Far from Home: A Memoir of a Twentieth-century SoldierFar From Home recounts the life of a soldier who grew up in 1920s Calgary and became an officer in the Canadian army who travelled the world. Williams offers a vivid retelling of growing up in Calgary during the depression. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, Williams was sent to England as an untrained, but enthusiastic, amateur member of the Canadian army. During his thirty-three years in the army, Williams experienced wars in Europe and Korea and served in Canada, Germany, the United States, and England. With an uncanny memory, Williams tells tales of meeting various famous and unknown people of the twentieth century, including the Royal Family, John Diefenbaker, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, among others. Williams transition from "the most untrained officer in the army" to an army officer at home in the Pentagon, along with the culture shock of moving from a relatively simple upbringing to the sophisticated life of an international officer, is told with great humour and rare insight into the human side of the military life. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Boyhood | 1 |
Chapter 2 School | 22 |
Chapter 3 Bowness | 37 |
Chapter 4 Outdoor Life | 51 |
Chapter 5 High School | 60 |
Chapter 6 Air | 69 |
Chapter 7 Growing Up | 85 |
Chapter 8 Amateur Soldiers | 114 |
Chapter 15 Staff Course | 217 |
Chapter 16 France | 227 |
Chapter 17 Winter | 243 |
Chapter 18 1945 | 256 |
Chapter 19 Peacetime | 275 |
Chapter 20 Korea | 282 |
Chapter 21 Washington | 310 |
Chapter 22 Germany | 319 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
2nd Canadian Division aircraft Aldershot armoured arrived artillery asked barracks battalion battle became began Black Watch boys brigade British British Army Calgary Highlanders called camp Camp Shilo Canada Canadian Army Canadian Corps captain Club Colonel commander Corps course Currie Barracks defence Division door E-boat East East Calgary Eaton's enemy England equipment fire floor Fred Scott friends front George Pearkes German girls Grandpa guns head headquarters heard Herbie hill horses Hotel Howland infantry Irina join knew Korea later learned leave Lewis gun lieutenant lived London looked lunch major Margaret Mess military Militia months morning mother moved NCOs nearby never night officer operations Ottawa platoon regiment returned rifle road Royal Sarcee sergeant ship soldiers soon staff stood stopped street tanks told took troops turned visited walked watched weeks young