“Home in the back of the truck. More fun.” Saturday, June 9, 1945
3 Sun. Young people took the service today. Miss Farrell didn’t go. Norman McPherson preached & was very good. Connie sang. We went to McGugans after. Had a very nice time. Met Ralph, another boy in the Air Force. The boys are all home. Got to know Bert a little better. Had a grand Turkey dinner tonight. Sang & played guitar after supper. Home around 9.
4 Mon. Stewarts in Moose Jaw. I washed today’s dishes at noon. Doris & I worked at the store from 7.30 until 9.30. Went to the show which was packed. “30 Seconds Over Tokyo.” Real good picture. Got out at 11.40. Bed after midnight.
5 Tues. C.C.Y.M. night. Grand attendance. 11 visitors. I took over as new Secretary tonight. Education went over very well, led by Mable & Bob. For Social, divided into groups, each having to write a song. Mr May judged my team’s as best. Words about C.C.Y.M. tune “Put Your Arms Around Me.” Had some apple pie & ice-cream for lunch. Grand. Bed at about Midnight.
6 Wed. Suppose to go to Petits for supper. Again had to refuse. Mrs Stutt & Ruth came in on the bus, & came up here. Doris had met them. I worked from 2 to 4. After dinner, came home & washed stocking, etc. Ruth & Doris went to the second show. Mrs. Stutt stayed here til John’s came in. I slept in little room. Asleep before 11.30.
7 Thurs. Bert came up to the office to say the car would be in front of the store after work. Didn’t get out til 6.45. Darn it. Dean & Ralph took Ruth, Doris & I all out home. Picked up Dean on the way. Had supper out there. I rode out home in the front with Bert (ahem!). Had some music. Everybody stood up & really sang. Boys insisted on bringing us back to town. Bert sat beside me in the back. I was thrilled.
8 Fri. Went to C.C.F. meeting in Legion. 8 C.C.Y.M. girls including Doris & I ushered, passed out literature, & took up collection. We were dressed in dark skirts & white blouses & I played the piano over loudspeakers for entertainment. Also the King and O Canada. Mr Douglas spoke wonderfully. Ruth came home & slept with me after we had lunch downtown. Hall was packed for meeting.
9 Sat. Ruth took Doris & I to dinner at the Commercial. It was wonderful! They had mine already for me when I got there. Good service, too. After work tonight, Ruth, Doris & I bowled. Later we bowled on the same alley as the boys. Isabelle was with us. Had fun over our lemonade in the Commercial. Home in the back of the truck. More fun. All in a giddy mood.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.