Going home on leave from MMCS Avalon in St. John's, I went on the "Newfie Bullet". This was a train on a narrow gauge track. It was a journey of approximately 1493 kms. Or 928 miles to the ferry at Port Aux Basque. It was winter and the snow was very deep. Many times the train came to a halt and men riding on the train would alight to shovel the snow off the track, and on we would go for a few more miles until the snow piled up in front of the train again. This happened many times. The Ferry was waiting for the train because nearly all it's passengers were on that train.

The Newfie Bullet Schedules

A Very Difficult Day

By the time we were posted to Halifax, we had become used to so many naval rules and regulations, and I was thrilled to be part of it. However, we soon learned what happened for any serious departure from the rules. A Wren who wanted out of the service chose to break a serious rule.

I was so upset I couldn't stop the tears. My friend decided to sing to distract her from crying. So in barely a whisper we sang "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy"... as we formed up and began marching. We were trying so hard not to cry. We were all marched into the square and her badges were removed from her uniform. (She was marched into the area by the MP's.) Then the officer read the charges and she was marched away. A don't think there was one dry-eyed Wren present.

The Sound of Ships

I loved my time of service in St. John's. Because we were cut off from the mainland there was extra effort to provide entertainment. There were dances almost every night and many invitations to go aboard ships in port for dinner or to see a movie. The people were most kind and I was fortunate to be shown many places outside the city. For a girl from the prairies it was a wonderful experience to be so close to the ocean and to work so close to where the ships docked. I can close my eyes and go back in time to hear the sounds of the ships coming in.