anyway. Plus, at this point he was recovering from his land mine wound (foot injuries can take a surprisingly long time, especially to recover to the standards needed in the army).
March 27, 1945
1 Candidates for Leave No. 4 will be based on points system as was in effect in the last theatre.
2 Henceforth this leave will be based on the following system:
a) All ranks must have a basic service score of 60 points based on satisfactory continuous service overseas. Satisfactory services is defined as all services except time spent in detention, field punishment, imprisonment or penal servitude, and this also excludes personnel who have had a bad disciplinary record during the 12 months preceding date of application.
b) Service in a theatre of ops will count double. Total service will be reckoned as the total number of months and days (the latter expressed as a fraction of a 30 day month e.g. 19/30) since date of TOS Cdn Army Overseas plus the number of months and days in a theatre of ops (i.e. exclusive of U.K. and Iceland).
c) One point is given for each month of satisfactory continuous service under (a) and (b) above in computing score.
d) One point will be deducted for each month spent in detention, field punishment, imprisonment or penal servitude.
e) The basic service score will be subject to the following additions where applicable:
(i) Six points will be added for each wound up to a maximum of two, where the wound entitles the individual to a wound stripe, and
(ii) Six points will be added where the individual has a wife residing in Canada or the U.S.A..
3 It is emphasized that unless the individual has a basic service score of 60, paragraphs 2e(i) and (ii) do NOT apply. This system may be slightly amended particularly regarding bonus points.
4 Proforma will be sent to platoons to have service entered. Punishments will be entered at Company HQ.
3 – Goodbye from Italy, from those Staying Behind
The sappers weren’t generally sorry to leave Italy, but they probably had some regrets about leaving Allied comrades behind, that they had worked with for more than a year. I imagine that these allies were sorry to see the Canadians go, as well. Here’s a message from the C.O. of the troops that they were leaving behind.
Personal Message from the Army Commander
To All Ranks 1 Canadian Corps
Now that 1st Canadian Corps is leaving the Eighth Army, I want to thank you all for your splendid contribution to the successes of the Eighth Army in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns.
As a Corps, you had, after a long period of training, your first battle experience with the Eighth Army. In the Sicilian battles and in those ensuing you showed a magnificent fighting spirit, skill, determination and endurance; and these qualities produced the successes they deserved. In the battles of the Sicilian campaign, in the landing in Italy and the advance to Campobasso, at the crossing of the Moro and the capture of Ortona, in the advance up the Liri Valley and the breaking of the Hitler Line, in the breaking of the Gothic Line and the capture of S. Fortunato, and finally in the capture of Ravenna and the advance to the Senio, in all of these you have maintained and enhanced the great reputation that Canadian arms established in the last war at Vimy Ridge and other historic battlefields.
You leave at a time when we can look forward with confidence to an early and final victory over the Germans. To this, your contribution has already been outstanding, and whatever the future may bring I am confident that your progress will be as distinguished as it has always been in the past while serving with the Eighth Army.
We shall miss you much.
All good luck.
R.L. McCreary, G.O.C. Eighth Army.
Some Family Stories Related to March 1945 Events
Hospitals and Convelesance
For a general run-down of the process of casualty clearing and treatment, I have included an appendix, which is based on a historical report by the medical arm of the Canadian military of that time. I have also included a map of where the main medical facilities in Italy were located, from that same source (note that the scale on the map seems way off).
In my dad’s case, the army records show the following movements and transfers that happened after receiving his wound.
Date Unit Area Comment
2-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy AHFQ Admit 1 CGH
11-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy AHFQ SOS to X3 Unit RCE
11-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy AHFQ Wounded DNR admit to CGH
11-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy FD B.C. Injured (acc)
11-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy FD SOS to X3 Unit RCE
12-Feb-45 X-3 RCE FD TOS from 12 Fld Coy
13-Feb-45 12 Fld Coy AHFQ Transferred 14 CGH
1-Mar-45 12 Fld Coy AHFQ Discharged 14 CGH
14-Mar-45 X-3 RCE FD SOS to X-8 list
15-Mar-45 X-8 RCE FD TOS from X-3 list
6-Apr-45 12 Fld Coy AA1 Embarked for UK
6-Apr-45 X-8 RCE FD SOS X-8&CA(CMF) EVAC to UK
18-Apr-45 EX IT/54 B AFW/5169/40 UK Disembarked, UK
So, after receiving his wound on February 2, 1945, he was admitted to 1st Canadian General Hospital (600 beds), though there must have been some field treatment before that. The accompanying map shows 1 CGH to be located in Jesi, some 160 km from Ravenna. On Feb 11, he was moved to the larger 14th Canadian General Hospital (1200 beds), in Perugia and at the same time was transferred from 12th Fld Coy to X3 Unit RCE. This was a code for all ranks evacuated on medical grounds behind Regimental Aid Posts.
Apparently the wound was bad enough to keep him in the hospital until March 1. By that time 12 Fld Coy was on its way to Northwestern Europe, so it looks as if he couldn’t very easily rejoin them. There must have been a couple of weeks of waiting, until he was taken off the X-3 list and put on the X-8 list on March 14. That was a code for all non-effective held at Base Reinforcement Units whose return to the UK has been authorized.
Then there were a couple more weeks of waiting, until on April 6 he embarked for the U.K., though it took until April 18 for him to arrive there. That seems like a long time for a trip from the Mediterranean to Britain given that the U-boat menace was no longer operative, but maybe there were some stops along the way. He may have spent some time being looked after by the British (some of the late-leaving Canadians were). Given that possibility, there may have even been a short stop in North Africa, where the British Army had some hospitals (my dad often mentioned North Africa as one of the places he had been).
In any case, it was a complicated situation, as noted in the official medial history of the army.
“Nos. 14 and 15 and No. 1 Convalescent Depot remained in Italy until almost the end of March, and then proceeded to the United Kingdom…The problem of clearing Canadian patients from Italy before the hospitals departed was largely solved by increasing the space allotment for Canadians on ambulance trains running between forward and base hospitals and on hospital ships proceeding to the United Kingdom. When the last Canadian hospital closed the comparatively few Canadian patients remaining were turned over to British installations.” (OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN MEDICAL SERVICES, page 211)
It may be that the foot was still healing during this interval, or it may just be a matter of administrative problems about being reunited with a company that was on the move during the final days of the war. Either way, it seems like he never rejoined his mates in that company. I imagine that time was a mixture of disappointment (not rejoining long term comrades), relief (not having to worry about land mines any longer) and tedious waiting before finally landing back in Britain.
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Book now on Amazon (Kindle and Print)
The Sappers' War: 12th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers
Are you a history buff, particularly interested in World War 2?
Or, did you have a family member or
other relative participate
in the conflict and are therefore curious about their experiences? If
so, you might want to read about the journey of a military
engineering company, throughout their time in action during the war.
The book focuses on one particular company of soldier/sappers in the Canadian Army, but many of their experiences would be common to any of the Allied units in the European theatre. Some of the major battles in which they were involved included Ortona, Monte Casino, the Gothic Line, the battles for Ravenna and the Po Valley, the Liberation of Holland and final defeat of the Third Reich.
In addition, some content relates to the experiences of civilians in Britain during that time. Appendices also look at some of the details of military engineering (e.g. bridging, mines, storm boats, the M-test), casualties, the Aldershot Riots and other issues of post-war rehabilitation and return to civilian life.
Much of the material comes from company war diaries and related materials, though a brief sketch of the wider campaigns relevant to the experience of these men is included, as are some interesting side-bars (e.g. the unit served alongside the celebrated irregulars known as Popski’s Private Army during their time in Northern Italy). To get a more “micro” feel for the on-site experiences of the time, some of my own family’s stories are related (a soldier/sapper, a war bride/war worker, a P.O.W., and an Atlantic convoy merchant marine sailor, among others). The summations of the War Diaries also include much interesting information about day-to-day life, both military and non-military.
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A Ride on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
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The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is one of the
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A Drive Across Newfoundland
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Newfoundland, Canada’s most easterly province, is a region that is both fascinating in its unique culture and amazing in its vistas of stark beauty. The weather is often wild, with coastal regions known for steep cliffs and crashing waves (though tranquil beaches exist too). The inland areas are primarily Precambrian shield, dominated by forests, rivers, rock formations, and abundant wildlife. The province also features some of the Earth’s most remarkable geology, notably The Tablelands, where the mantle rocks of the Earth’s interior have been exposed at the surface, permitting one to explore an almost alien landscape, an opportunity available on only a few scattered regions of the planet.
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and cultural aspects of the British Isles. That’s true of the rest of the
province, as well, where the people are friendly and inclined to chat amiably
with visitors. Plus, they talk with amusing accents and party hard, so what’s
not to like?
This account focusses on a two-week road trip in October 2007, from St. John’s
in the southeast, to L’Anse aux Meadows in the far northwest, the only known
Viking settlement in North America. It also features a day hike visit to The
Tablelands, a remarkable and majestic geological feature. Even those who don’t
normally consider themselves very interested in geology will find themselves
awe-struck by these other-worldly landscapes.
On the Road with Bronco Billy, A Trucking Journal
What follows is an account of a ten day journey through western North America during a working trip, delivering lumber from Edmonton Alberta to Dallas Texas, and returning with oilfield equipment. The writer had the opportunity to accompany a friend who is a professional truck driver, which he eagerly accepted. He works as a statistician for the University of Alberta, and is therefore is generally confined to desk, chair, and computer. The chance to see the world from the cab of a truck, and be immersed in the truck driving culture was intriguing. In early May 1997 they hit the road.
Some time has passed since this journal was
written and many things have changed since the late 1990’s. That renders the
journey as not just a geographical one, but also a historical account, which I
think only increases its interest.
We were fortunate to have an eventful trip - a mechanical breakdown, a near
miss from a tornado, and a large-scale flood were among these events. But even
without these turns of fate, the drama of the landscape, the close-up view of
the trucking lifestyle, and the opportunity to observe the cultural habits of a
wide swath of western North America would have been sufficient to fill up an
interesting journal.
The travelogue is about 20,000 words, about 60 to 90 minutes of reading, at
typical reading speeds.
Amazon U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X2IRHSK
Amazon U.K.: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00X2IRHSK
Amazon Germany: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00X2IRHSK
Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00X2IRHSK
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