With my brother Rick, visiting from Ottawa,
we drove to Halifax and a visit to Pier 21,
where, after WWII, "over one million immigrants
and refugees from Europe and elsewhere," landed.
This was their first glimpse of Canada, their new home.
 |
| Leaving their homeland to come to Canada |
Our next door neighbour Erik, arrived here from Denmark when he
was ten-years old. He, along with his mother and siblings, came
to re-unite with his dad. You don't have to say too many "Hello's"
before you meet a Nova Scotian with connections to Pier 21.
Many "war brides" with young children, arrived
to re-unite with his dad. You don't have to say too many "Hello's"
before you meet a Nova Scotian with connections to Pier 21.
Many "war brides" with young children, arrived
in Halifax to meet their future husbands, soldiers they had met
overseas.
They arrived tagged, wondering if they
would recognize their husbands,
wondering what their new life
would be like.
Before any immigrant could
land on the Canadian shore, a doctor would examine
them.
Imagine this---
after travelling across
a sometimes stormy ocean,
after arriving in a land
where perhaps they
did not speak
the language,
after waiting for oh so long,
they would have to wait even longer,
to be examined by a complete stranger,
to have their papers processed,
their baggage examined.
Many Canadians, not only on the East Coast,
but throughout Canada, trace their history back to
Pier 21 as the point of entry for a new life,
far from the ravages of war.
Pier 21 was also the departure point for 496,000 Canadian
troops during World War Two.
overseas.
 |
| War Brides on board ship |
They arrived tagged, wondering if they
would recognize their husbands,
wondering what their new life
would be like.
Before any immigrant could
land on the Canadian shore, a doctor would examine
them.
Imagine this---after travelling across
a sometimes stormy ocean,
after arriving in a land
where perhaps they
did not speak
the language,
after waiting for oh so long,
they would have to wait even longer,
to be examined by a complete stranger,
to have their papers processed,
their baggage examined.
Many Canadians, not only on the East Coast,
but throughout Canada, trace their history back to
Pier 21 as the point of entry for a new life,
far from the ravages of war.
Pier 21 was also the departure point for 496,000 Canadian
troops during World War Two.
 |
| ships ready to leave Bedford Basin in Halifax during WWII |
Our father,
Richard Arnold Prashaw,
was one of those troops.
At 27 years of age,
dad arrived in Halifax,
a soldier with the Perth Regiment
from Southern Ontario, Canada.
Along with his regiment,
he boarded the Reina del Pacifoco,
on October 5, 1941,
heading to Liverpool,
England, leaving his fiance,
my mother, behind.
Dad never talked to us about
the war. All we know is,
three days after the war ended,
his buddy, marching just a few
feet in front of him,
stepped on a land mine.
Shrapnel from the mine
pierced my dad's face,
near is left eye. My dad lost
some of his hearing. He also
lost his buddy.
I'm not sure why history,
especially of the wars,
seem to be following
me around. Perhaps because
I live with two guys
who are fascinated about
the history of WWI and WWII,
or just history in general.
All I know is,
my father fought on the front lines
during WWII. He received
a Mention in Dispatches for bravery
in the field.
PRASHAW, Richard Arnold, Private (A.106881)
- Mention in Despatches - Infantry (Perth Regiment) - awarded as per Canada Gazette
and CARO/6074, both dated 22 September 1945.
http://www.perthregiment.org/perthcitations.html
All I know is,
I am grateful that he came back,
that he married my mom.
The rest is, well, seven kids history.
dad arrived in Halifax,
a soldier with the Perth Regiment
from Southern Ontario, Canada.
Along with his regiment,
he boarded the Reina del Pacifoco,
on October 5, 1941,
heading to Liverpool,
England, leaving his fiance,
my mother, behind.
| Reina del Pacifico |
the war. All we know is,
three days after the war ended,
his buddy, marching just a few
feet in front of him,
stepped on a land mine.
Shrapnel from the mine
pierced my dad's face,
near is left eye. My dad lost
some of his hearing. He also
lost his buddy.
I'm not sure why history,
especially of the wars,
seem to be following
me around. Perhaps because
I live with two guys
who are fascinated about
the history of WWI and WWII,
or just history in general.
All I know is,
my father fought on the front lines
during WWII. He received
a Mention in Dispatches for bravery
in the field.
PRASHAW, Richard Arnold, Private (A.106881)
- Mention in Despatches - Infantry (Perth Regiment) - awarded as per Canada Gazette
and CARO/6074, both dated 22 September 1945.
http://www.perthregiment.org/perthcitations.html
All I know is,
I am grateful that he came back,
that he married my mom.
The rest is, well, seven kids history.
 |
| Alec, Jude and Rick Dutch Memorial at Pier 21
Welcome, to a little piece of Canada.
|
 |
| Jeff, the wanna be and Alec |
I'm grateful too that Mr Prashaw came back of that damned war and he begat a wonderful little girl named Jude. This little girl became a woman made the trip to France and I had the pleasure of knowing her. she opened me, eyes and heart, on the world and on the USA people. Thanks Jude !
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