RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion

No-Cache RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion

Wednesday, November 10, 1999

RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion

By John Barlow
Staff Reporter and Sports Editor

Alex McQuarrie It is difficult to fathom the positives that are gained from war.

For one Okotoks man, the friendships and comrades he met while spending more than two years in German prisoner of war (POW) camps during World War II will truly last a lifetime.

Alex McQuarrie, 78, spent 27 months in several camps between March, 1943 and May, 1945.

After the war concluded, McQuarrie and other members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) POW Association held regular reunions to rekindle the friendships that helped them endure what was the most terrifying times of their lives.

Together these men survived enemy aircraft attacks, German anti-aircraft guns and endured years in prison camps.

McQuarrie recently returned from what could possibly be the final reunion hosted by the RCAF POW Association which was held in Ottawa.

'We are like family,' said McQuarrie of the friends he made during wartime. 'They made (the war) livable.'

The reunions brought together veterans from across Canada, the United States, Britain and as far away as South Africa.

In 1989, 900 veterans attended the reunion, this year only 170 association members were in attendance. Because the numbers are dwindling the recent reunion will likely be the last.

The first reunion of the POWs was held in Regina in 1975 and McQuarrie's wife Meta recalls that it was an extremely emotional time for many of the war veterans.

At the first reunion many veterans were reunited with those men who helped them survive the most trying of times -- 'brothers' they had not seen in 30 years.

'These fellows are closer than brothers,' said McQuarrie's wife. 'The first reunion was the most emotional.'

At the Regina reunion, McQuarrie remembers running into an old mate, Gummy MacDonald. MacDonald earned the nickname Gummy because he lost his dentures bailing out of his wounded aircraft.

McQuarrie himself became a prisoner of war after his Wellington bomber was shot down after a run to Stuttgard, Germany.

The RCAF bomber was attacked by a nightfighter and caught fire.

The tailgunner, Art Cockaday, though severely wounded, crawled out of his turret and smothered the fire with his parachute. Cockaday was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his actions that day.

McQuarrie's plane hobbled to the French coast where it crash landed on the beach.

The Wellington's crew was taken prisoner and after nine sorties over Germany and France, for the most part, McQuarrie's war was over.

For the next two years he was held captive in camps across Eastern Europe and Asia.

'Being a prisoner was never pleasant,' said McQuarrie fighting back emotion. 'We were lucky to receive Red Cross parcels with food. That meant a lot to us.'

The parcels included tins of the infamous KLIM (powdered milk) and other of life's bare essentials.

In spite of the care packages, food was scarce.

McQuarrie's wife, then girlfriend, knitted him a vest before he went overseas. He was wearing the vest when he was shot down and later traded it to a German guard for a loaf of bread.

'The first thing he told me when he returned home was that he did not have the vest,' said Meta. 'At least he ate.'

While life in camp was at times unbearable, the prisoners did what they could to make it livable.

McQuarrie recalls during a cold day in a camp in Lithuania the prisoners formed a fire brigade and using buckets of water made an ice rink in one of the buildings.

Using hockey equipment sent to them by the YMCA, the prisoners enjoyed one day of hockey -- until the ice melted.

At Christmas, in a hidden barrel, the men made homemade wine from prunes, potato skins and anything they could find.

'It was horrible stuff,' laughed the former RCAF gunner.

Finally, in 1945, McQuarrie and 500 of his fellow prisoners were liberated. While being marched to another camp, they accidentally stumbled onto an allied convoy.

McQuarrie returned home to Canada on July 19.

One other good thing happened to McQuarrie while he was a prisoner -- he became engaged to his beautiful wife.

While in a camp near the Baltic Sea, he wrote her a letter proposing to her. It took six months for the letter to reach Meta Pachal in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It took another six months for McQuarrie to receive a reply.

It took just two months after he returned to Canada for McQuarrie to marry his long-time girlfriend.

On Sept. 15, 1999 the couple celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

other Remembrance Day stories in this issue:

Letters to the Editor revive memories from the front

Foothills to host services to reflect, respect and remember
RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion
Resident named last Silver Cross Mother of millennium
'Unknown' war hero has a name here in Okotoks

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RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion

By John Barlow Staff Reporter and Sports Editor		It is difficult to fathom the positives that are gained from war. For one Okotoks man, the friendships and comrades he met while spending more than two years in German prisoner of war (POW) camps during World War II will truly last a lifetime. Alex McQuarrie, 78, spent 27 months in several camps between March, 1943 and May, 1945. After the war concluded, McQuarrie and other members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) POW Association held regular reunions to rekindle the friendships that helped them endure what was the most terrifying times of their lives. Together these men survived enemy aircraft attacks, German anti-aircraft guns and endured years in prison camps. McQuarrie recently returned from what could possibly be the final reunion hosted by the RCAF POW Association which was held in Ottawa. 'We are like family,' said McQuarrie of the friends he made during wartime. 'They made (the war) livable.' The reunions brought together veterans from across Canada, the United States, Britain and as far away as South Africa. In 1989, 900 veterans attended the reunion, this year only 170 association members were in attendance. Because the numbers are dwindling the recent reunion will likely be the last. The first reunion of the POWs was held in Regina in 1975 and McQuarrie's wife Meta recalls that it was an extremely emotional time for many of the war veterans. At the first reunion many veterans were reunited with those men who helped them survive the most trying of times -- 'brothers' they had not seen in 30 years. 'These fellows are closer than brothers,' said McQuarrie's wife. 'The first reunion was the most emotional.' At the Regina reunion, McQuarrie remembers running into an old mate, Gummy MacDonald. MacDonald earned the nickname Gummy because he lost his dentures bailing out of his wounded aircraft. McQuarrie himself became a prisoner of war after his Wellington bomber was shot down after a run to Stuttgard, Germany. The RCAF bomber was attacked by a nightfighter and caught fire. The tailgunner, Art Cockaday, though severely wounded, crawled out of his turret and smothered the fire with his parachute. Cockaday was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his actions that day. McQuarrie's plane hobbled to the French coast where it crash landed on the beach. The Wellington's crew was taken prisoner and after nine sorties over Germany and France, for the most part, McQuarrie's war was over. For the next two years he was held captive in camps across Eastern Europe and Asia. 'Being a prisoner was never pleasant,' said McQuarrie fighting back emotion. 'We were lucky to receive Red Cross parcels with food. That meant a lot to us.' The parcels included tins of the infamous KLIM (powdered milk) and other of life's bare essentials. In spite of the care packages, food was scarce. McQuarrie's wife, then girlfriend, knitted him a vest before he went overseas. He was wearing the vest when he was shot down and later traded it to a German guard for a loaf of bread. 'The first thing he told me when he returned home was that he did not have the vest,' said Meta. 'At least he ate.' While life in camp was at times unbearable, the prisoners did what they could to make it livable. McQuarrie recalls during a cold day in a camp in Lithuania the prisoners formed a fire brigade and using buckets of water made an ice rink in one of the buildings. Using hockey equipment sent to them by the YMCA, the prisoners enjoyed one day of hockey -- until the ice melted. At Christmas, in a hidden barrel, the men made homemade wine from prunes, potato skins and anything they could find. 'It was horrible stuff,' laughed the former RCAF gunner. Finally, in 1945, McQuarrie and 500 of his fellow prisoners were liberated. While being marched to another camp, they accidentally stumbled onto an allied convoy. McQuarrie returned home to Canada on July 19. One other good thing happened to McQuarrie while he was a prisoner -- he became engaged to his beautiful wife. While in a camp near the Baltic Sea, he wrote her a letter proposing to her. It took six months for the letter to reach Meta Pachal in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. It took another six months for McQuarrie to receive a reply. It took just two months after he returned to Canada for McQuarrie to marry his long-time girlfriend. On Sept. 15, 1999 the couple celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.



other Remembrance Day stories in this issue:

	Letters to the Editor revive memories from the front Foothills to host services to reflect, respect and remember RCAF POWs rekindle old friendships at reunion Resident named last Silver Cross Mother of millennium 'Unknown' war hero has a name here in Okotoks


Search Okotoks and Surrounding Areas

			!! new !!
	search the western wheel	search regional white pages	search for real estate



News Stories	Opinion	What's Happening	Sports	Archives



website by iGods internet marketing