Eagerness to Enlist

Heroes Remember

Eagerness to Enlist

Transcript

At them days we used to have a magistrate that went around from point to point and when the magistrate came into Port-aux-Basques, Magistrate Mulcahy, I was informed by the Newfoundland Ranger Force, they latterly became the RCMP, that the magistrate was here and he was, Mr. Churchill had a proclamation out for Royal Air Force personnel. On the proclamation I remember, “I have nothing to offer you only blood, tears, toil and sweat.” When the magistrate came I went over and I said, “Magistrate Mulcahy, the proclamation’s out for the air force and I want to enlist.” And I enlisted in the Royal Air Force. I went back and I told my, well my father had already known that I was going to volunteer for the air force. I went back and told my mother and father and they said, “That’s your choice. It’s your duty. King and Country calls. We can’t say a word.”, and they didn’t say a word. They were quite satisfied that I was doing what was normally expected of a young man at that age.

Description

Mr. Ford shares his story about enlisting in the Royal Air force after a visit from the magistrate to his home town, Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland

John Ford

Mr. John Ford was born March 25, 1919 in Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland. Both parents were previously married and Mr. Ford was raised in a family of 14 children, him being one of the younger children. As a child he attended school at the United School Academy graduating in Grade 11. After school he worked with the Newfoundland railway as a machinist for three years. In May of 1940, Mr. Ford decided to join the Royal Air Force. In August he went overseas onboard the Nova Scotia and landed in Liverpool, England. During his service, he was captured as a POW in Japan experiencing horrible conditions. He has dedicated much of his time to the Legion and volunteered as a board member for over 13 years. Mr. Ford is an active participant in visiting local schools and educating the youth of what life was really like as a solider and as a prisoner of war while serving with the Royal Air Force.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:10
Person Interviewed:: John Ford
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Canada
Branch:: Air Force

Language selection

Eagerness to Enlist

Heroes Remember