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Topic: Allan McPhail, a Royal Canadian's story. (Read 173 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Veteran remembers 'ghosts of the past'
By Scott Howard
Like many veterans, Remembrance Day is not an easy time for Allan McPhail.
"The ghosts of the past are with you always," he said.
In his nearly five years of service overseas, the Cannington resident lost many friends and they're never far from his thoughts at this time of year.
He has returned to Europe five times since the war to pay his respects and plans to repeat that pilgrimage as many times as he's able.
"I have to go," he said of visiting the resting place of his brothers-in-arms.
"The sense of loss is unbelievable."
Looking back on his wartime memories, Mr. McPhail said "It was a small part of my life in terms of years, but a big part in terms of experience."
Mr. McPhail began military life at the age of 16, when he signed up for the Irish Regiment of Canada, a reserve unit similar to the United States' National Guard.
"We soldiered a couple of nights a week," he said.
When he reached the enlistment age of 18, he wasted little time.
"I was sworn in two days after my 18th birthday and headed up to North Bay for 10 weeks of basic training," Mr. McPhail said.
After that, he was posted in Petawawa to further his training as a member of the 8th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery.
He left for England in September 1941, manning a 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun, a nearly 21,000 pound mobile weapon capable of firing a 28-pound round more than 10,000 metres.
While the constant bombardment of Nazi airstrikes, known as the Battle of Britain, had diminished in severity by the end of 1941, anti-aircraft gunners like Mr. McPhail were still one of the country's first lines of defense against the German Luftwaffe.
After more than two years in the artillery unit, Mr. McPhail transferred to infantry service with the Royal Canadian Regiment.
While he stopped short of saying he regrets the decision, he did say he enjoyed his service in the artillery more.
"It was a lot more technical. But if you wanted action, infantry was the place to be, if you could survive it," he said.
And Mr. McPhail nearly didn't.
He was wounded twice, first in Normandy in July of 1944 when he was shot in the side.
"I was flown back to Britain and spent a few months in the hospital," he said.
He returned to the regiment shortly after the Battle of the Scheldt, where Allied Forces struggled for nearly five weeks to clear the port of Antwerp.
Nearly 13,000 Allied soldiers -- half of them Canadian -- lost their lives in that battle.
"It was a very bloody battle," Mr. McPhail said.
He returned to service as the Allies made their push through Holland.
"I was there all winter. That's the coldest I've ever been. I really don't know how any of us survived sitting in a slit-trench in Holland that winter," he said.
As the harsh winter turned to spring, Allied Forces began to move into Germany.
Mr. McPhail was shot for a second time during the Canadian assault on Xanten, a town in northwestern Germany that was key to the Allies' advance across the Rhine River and into the heart of Germany.
He still bears the scar of the bullet that struck him in the middle of his chest and passed through his back.
He was shot on March 8 -- the day the Allies captured Xanten.
"That was the end (of the war) for me, but I somehow survived. Other poor buggers didn't," he said.
Mr. McPhail remained in the hospital until August, when he returned to Canada and eventually enrolled in university.
He came to Cannington in 1953 to teach at Brock High School.
"And I've been here ever since," he said.
A decade later, he was named vice-principal. But his love of teaching never kept him far from the classroom.
"When I was vice-principal, I always taught part-time. The classroom is where it's at. I always loved dealing with the students," he said.
In 1974, he was elected as the first Mayor of Brock Township. He would go onto serve five terms over the next 14 years.
"My whole life has revolved around service -- in the miltary, as a teacher, and in office. It may sound phony, but it was important to me," he said.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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