For Those Who Wait At Home
Newspaper articles in times of war and conflict are sometimes
more telling about the home front than the action in the theatres
of war. The following two items read more like entries on the
Social pages - fortunately, from the historical point of view, this
is not a bad thing. We are not going to confuse Lance Corporal
Stewart with anyone else because we know he lived at 25 Locust
Street and the excitement of long distance telephone calls
conveying good news is evident even to those who Tweet.
Ken Cameron Gets Command RCE Squadron
Times Journal, August 13, 1954
 |
The notation on this photo taken in Korea is
"Ye Olde Barbecue", Major Cameron
is in centre with hands on hips. |
Major Kenneth Leslie Cameron, 33, son of
Sheriff Ian D. Cameron and Mrs. Cameron has taken command in Korea
of the 3rd Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers and
will direct the units return to Canada which is expected to come
about before Christmas. While announcement of Major Cameron's
appointment was released, at army headquarters in Ottawa today, it
was several days ago that Sheriff and Mrs. Cameron had the good
news relayed to them by their daughter in law in Calgary. Major
Cameron's wife had just had a telephone conversation with her
husband, then in Tokyo, and she in turn phoned the Cameron's here.
Major Cameron went to Korea last March after a short leave in
Canada upon his return from a one year course at the Australian
Army Staff College in Canberra. Until taking over command of the
3rd Field Squadron, R.C.E., Major Cameron held the
appointment of G.S.O.2 Royal Engineers at the 1st
Commonwealth Division headquarters in Korea. He succeeds
Major M.O. Rollefson of Lethbridge, Alta. in
command of the squadron.
The next item illustrates the logistical manoeuvers required to
get the boys home.
Maj. K. Cameron Brings Squadron Home From
Korea
Times-Journal - December 10, 1954
Major Kenneth Cameron, officer commanding the
3rd Field Squadron, R.C.E., is returning to Canada from
Korea this week with all but one troop of his unit. He is the son
of Sheriff Ian D. Cameron and Mrs. Cameron.
Major Cameron's squadron is among the 1,300 officers and men of
the Canadian Brigade in Korea who are crossing the Pacific this
week on a U.S. troopship due to arrive in Seattle this weekend.
This draft is the largest of several which have been returned to
Canada this fall in the process of repatriating all of the
personnel of the 25th Brigade. There will be about 300
soldiers flown back to Canada from Korea and another 54 will come
by ship before the year's end.
The troopship crossing the Pacific this week is the USNS
General H. Pope and the largest Canadian
unit aboard is the 3rd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse
Artillery, commanded by Lt.-Col. J.W.D. Symons, of Victoria, B.C.,
The 3rd Company, R.C.A.S.C., the 25th Brigade
Signal Troop, R.C.C.S., and a number if miscellaneous personnel are
also aboard. Leaves of 60 days will be enjoyed by most of the
returning troops.
There are many aboard the USNS General J.
Pope whose homes are in southwestern Ontario, St.
Thomas and district men aboard are: L-Cpl. G.M.
Stewart, 3rd Field Squadron RCE of 25 Locust
Street, Gunner W.E. MacDonald, of
the 3rd Regiment R.C.H.A, of 1,028 Talbot Street, and
Pte. R.P. Bendle, of R.C.A.S.C., Dorchester.
Major Cameron expects to spend Christmas with his family at
Calgary and at the end of his leave. To reassemble his squadron at
Esquimalt, B.C. before its ultimate move to Gagetown, N.B.