It was February 1942, and I was 20 years of age. My mom and dad were not too happy with my decision; however, I don't remember them trying to talk me out of it. During the next week I had to report to Manning Pool [or Manning Depot] at the Exhibition grounds in Toronto to undergo all kinds of physical and mental tests in order to determine if I was acceptable for air-crew. According to my diary at that time I weighed 140 pounds and was 5'9" tall. The important factor that was considered was eyesight and I guess mine was pretty good because I passed the first hurdle and was ordered to catch a train the following night for Lachine, Quebec for my indoctrination into the Junior service.

Lachine is on the outskirts of Montreal and the Manning Pool there was currently under construction. My main memories of my six week stay centered around getting accustomed to barrack life, mud, washing dishes, mud, parade drills, mud and more mud. More medical exams as well as lectures and movies on all kinds of various diseases, social and otherwise, which we might encounter also helped to fill the day. Near the end of our posting I was confined to the camp hospital for a few days with a severe rash on the side on my neck. The Doctor thought that I got it from the camp barber when he turned my head into a bowling ball the previous Saturday.

The Lachine Manning Pool was home to several thousand types of R.C.A.F. recruits - aircrew, mechanics, administration, radio, etc., and each day I would run into someone I knew from school, church or the neighborhood. Each course had separate instructors and there was a lot of friendly competition on the parade square, ball field and even in the mess hall. For the last couple of weeks at Lachine all our afternoons were spent drilling on the parade square with the result being our right arms were sore from saluting and our feet sore from marching.