Description
Mr. Toney describes becoming a Dispatch Rider after recovering from his second wounding and singlehandedly liberating a small town while he was lost.
John Martin Toney
John Martin Toney was born on September 26, 1923 on the Neskonlith Reserve, British Columbia. The strongest influence in his life was his grandfather, who taught him spirituality, life and survival skills. Mr. Toney feels that at that time he was being groomed to become a Chief. By the age of eight, he was hunting game to help feed his family. He later worked at a ranch and then as a carpenter. Proud to enlist, the army’s restrictive criteria forced Mr. Toney to renounce his Aboriginal heritage and designate himself an Irish Catholic. He was accepted by the Seaforth Highlanders, Engineering Corps, based on his success at demolition. His first action saw him in the second wave at Dieppe where he witnessed much death and suffering. Agile in the field, he hand-picked and led many reconnaissance and demolition patrols against the Germans. Mr. Toney was wounded twice, and after his second recovery, finished the war as motorcycle dispatch rider. He then signed up for Pacific duty, returning home early
Transcript
It seemed like the Germans were, had the advantage all the time till we got, got inland a bit and then got them on the run. After I got wounded twice and I think they said when you get your third wound you were automatic shipped home. So, after my second time I got wounded, I got this here job, Dispatch Rider and I had never rode a bike in my life. The Major he pointed it out, “There’s the bike out there. Two days to learn how to ride it.” “Okay, that don’t seem no big deal.” Went to the QM stores, got my knickerbockers, my high boots and my crash helmet. I looked like a real Dispatch Rider. Got the thing cranked up, climbed on, took off and all over the place and a couple of hours I got so I go along pretty good. So I head out on the highway, try it out. Come to the first stop sign, I grabbed my front brake, I got a foot brake and a hand one. So I come to stop, I grabbed this one and I forgot I had a foot brake and it buckled and down, wore the knees out of my new pants and my tunic. Back to the store, get another set. Go out again, pretty soon I mastered the thing. Then one day I was fifteen miles ahead of everybody. They sent me ahead to take some messages, but I missed the road. I was fifteen miles ahead. I come to this little town. I was really snorting down this road and see these Germans out at the gate, the front. Boy, they dropped their rifles, stuck their hands in the air. I pulled up. “Okay you guys, start marching.” Take them in town. I thought our guys were already there. So I get them into town. The townspeople come out and grabbed them and said, “Where’s your army? ” I said, “Isn’t they here? ” “No last we heard, it’s fifteen miles down that way.” Oh, so they grabbed me and my bike, took me down the basement. Took those Germans, there was about six of them running along ahead of me, took them. I don’t know I guess they must’ve shot them, I don’t know. I didn’t see nothing around later. I think it was the next day our army come rolling into town. Here I am with these civilians waving. The Major happened to see me. “What the heck are you doing here? ” “Oh, I live here!” “Oh, no, you don’t” Oh well. I was waving to the soldiers with everybody, out hollering and waving. I was right there with them, waving and hollering. The Major saw me, that ended my fun right there. Got my bike out again. Away I went again.