Hey WW2 Talk, Any of you guys know/knew any second world war veterans growing up? I'm only in my teens still-not far into my lifeyet,but I know or heard aboutquite a few vets growing up. Johnny Mawer, he was with the Royal Artillery Regiment as an Anti-Aircraft gunner in the Canadian Army. My dad told me lots of stories about John Mawer. He recieved four purple hearts from numerous friendly-fire mishaps between his unit and allied fighter planes.Hewas probably one of the most decorated soldiersin Saskatchewan! My Great Uncle Steve Zadorozniak, he was a Royal Regina Rifle. He served asa medics and was a veteran of the invasion of Italy and D-day. After D-day, he served in a Canadian MASH unit for a bit. My dad said that he often said that it was one of the most awful jobs that my Great Uncle had to do, and I wouldn't doubt it, either. I met a former RCAF fighter pilot/BCATP flightinstructor during the summer of this year when my dad and I were visiting the BCATP museum in Brandon, Manitoba. He told us lots of things; many of his words I stillremember. Buttheonething hesaid to us that I'll never forget was this; "We weren't heroes, we just did what had to be done." It was something to hear that, and I definitelywill never forget those words.
Hi Mason Z. I'm afraid I've no information for you about Johnny but would be curious to know what he got up to. Any chance of you adding those stories to this web site? Write them down while your memory is good (take it from one whose memory is some what challenged these days!). Good luck and I hope you get some help from here.
Johnny Mawer, he was with the Royal Artillery Regiment as an Anti-Aircraft gunner in the Canadian Army. My dad told me lots of stories about John Mawer. He recieved four purple hearts How did he get purple hearts ? They were awarded to US forces not UK & Commonwealth forces. They would have been awarded gold wound stripes. see>> wound stripes
Mason, Welcome to the forum. My father was a Veteran but rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. Perhaps you can post more details about your great uncle?
hmmm MASH units started after WWII. Regina rifles never served in Italy. I could go on, but he seems an enthusiastic tyke at least.
Martin Quite right about the Regina rifles - they were only in France / Germany - thought it odd that he was at Cassino and was beamed over for D day Cheers
Martin Quite right about the Regina rifles - they were only in France / Germany - thought it odd that he was at Cassino and was beamed over for D day Cheers Oh Tom, didn't they tell you about the Star Trek prototype transporter beam they found under Vesuvius in '43 ? Did wonders, that.
How did he get purple hearts ? They were awarded to US forces not UK & Commonwealth forces. They would have been awarded gold wound stripes. see>> wound stripes Actually I have a smattering accounts of British servicemen being awarded/acquiring Purple Hearts in US Hospitals.
Thanks for the post and stories Mason After 3rd or 4th telling some stories get obscurred and it takes a great deal of sorting or knowledge to get back to the original story; which, is probably more or less acturate in its intention. So, yes the Regine Rifles landed on D-day and were bombed in an assembly area south of Cean waiting for totalize to begin [friendly fire anyone]. If he worked in a surgical hospital would in in Normandy it was probably not a very nice place to be with numbers of Casualties that were coming. they were not in Italy. If we are to take vetarans at thier word it is likely these stories were mutated by the subsequent narrations rather than the original.The wound patch could easily explained as purple heart to those who would have no idea what the other was. Field Hospital, MASH: potato, patatoe. Gentlemen, you wonder why some posters never come back. MHO
gpo's son all very well but how many times did we learn that ANYONE in an American hospital was given a Purple Heart on the assumption that anyone in that hospital MUST be American as no one else was fighting ....? Cheers
Mason Glad to have you aboard. You'll learn a great deal here. Most of us are well past our teens and wishing we had met more vets and asked more questions when we were your age. Time has a way of slipping by. All your questions are welcome and any shots you take are purely for fun.
I am Looking for WWII Lincoln and Welland vets that just may have Known my Great Uncle...THE crazy Major? Major Herbert O.M. Lambert? I would love to hear anything anyone knows about him..
