Vern Asselstine was featured on the
November 2009 cover of Focus on Scugog
Standing on one of the many bridges crossing over the Highway of Heroes (401) thoughts flash back to the carnage of war and we must question “what has been learned?”
Walking into the Auszwitch concentration camp there is a sign which reads ‘We must never forget history’ and we have to question “what has been learned?”
When watching blockbuster movies like ‘Apocalypse Now’ which shows the horrors of the Vietnam War, we again wonder “what have we learned?”
For those of us who have never been directly involved in conflicts, the atrocities of war are devastating, but distant.
Imagine how it must be for Canadians who have been on the front lines, risking their lives so that the rest of us can walk safely with our children, without fear of oppression.
One such person is Vernon Asselstine, a resident of the Blackstock area for more than 57 years. Vernon celebrated his 92nd birthday recently as well as his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife, Vera.
In February of 1943, at the age of 26, Vernon enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. Vera’s father, a military man, greatly influenced the decision, but Vernon was proud to serve the country, which had been so good to him.
He spent his first three months in Newmarket in basic training and then it was off to Camp Borden.
In the summer of 1943, after he completed his training at CFB Borden, Vernon was transferred to Nova Scotia. He had been trained to drive tanks and quite enjoyed the job.
“Everything we did was to prepare us for fighting,” he reminisced “unfortunately or fortunately, I guess, we had no idea what we were in for.”
Finally, in the fall of 1943 the time to go to Europe arrived and Vernon, along with 15,000 other men and women, boarded a retrofitted luxurious Queen Mary ocean liner.
“There was nothing luxurious about that ocean liner,” Vernon recalled. “We had nine men in each cabin and the hammocks were suspended three high.”
He paused to think and then commented that it makes you think twice when you hear people complain about the size of their cabin aboard today’s luxurious cruise ships.
The voyage across the Atlantic took seven days and surprisingly they were unescorted, due to a shortage of Corvette light armoured warships. The North Atlantic was extremely dangerous territory during the war with German U-boats constantly patrolling the waters searching for enemy ships.
“We were fortunate to make it across without incident,” Vernon said, as his mind drifted back to those forbidding days more than 60 years ago.
In an effort to ensure they were not detected the captain of the Queen Mary changed course every six minutes, because it would take that long for a submarine to spot and identify a ship. “The biggest problem I had was boredom. We used to alternate sleeping,” Vernon explained. “I would sleep in my cabin one night and on deck the next. It was something to do.” He smiled as he spoke.
Feeding 15,000 people must have been a challenge while at sea. There were ten sittings for each meal in the gigantic dining room aboard the pride of the Cunard Line.
“We were so glad when we finally saw the shores of Scotland,” Vernon said.
Once organized on land, Vernon‘s unit was transported by train to Aldershot, England for further training.
While waiting for the next directive Vernon went on leave to London. An air raid on London caused him to return late and he was declared AWOL (absent without leave).
“Boy, I was scared,” he said, smiling. “I went to court, explained my case and the tribunal judge told me to get back to work.”
Vernon left England via Tickfield by Southampton and joined the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade.
He drove tanks on reconnaissance missions and one day while waiting for his next assignment, he saw a soldier having difficulty welding pieces of a tank together so Vernon stepped in and used his training as a welder to assist.
A sergeant saw him working and immediately recruited him as a welder. “We can get tank drivers any day, but welders are in short supply,” the Sergeant told him.
At last it was time for action. Vernon and his unit were loaded into a steel hulled boat and shipped off to France. “The trip was terrible. Everyone was sick while we crossed,” he recalled. “When we got closer to shore, gunfire from the HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson skimmed above our heads.”
Although the conversation was bringing back memories better left buried, Vernon continued to tell his story.
“It was the second day of D-day when we landed and there were bodies everywhere,” he recalled. “I will never forget that sight, as long as I live.”
Vernon was one of the lucky ones and made it safely into France, through Belgium into the Ardennes for what is now known as the Battle of the Bulge.
When the war ended Vernon stayed in the Netherlands for the winter. “I was so glad to come home,” he said, a tear in his eye. “I threw out my uniform and everything which reminded me of those years.”
Later, speaking with Vernon’s sons, they explained that their dad had never discussed the war as long as they could remember.
I feel fortunate to have been able to spend a few hours with Vernon Asselstine as he recalled a few years of his life.
November 11 is a special day for Canadians, as heroic events during atrocities of the past come to the foreground of our minds.
When you drive or walk past the cenotaph at the Scugog Township office remember why it is there and stop to read the names of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for those of us who fortunately do not have to.
By Jonathan van Bilsen
Focus on Scugog
Personalities
