CFB Gagetown Military Museum

On July 11th Sheri and I had the pleasure of visiting the CFB Gagetown Military Museum in Ormocto, NB.

A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (Camp Utopia) was the predecessor for CFB Gagetown. However it's surprising at how little information can be found at the museum on Camp Utopia. This material basically amounts to a handful of photographs that are almost hidden from view.


Here is a brief overview of Camp Utopia: Army construction crews arrived in July of 1942 to begin construction of Camp Utopia, the largest military facility in New Brunswick at the time. Ground assault troops began training there in 1943, preparing for the invasions of Italy and northwest Europe. There was a supply depot, commissary (including bake shop), two cook houses of 500 men capacity, drill hall, canteen, auxiliary service hut, barber shop, modern dental clinic, fire station, and a new modern hospital. In the outside training area: 2 rifle ranges, a model village (Ortona), a field firing range, a battle inoculation range, 2 Sten gun ranges (one for classification and one for woods fighting), P.I.A.T. ranges (both for inert and H.E. bombs), a modern grenade range equipped with Hobbe glass, a six pounder range, skeet range, 2 and 3 inch mortar ranges, a cross-country obstacle course, bayonet assault course, mine fields and mines and bobby trap hut with moascar stalks. Over 300 officers and 12,000 rank and file had passed through the unit by its official closing on April 30, 1946.

Our research continues to make sure this important base is not forgotten to the ravages of time. We recently acquired the service personnel files for those military personnel killed at Camp Utopia, and Sheri and I have, over the past year, visited their graves scattered throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario.

S/Sgt. Claude L. Nicholson's grave in Halifax, NS

Lest we forget.

Remembering Those Who Served

"If by chance
I am the one
I pray my God
I will have reached
My finest hour
Before my limbs
Are severed
From my body warm."
P/O Bayden Bala Williams (1917-1943)

"He (Bayden) never did reach his finest hour but seemed to realize that he was but one of many and that there will always be other young men rising from the earth to bring new life to mankind." (G.P. Williams, 1963)

P/O Williams was the sixteenth airmen killed at Pennfield Ridge and was among the numerous young aircrew students killed in training crashes across Canada during World War II. They all died in the service of their country while preparing for war and yet they remain forgotten heroes. They remain so simply because they died before their finest hour.

Since 8 July 2008 I have been traveling across Canada photographing the various military markers of the seventy-six (76) service personnel killed at the Pennfield Ridge Air Station and Camp Utopia. This is being done to simply honour these forgotten heroes and to continue the message of remembrance.

P/O Williams' military marker

This coming September 27th we will honour these seventy-six (76) service personnel; remember those who have since gone on to join their comrades in the sky and listen to the stories from those we still have with us.

Lest we forget.

Another Milestone Achieved

Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society is celebrating another milestone in its relative short existence of only 18 months. As of 5 May 2009 our society has now been registered as “Charitable Organization” under paragraph 149(1)(f) of the Income Tax Act.

Our first official event under this new designation will be the Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Service this coming 27 September 2009. The memorial service will be held at the Provincial Park in Pennfield Ridge from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. On-site service will be provided by the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #40), St. George, with the 250 RCAF (Saint John) Wing providing the colour party. A reception service will held afterward at the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch #40), St. George from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

The service is coming together quite well and overall feedback has been positive. We have located close to a dozen family members of the seventy airmen killed at Pennfield Ridge. One family member has confirmed their attendance – a first for the service. Others unable to attend have sent material on their loved ones that can be included in the memorial service. A handful of Veterans, including four with connections to Pennfield Ridge and/or Camp Utopia, have been invited to take part – another first for the service.

This coming 1 July 2009 our society will be taking part in the Hampton Canada Day Art Festival in Hampton, NB. We will be selling tickets on an original piece of artwork by Sheri L (Burhoe) Larsen. Money raised will be used towards the upcoming memorial service in September.

Anyone with comments and/or suggestions please feel to contact us. Anyone willing to assist us in our endeavors in ensuring this worthwhile event continues also please feel free to contact us.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nbpennfi/penn8b1PPMHS_MemorialService2009.htm

Pennfield Ridge Air Station (Today's Remnants)

A lot of changes have occurred at the former Air Station since it closed towards the end of 1945. So much unwritten history is located on this hallowed piece of ground and yet the cold hand of death has silenced many of those unrecorded voices. Priceless memories continually slip through the hour glass of time to be forever lost in the continuum of life. It's now a race against father time and he, as always, has the advantage on his side. Also so many unfilled dreams of a brighter tomorrow ended before they really had a chance to begin. The youthful exuberance of the innocent and an uncertainty of a tomorrow often exacted a high toll on those who answered the call of duty. So with that said the photographs speak for themselves and help to tell their own personal story.


For more photographs please click here.

Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Service

The Charlotte Fundy Kin Club has decided not to host this September's memorial service at Pennfield Ridge. Therefore Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society has offered to host this year’s event.

The memorial stone, dedicated to those who served at Pennfield Ridge Air Station and Camp Utopia, was brought to fruition by the hard work and dedication of The Charlotte County War Memorial Committee. The committee members were J. David Stuart, Mark Pedersen, 250 RCAF (Saint John) Wing and Charlotte Fundy Kin Club. Smet Monuments of St. Stephen donated the stone itself with Charlotte Fundy Kin Club covering the cost of the sale taxes.

Phil Connell, DFM and J. David Stuart

The dedication service took place on 24 September 2006 with approximately fifty (50) people in attendance. The Charlotte Fundy Kin Club hosted this service with participation from the 250 RCAF (Saint John) Wing Air Force Association of Canada. The Charlotte Fundy Kin Club also hosted the subsequent memorial services held in 2007 and 2008.

Dedication Service (2006)

On behalf of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society I would personally like to extend a heart-felt thank you to the Charlotte Fundy Kin Club, especially Morris Harris and Wayne MacQuarrie, for hosting the events over the past three years. It has gone a long way in making sure our veterans are remembered.

The red ink of our freedom on the ledger’s bottom line is written indelibly in blood. Every November 11th we, as Canadians, gather across this land to honor the debt owed to our veterans. However, the debt is so large, that in reality it will never be repaid in its entirety. Still, remembrance of those who served is something we can achieve. That is why I feel strongly that this memorial service should continue to honor those who served at “the Ridge” and Camp Utopia.

Anyone with comments and/or suggestions please feel to contact us. Anyone willing to assist us in our endeavors in ensuring this worthwhile event continues also please feel free to contact us.

Regards,
G. Christian Larsen
President, Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society
309 Mealey Road
Pennfield, NB
E5H 1T5
(506) 456-3494

Celebrating Two Years of Military Research

This coming Monday (January 26th) will mark the second anniversary of my first posting of material about the Pennfield Air Station and Camp Utopia on the Pennfield Parish website. At the time I started my research into the history of these two bases, there was no one else doing any actual research, and those that were, were simply taking credit for other people’s work. As one family member said: “...my father...had the idea that there should be something in place to recognize the Air base as he thought it played an important part in the war. He somehow or other got in contact with a couple of other gentleman in the area. For three years, they worked toward the creation of memorial that was unveiled in recognition of Pennfield Ridge. The whole affair in the end was quite upsetting for my dad, recognition for the project seemed to be focused elsewhere. It is my opinion, the chain of events is not accurately told.” My goal then and now remains the same: To pay tribute to those ordinary and yet an extraordinary human beings - people who offered some of their life's most vital years in the service of their country, and who sacrificed their ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs. I’ve come a long ways in those two years and have the support of many veterans from the two bases. Here are some of the many testimonies:

"From a passionate conversation about my father evolved the passion we both share on this journey. My father, as so many others, lives because of your tireless efforts."
Brenda McNevan Ferguson, d/o Cpl. A. Malcolm McNevan (Ret.), bomb instructor at No.34 OTU & RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge.

“I have been looking for information and pictures on Camp Utopia, and was very happy to find what you have done here.”
Charrie Worden, d/o Skiffington A. Gibson - ambulance and fire-truck driver at Camp Utopia

“It's good to see that someone is making a strong effort to remember our veterans.”
Tom Tucker, s/o LAC Sylvester G. Tucker (Ret.) - an instrument mechanic at No.34 OTU

“Dad really enjoyed telling his stories and my parents were very happy to have you visit with them.”
Colleen Stewart, d/o Cpl. Colin Flieger (Ret.) - Camp Utopia veteran

“Your concern about veterans dying off is correct. Those of us who are left are running out of energy and time. So take full advantage of those, such as I, who are left before it is too late.”
W/O2 J. David Stuart (Ret.), N.C.O. in charge of the orderly room (office) at No.2 ANS & No.2 OTU

“I'm glad you are doing this because these people deserve all the honors they can get.”
Allene Goforth, d/o Pte. John A. MacPherson (Ret.) - Camp Utopia

“Dave Poissant has sent me a copy of the newspaper article you wrote about the history of the Pennfield Airbase. I thought it was extremely well done, and a credit to the tremendous effort you have out on the subject. Many congratulations!”
F/Lt. S.W. Shapton (Ret.), Course No.10 (Pilots) at No.34 OTU

“Thanks for all your efforts on this; I hope all the locals appreciate your efforts.”
Angus Cross, s/o F/L Fergus Cross (Ret.) - head of the Navigation Department at No.34 OTU

"Chris Larsen's name should go down in History for his recording of 'History', toward the end of all war!"
F/S Cy Poissant (Ret.), Course No.23 (Pilots) at No.34 OTU

Bernice Connors' Murder

On 26 January 2007 I began researching the history of the Pennfield Ridge Air Station. In those two short years Iʼve made tremendous strides in recording its rich and colorful history. In that time Iʼve been blessed enough to have interview fourteen (14) veterans from the Air Station and even luckier to have personally known over a dozen others who were stationed there and/or worked there as civilians. The latter ones whose stories have been silenced by the cold hand of death remind me (us) to never forget. The living veterans continue to inspire me to push ever forward to make sure the stories are not lost forever to the ravages of time.

Shortly after No.34 Operational Training Unit established itself at Pennfield Ridge, a murder of a young Blackʼs Harbour girl occurred on 5 June 1942. An R.A.F. sergeant from "the Ridge" was arrested for the crime, tried by a jury of his peers and subsequently convicted for the crime. The conviction for the crime brought with it a death sentence, and on 16 December 1942 the R.A.F. sergeant went on to meet his maker. This was to be the last hanging in Charlotte County and the first one in 65 years.

For the past two years now I have chosen not to include any reference to the murder on the Pennfield Parish website. This was simply done because, it seems to most people, that the Air Station and the murder go within the same sentence. While the murder was tragic and senseless, I wanted to separate the two things because they are after all just that...two separate things.

I knew several of Bernice Connorsʼ siblings and her great niece (the grand daughter of her sister Patricia) is a good friend of mine. In fact many of Patʼs children are friends of mine...some of those friendships going back 30+ yrs. Mildred Justason, probably the last person to see Bernice alive that night, I also knew along with her late husband (another Airmen from Pennfield Ridge). Foster Eldridge and Gib Eldridge who "were standing on the same road beyond the range of the streetlight enjoying a ʽbrightenrʼ ", I had many memorable conversations with over the years. Also in the course of my research other Airmen have also spoken about their memories of the murder. One of these Airmen was also an armourer-fitter at the Station at the same time. So now that a complete picture of the Air Station as its own entity has been painted, I am including material on the murder.

G. Christian Larsen
President "Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society

To read more on this story please click here.