ERNIE'S STORY
Chapter Seven
O Canada, My Home and Native Land
Two of Ernie's letters to Irene written aboard the Empress
Australia record Ernie's feelings as he left Hong Kong.
On board Empress Australia
12 Sep 45
Dearest Rene
Here is about the sixth letter or cable attempted but I do hope
you have heard regarding us before now. However we expect to land
at Manilla to-morrow and have been told there is a special air
Mail Bag of mail awaiting us. Hope I am lucky enough to receive
one.
The latest information I can glean about my immediate future is
a possible 6 weeks stay in Manilla i.e. 20 miles outside the city
under canvass in care of American Personel .... Tell all our
friends I am OK & hope to see them soon. I am sincerely praying
that our stay at Manilla, although it will be comfortable will be
considerably shortened as I am living for one thing only at them
moment and that one thing is YOU
All my love
always
Ernie
Ernie was one of the lucky ones. A letter from Irene awaited
him in Manilla just as he had hoped. Even the envelope must have
filled him with joy. Stamped across the front are the words
Liberated Prisoner of War Mail: Postage Free.
Thursday Aug 23 1945
Dearest:-
It is very hard to realize I can sit down & write you a proper
letter, as a matter-of-fact, I am so full of joy, with the
knowledge that you also now peace is in the signing, I can hardly
speak. Just waiting for your return sweetheart & getting things
ship-shape .... Still watching the stars from the sleeping
balcony & my little rest at 9:30 still works (your's had better
also) .... Spencer entering grade 5 so will need your assistance
now. Just think Syd will be going up to Scouts after Christmas so
-- They are just at the age for you to ttake over sweetheart and I
will be glad.
odooles of love & kisses
your loving wife
Ernie's reply is written at the U.S. Army Camp where the
P.O.W.'s were recuperating until well enough for the long trip
home to Canada.
7-660 Coy. Repl. Det.
U.S. Army
Phillipines
17 Sep 45
Dearest Just receieved you letter dated Aug 23rd 45. was
glad to see it. I borrowed a pen to reply immediately. Hope you
have had the cables and previous letters and now know that I am
O.K. and getting fatter every day, just counting the hours until
I meet you. You'll notice the ink ran out but so what! Boy am I
ecited, elated, effervescent, effussive etc. However I promise to
be a good boy when I arrive. ... Why the threat about my 9:30
appointment not working. it sure does.
A son 5 ft 1 " another 4'8" do I feel old. However I will do my
best for them in all things and for you I can only say I'll try
to prove I'm not too old anyway.
Remember me to all with best regards.
All my love
Ernie
In spite of all the joy and love expressed in these letters,
small hints of anticipated difficulties of adjusting to family
life again after the years of imprisonment occasionally surface
e.g. in Irene's letter of Oct 1, 1945. She says:
Spencer had a car accident this year at Calgary,
a car hit him and he was in the hospital for 23 days, got a nasty
scar on his forehead overtop of the baby ones, also had his left
arm broken ... You can ask him about it (just for something to
say) as he is so worried that you won't be able to recognize him
(he was such a little kid when you went
away)...
There is also another bit of news that will result in an
almost comic scenario later: "Your Dad left Montreal around
Sept 5th to go back to the old country (will tell you more
later)." So it is with joy and also some anxiety that Irene
hears that Ernie is sailing for home. Ernie records that he
embarked on the Admiral Hugh Rodman at 1900 hrs. 18 Sep 45
sailing for San Francisco.
There followed a series of telegrams beginning with one from
Irene.
Winnipeg Sept 22nd 1945
PWM Major Ernest Hodkinson
Winnipeg Grenadiers (MG) Canadian Liberated
POW Manila Via Melbourne
All in good spirits. Hope you enjoy safe voyage.
All my love.
Irene
1945 Oct 4
Mrs. E Hodkinson
774 Spruce St. WPG
Arrived Frisco to-day. Leave 5 p.m. for Victoria. Takes 42 hours
Advise our arrival Winnipeg soon as know
Love Ernie
Nora Burnett, Ernie's sister, also set a message to Ernie via
the Red Cross.
Message to Liberated Personnel in the Far
East:
Dear Ernie:
Seeing we, Aunt Betty, George and us are in Vancouver we will
meet the boat when reaching here as we have heard you may come
Pacific way. Rene and boys are well. George is married. Dad, Mum
will be here too. Love from all.
Nora Burnett
Some other old friends also met Ernie on his arrival in
Vancouver and they sent Irene this telegram.
Oct 7, 1945 7 P.M.
Vancouver B.C.
Mrs. E. Hodkinson 755 Spruce St Wpg.
Dear Mrs. Hodkinson.
It gave us great pleasure to meet Ernie off boat to-night. He is
fine. We spent about one hour with him. Train just pulled out for
Peg. Hope you are all well. Wishing you both the very best on his
return. Love from all your old friends.
Mr. & Mrs. E. Palmer
What did Ernie think and feel to see and touch all these
familiar people after nearly four years of experiences that these
people could only remotely imagine? Ernie was not a man who
easily expressed his emotions except to Irene, the great love of
his life. But he must have had a sense of really being home as he
saw and spoke to his relatives and friends. Was he impatient to
begin the last part of the journey back to Winnipeg and Irene? In
every letter he expresses his tremendous longing to be back with
her and to see his sons. But once again there is some anxiety
about adjusting to home life and to finding employment.
Give my regards to all our friends and
acquaintances, if any, and please don't make any dates to visit
people too soon after my return. Don't be alarmed if I am not
quite a hermit but at present feel as if Home is the place for me
for sometime at least. Have Ford's opened up again in Winnipeg,
or do I have to get in touch with Windsor to find out something
about the future? This can be answered when you see me. If
necessary you could contact Mr. Hobbs and let him know I am on
the way, although I have written to him myself c/o the Windsor
Plant.
(letter written aboard U.S.S. Admiral Hugh Rodman, 30th Sept
1945)
Ernie, Irene and friends Dec. 20, 1945
Ernie said little to the family about his adjustment to
civilian life. But he did say that it took some time before the
boys would really talk to him: "If they needed to know something,
they would go to the kitchen to ask their mother even though I
was right in the room with them". He also mentioned that he and
Irene took a holiday by themselves leaving the boys with friends.
This too must have helped both of them adjust to married life
again after the long separation.
As if Ernie didn't have enough things to deal with at this
time, his father, James, decided to add to his problems. As
mentioned earlier in one of Irene's letters, James chose
September 1945 to return to England. He didn't find things to be
what he expected. He seems to have forgotten that England had
just been through a long and very devastating war. James
Hodkinson's letters show little concern for his son and mostly
express a series of complaints about the lack of mail, the
slowness of government officials, poor food, the lack of money,
and even the weather! He does admit that he brought it on
himself: "I made a sad mistake in coming over here but of
course there is no one to blame but myself" (letter to Ernie,
April 23, 1946).
This is the first letter that Ernie received from his
father:
Dec 11, 1945
Dear Ernie
I hope by the time this reaches you that you are feeling more
like yourself and getting back to normal again after your long
absence abroad. I arrived here on the 8th of last month. I left
Wpeg on the 14th Aug intending to pay a 3 months visit over here.
I could not get away from Montreal on a passenger boat so I
signed up as a member of the crew on a Cargo Ship bound for
Poland and Finland. The voyage took 69 days before we landed
here. I was astonished to find no Mail had come for me. Before I
left I called Deer Lodge and told them my intentions and
everything seemed O.K. I also wrote to Ottawa in order to ensure
there would be no slip-up. But up to now nearly 4 months I have
had no reply. It has put me in a very awkward fix as I don't know
how I am going to get back and I am also losing my Veterans
Allowance of $20 per month while I am away from Canada. I wonder
if Mr. Jettman (Soldiers Advocate) at Deer Lodge Hospital would
help me out in any way. This state of affairs is entirely the
fault of the Pensions Officials.
With love and best wishes
Your affectionate Dad
Four more letters followed, each one portraying the worsening
circumstances of this pathetic old man, who was the victim of his
own stubborness and folly, although one has to admire his
ingenuity in signing on as crew on a cargo ship at age 76.
Here are some excerpts from James' other letters to Ernie:
I am stranded here, poor food and walk the
streets aimlessly. I am very sorry to write this strain but I am
so unhappy and distressed ... Please send me back to Winnipeg as
soon as you can ... You are the only one I can turn to for help.
Please do not fail me. (April 6/46)
Your letter to hand, also the Cheque for 10
pounds for which I thank you... I have tried all ways to get back
but with no results. Shipping is banned from this side. ... Food
here is very poor, everything is rationed and very little of it.
2 oz of this and that per person each week. The weather here is
awful, cold and misty, hardly any sunshine. (April
23/46)
The next letter in the series written on the back of one from
the Canadian Immigration Branch in London England requesting
information about who will pay for James' return transportation
and also who will receive him upon his return to Winnipeg. This
is followed by a carbon copy of Ernie's letter.
10 May 1946
Dear Sir:
As requested in your letter of the 2nd May 1946 to my Father,
Mr. James Hodkinson, 49 King Edward St, Macclesfield, Cheshire
... My Father left for a visit to England in September or October
of last year, prior to my arrival home from Hong Kong, where I
had been "entertained" by the Japanese for a period of four
years.
I am most anxious for his return to our home, as I last saw him
in September 1941, and he, as you may realize is now advanced in
years and just as anxious to see me again. ... I will be only too
pleased to forward him the necessary monies for travelling
home.
Thanking you in anticipation of your prompt action in this
case.
I remain
E. Hodkinson, D.S.O. Major
1st Bn Winnipeg Grenadiers
This is part of the reply that Ernie received from the
Canadian Immigration Branch in London England:
30th May 1946
Dear Sir,
Referring to you letter of 10th May, you may be assurred that as
soon as we receive advice from our Service in Canada as regards
the proposed movement of your father, Mr. James Hodkinson, we
shall be guided and promptly take action accordingly ... You will
understand that it may take some time before your father can
secure passage and that Canadian authorities have no control over
existing conditions.
The final surviving letter from James to Ernie is dated July
20, 1946. In it he thanks Ernie for sending 50 pounds and seems
to be preparing to leave England shortly.
I am waiting for my passport which should come
next week. I am all ready and anxious to start. There is so much
red tape and the rationing of food is awful, such poor meals
every day. One always has a hungry feeling ... I have not heard
from Florence since I left Winnipeg last August 14th. She sure
has forgotten her old Dad and all that he has done for her.
When I know for sure I am due to leave, I'll send you word and
will wire you as soon as I arrive in Montreal.
Again many thanks. My best love to you all. The weather here is
fierce, lots of rain this week & damp and cold Roll (?) on when I
reach Winnipeg.
Your affectionate Dad
Exactly when James returned to Winnipeg and his family is not
recorded anywhere. However, after this bizarre adventure, James
stayed on in Winnipeg where he died in 1954 at the age of 85
years.
One of the problems that faced Ernie and most of the Canadian
men returning from the war was finding employment. Ernie went to
work for the Ford Motor Company in Winnipeg where he had worked
previously. He had barely gotten settled into this jop when the
company moved him to Burnaby in British Columbia. This meant
leaving their comfortable two story clapboard home on Spruce St.
in Winnipeg and for Sydney and Spencer it meant new schools and
new friends.
For the first three months the family lived at the Hotel
Vancouver with Ford's paying the bill until they found a house.
Housing was in short supply after the war because except for some
'wartime housing' very little was built. Spencer remembers it as
a most happy adventure. He describes a typical day during this
time:
In the morning, Syd and I would go with Father to
the Georgia Hotel for breakfast. Then Barney Melsness, one of
Father's co-workers, would drive us to Burnaby. Sometimes we
drove through thick fog. Syd and I then walked from Ford's to
Kingsbury West School. We ate lunch at the Silver Cafe on McKay
St. I loved the Stubby orange drink there. We all went back at
the end of the day to the Hotel Vancouver. After our homework was
done, there came the best part of the day. We would go out to
choose a place to have Supper. The weather was mild, sometimes
lightly raining and there were always the sound of gulls -- so
different from Winnipeg.
He also remembered their Christmas in the hotel as a happy
time. They smuggled a Christmas Tree into their room and had a
regular family Christmas. They must have also seen their extended
family during this time as Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Pilgrim, Nora &
Bill Burnett with their two sons, Allen and Brian, as well as
George Pilgrim and his wife and Betty Pilgrim (aunt Hilda's
daughter) all lived in and around Vancouver. Irene must have
appreciated their companionship during the days while Ernie and
the boys were at work and school, but Irene's main job was to
find a house. Irene finally found a house to buy at 4231 Imperial
Street in Burnaby. It was a modern white stucco house with a plum
tree in the backyard. The boys made new friends, Spencer
remembers his best friend was Warner Woodley, his next door
neighbour. The family attended All Saint's Church, took music
lessons and were active in Cubs and Scouts. Irene always told the
family how much she loved this house and their life in
Burnaby.
4231 Imperial St. Burnaby, B.C.
Then in 1948, Ford's once again moved Ernie, this time to
their plant in Windsor, Ontario. This was a city of heavy
industry with little or no natural beauty. Neither Ernie nor
Irene wanted to make this move, but Ernie had to go where the
company sent him. Once again, they bought a house, 2282
Windermere Road and went to church at St. Andrews (later St.
Barnabas) and took part in Scouts and music.
2282 Windermere Rd. Windsor, Ont.
As always, music was a big part of their lives. Both Ernie and
Irene sang in the church choir and in the Scottish Choir. Sydney
played violin in the school orchestra and began to learn the
trombone. Sydney played in the Windsor City Band and Spencer
played trombone in the school band. For Sydney, music was
becoming the most important part of his life.
Windsor was to be Ernie and Irene's home until Ernie's
retirement in July 1968 due to poor health, particularly bleeding
ulcers for which he had undergone several operations. Twice he
had collapsed on family holidays and only quick medical help
saved his life. Many Hong Kong veterans suffered serious medical
problems but received little financial help or sympathy from the
Canadian government. In The Desparate Siege, Ted Ferguson
describes the situation:
The struggle began practically the day they returned
home. Department of Veteran Affairs hospital rejected many Hong
Konger: doctors had never heard of the rare tropical diseases
some soldiers had contracted and loath to admit their own
ignorance, the doctors accused the men of faking symptoms and
malingering. Mental problems resulting from prolonged captivity
elicted a similar response, and one survivor says a Toronto
doctor told him, "You guys are crybabies. Why don't you act like
real men and forget the war."
It was the government that wanted to forget the war and all its
blunders and resulting tragedies. The Hong Kong Vets suffered
from premature aging, muscular defects in hands & feet, stomach
ulcers, dental problems, alcoholism, and often had to take early
retirement.
(Desperate Siege, p. 236).
Ernie suffered from many of these problems.
In 1951, the Canadian Government finally agreed to pay $1 for
each day of forced labour and ill treatment and cheques for
$1,300 were mailed to each survivor. It took eight more years of
arguing before the government agreed to another 50 cents per day.
Most Hong Kong veterans failed to qualify for the full disability
pensions because they had to prove their disabilities resulted
from war experiences. Many of these disabilities resulting from
starvation or emotional stress only appeared after some months or
even years. With the government attitude, the survivors found it
difficult to get help. They formed the Hong Kong Veterans
Association which never gave up trying. In 1952, the Canadian
Government legally absolved Japan of any responsibility of
wartime reparations to Canadian P.O.W.'s. To this day, the Hong
Kong Veteran's Association is still trying to get help for the
former P.O.W.'s and the government attitude is still
unsympathetic.
After Ernie's retirement from Ford, Ernie and Irene moved to
Victoria where they enjoyed working with Scouts, lawn bowling,
curling, and Christ Church Cathedral. In October 1986, Irene died
of a massive stroke. Ernie was desolate and after he became ill
in December, he agreed to come to Owen Sound, Ontario, to live
with Spencer, who had a medical practice there.
In Owen Sound, Ernie made a complete recovery, even though the
medical opinion was that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest
of his life. But true to his strong, determined character, Ernie
struggled to walk again. In a few short months, he went from
wheelchair to walker to cane to walking independently. He took an
active part in St. Thomas' Church and the Grey-Granite Curling
Club.
Andrew and Peter play chess with Ernie
He enjoyed the company of his youngest grandson, Matthew. They
played cards and various boardgames and Ernie attended events at
his school: Ernie was the speaker at the school's Rememberance
Day Ceremony in 1988. He went to all Matthew's soccer games and
insisted that his large Lincoln Continental be used for
transportation. He no longer drove but he like to ride in his own
car.
His great-grandchildren also helped to brighten his life. He
played with Michael's daughter, Sarah, who like to pretend to
have tea in 'great-granddad's house'. This was her name for the
room which had been built just off the kitchen so he didn't have
to climb any stairs. After 'tea', Ernie would have a nap and tiny
Sarah would cover him with a blanket and kiss him goodnight.
In October 1987, his first great-grandson, Peter, was born to
his grandson Andrew. Ernie travelled to Toronto for the
christening. Then in October 1988, a second grand-daughter, Amy,
was born to his grandson, Michael. For Christmas 1988, Ernie went
to Ormond Beach, Florida to spend the holiday with Sydney's
family. Here he played with Mark's daughter, his
great-granddaughter, Karin. Ernie and Irene found great joy in
their two sons and seven grandsons and now they helped to relieve
the loneliness for Irene in Ernie's final years.
In March of 1989, some of Ernie's family including grandsons
Timothy and Matthew travelled to China and Hong Kong. Ernie
wanted them to go to the Sai Wan War Cemetary and have their
picture taken by Colonel Sutcliff's and Brigadier Lawson's
graves: "If I could see my grandsons there, I might feel we
did it for something." That statement was about as close as
Ernie ever came to saying how he felt about the battle for Hong
Kong and his years as a P.O.W. in Sham Shui Po.
Grandsons Tim and Matthew by Col. Sutcliffe's grave at Sai Wan war cemetary, Hong Kong, March 1989
By May, Ernie was having more digestive problems than usual
and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He resisted taking to
his bed and even tried to do without large doses of morphine.
After his grandson Andrew returned in June from his studies in
Toronto, Ernie played a final game of chess. He had talked for
some time of playing chess again with Andrew.
Ernie died at home on July 5th, 1989, but he lives on in the
memories of his family. His ashes rest in the crypt of Christ
Church Cathedral in Victoria, B.C. beside those of his beloved
wife, Irene.
Chapter 8
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