Editor's note: Moose Jaw historian Richard Dowson compiled the following information for this story. It was then organized by reporter Jason G. Antonio for the purpose of this article.
The end of the war in Europe was presumed by late April 1945, but the actual date was not established until the last minute, so festivities in Moose Jaw were arranged on May 5 for the big May 8 event.
Men were returning home in large numbers, with the first to have been sent over coming home first. Prisoners of War were also being released from German PoW camps. The Moose Jaw Times Herald newspaper carried a huge section on May 8, 1945 telling the story of the many men and women who “did their part” in the war effort. However, due to COVID-19, it is not possible to access all of that information.
Presented are snippets of articles from that time.
Wednesday, May 2, 1945
L. Cpl. E. Hunter Tells of Wiles of Enemy Agents
Back after long service overseas, a group of 125 veterans arrived in Regina on Tuesday.
Representing almost every unit in the Canadian army, with a predominance of men from the Canadian Forestry Corps and the Saskatoon Light Infantry, the soldiers were happy to be home and were enthusiastic of the welcome they received across Canada.
Many of the returning men saw action in Italy and on the European front. Several had been wounded and were sent back due to lowered categories.
A tale of counter-espionage work, traffic control under fire, and guarding rivers and bridges was told by Lance Cpl. E. Hunter of Moose Jaw. He went overseas with the 113th Field Battery and served with the field security section of the Provost Corps.
“It’s a tough business and I’ve seen families split, part of them on one side of a river and part on the other side,” he said.
In order to prevent enemy agents passing information back to their intelligence headquarters the civilian population was kept in districts and no interchange was allowed between districts.
Agents could not be singled out from the ordinary peasants. They were cleaver and highly trained and used many trick to dogde the field security section. On one occasion four agents, three men and one woman, were separated. The woman appealed with great show of emotion to be allowed to join her husband. She was permitted to do so and it was learned later valuable information had passed between them.
Sergeant A. B. McCardle of Moose Jaw, one of the eight original members who left with the 77th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, when the battery left Italy, was among the returning veterans. The 77th Battery was recruited at Moose Jaw and went overseas in December 1939. Casualties and transfers to other units, dwindled the number of original down to eight.
Other Moose Javians who returned included Craftsman H. J. Hunt, 109 Main Street South, Moose Jaw and Sergeant A. B.McCrandle, 636 Second Avenue North East, Moose Jaw.
Saturday, May 5, 1945
Final Plans Are Announced for V-E Day
Final preparations have been completed for Moose Jaw’s participation in the worldwide rejoicing to be celebrated with the official declaration of “V-E Day.”
With two alterations, plans as previously arranged will be carried out on that day. The Canadian Legion, who were previously scheduled to perform in Crescent Park, will now hold their V-Day band concert and chorus ceremony in the Arena rink where a platform is to be constructed.
It was also announced by VE-Day officials that Lt. Col. A. W. “Pallie” Pascoe has been delegated by Brigadier G. A. H. Trudeau to represent Military District No. 12 at the Moose Jaw celebration. Other army officials are also expected to be in attendance.
It was stated that the Young Men’s Section of the Board of Trade and the Princess Patricia Club are sponsoring an “At Home” celebration, which will take place at the Armory on the night of the official declaration of V-E Day. An orchestra will be in attendance, and tickets are now on sale, and can be obtained from Y.M.S. members or at Eilers in Moose Jaw.
Ex-servicemen are to be given complimentary tickets, and the general public is cordially invited.
Officials again pointed out that with the announcement of V-E Day, a general holiday will be declared the following day, and again essential industries in the city, such as the bakeries, dairies and so on, are asked to remain open and complete deliveries.
A large number of business firms in the city have also expressed the intention of building V-Day floats, and a monster display is expected when the long awaited announcement is flashed to the world.
Wednesday, May 9, 1945
Local Soldiers Are Back Home
A number of local soldiers were among a group that returned from overseas to Regina on Monday. Those returning included: Cpl H. L. Riome, Wellesley Park; L/Crp J Yoschuk, 142 Lillooet Street West; Sgt D. R. Greene, Boharm; Pte. L. S. Borton, Tugaske; Pte. D. W. Cheshire, Chaplin; Pte. E. H. Mattacok, 316 Athabasca Street West; Pte. A Napier, 306 Home Street West; Gnr. H. J. Thompson, Tuxford; Pte. W. J. Walters, 1344 Redland Avenue; and Lt. G. C. Russell, Fourth Avenue North East.
Thursday, May 10, 1945
Swoosh, Freddie was Here, Swoosh, and He’d Gone
“F for Freddie” Mosquito bomber which has made 213 operational flights against the Huns, and which is now acting — with its crew — as a super-salesman for Victory Loan bonds, came to Moose Jaw on Wednesday afternoon, May 9, 1945, astounded the citizens with daring acrobatic flying, and passed on westward to enthuse other Canadians into investing in the best, and buying another bond.
In past day airmen have flown at what was called “housetop” height over Moose Jaw, but if that was “housetop” then “F for Freddie” was flown at ground top. This deadly little plane almost came to Earth and shook hands with the hundreds who were peering skywards.
“Freddie” was something new to Moose Jaw. Many planes have been seen here, but nothing quite like the speed with which it zipped around. It was just a “swoosh” and “Freddie” had gone.
People on the streets thought that it literally was going to drop down to the streets. Rooftops were skimmed with inches to spare, and as the trim little ship passed on to open prairie on the south side of the city, Flight Lt. Maurice Briggs, D.S.O., D.F.C., D.F.M., and his navigator, Flying Officer John Baker, D.F.C., and bar, were in their element.
They brought the “Mossey” down to grass level and thundered along with the undercarriage practically touching the ground.
People standing on First Avenue West saw “Freddie” pass like a flash of lighting and then he could be heard far away to the west. Next moment he was hurtling through the sky headed for the north, and a moment later a glimpse of “Freddie” could be seen as he passed apparently lower than the top of the top of the Y.W.C.A. building. He tore over Alexandra School with inches to spare.
Next he was seen flying at anything up to 400 miles an hour down Main Street with just flying room beneath the plane and the buildings, and it could easily be understood why “Freddie” and the hundreds of other Mosquito bombers like him could pinpoint a target and hit the objective with a 2,000-pound bomb right on the nose.
National War Finance Committee officials in Moose Jaw and district are hoping that the example of “Freddie” and what he has done and can do will be taken to heart by those who have not yet bought bonds in the 8th Victory Loan and that they will do so without delay.
