Description
Mr. Ford offers a message to youth about duty and patriotism.
George R. Ford
George Ford was born on March 19, 1897 in Barrie, Ontario. In 1899, his family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and, when his mother’s health started to fail, on to Victoria, British Columbia. Here, Mr. Ford studied mathematics and surveying, which resulted in employment with the provincial government in the mapping department. Against his parents wishes, he enlisted in 1916, joining the 103rd Infantry Battalion. Mr. Ford went overseas aboard the SS Mauritania, landing in Southampton, England, where he was deployed with the 54th Battalion. He later transferred to the Light Trench Mortar Battery. Mr. Ford saw action on many fronts, but only discussed Vimy in any detail. However, his clear perspective on the futility of war, death, mutual respect, honour, and patriotic duty, honed over a 102 year lifespan, are well worth the viewer’s attention. After the war, Mr. Ford returned to his job as a surveyor. He joined his local Veterans Association, and some time later, the Royal Canadian Legion, Victoria, B.C.
Transcript
I think they have a good idea on what war’s all about. They see television, they hear it from myself, different ones like myself, the horrors of war, one thing or another. I told them, I’d say to them, “Now look, before you make up your mind, think about things. What war is. I still hope there’d be no more war, but be careful what you’re going into, you know, along those lines,” I’d say. “But don’t neglect … if you want to go, go. Don’t say don’t go.”I’d say, “You’ve got your country to take care of. I mean, it’s ... you are the only ones that are in a position to, really, young men, to take part in anything that’s going to help your country. And it’s something that you just have to do. That’s all there is to it. I mean ... you can’t let your country down. But I still hope there’s no more war … that you’ll have to make any decision in what to do.”