Convoys of World War II: Dangerous Missions on the North Atlantic (Amazing Stories)

by Dorothy Pedersen | History |
ISBN: 1554390028 Global Overview for this book
Registered by JessicaEby of Cambridge, Ontario Canada on 2/11/2017
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by JessicaEby from Cambridge, Ontario Canada on Saturday, February 11, 2017
This morning I went shopping for some Canadian literature at a charity shop here in Cambridge, ON, and this was one of the books I brought home. Its purchase benefitted a local youth residence which focuses on preventing homelessness and teaching employment skills.

I can see from a stamp inside this book that it once belonged to St. Vincent de Paul School here in Cambridge. I am a fan of the Amazing Stories books and have a strong interest in history, particularly in Canada's military history and in the Second World War era, so I am excited to read this one. I have no naval connections myself and water scares me beyond all reason, so I'm sure some of this will be hard for me to get through, but I also grew up the little sister of two sea cadets, going to Battle of the Atlantic remembrance services, etc... so it adds another dimension of interest for me.

In 2017, I am celebrating the sesquicentennial by dedicating my bookcrossing activity to reading and sharing Canadian stories. I plan to include this book, and the stories of these Canadians, in my Canada 150 project.

Journal Entry 2 by JessicaEby at Cambridge, Ontario Canada on Saturday, April 15, 2017
I finished reading this book this afternoon. I don't have a specific release in mind for it yet, but I was glad to get it finished up before Battle of the Atlantic weekend, just in case an opportunity presents itself.

Anyway, this was a quick and interesting read. I have a huge phobia about water, so reading naval books is difficult for me sometimes (especially with accounts of sinkings and such), but they're always very interesting. I found Chapter 7, Ken Farquharson's account, particularly moving. I was also excited to read about HMCS St. Thomas in that chapter as my husband grew up in St. Thomas and my grandfather spent WWII serving with the army regiment based in St. Thomas. Their local history museum has HMCS St. Thomas's bell on display, and I remember seeing it when I visited the museum as a teenager.

The one thing that bothered me throughout the book was the author's continual referral to ships as "THE HMCS _____" rather than just "HMCS ____." It's a pet peeve of mine, and I noticed it several times throughout the book. All in all a worthwhile read though; I hope future readers will agree!

Journal Entry 3 by JessicaEby at Cenotaph in Stratford, Ontario Canada on Sunday, November 12, 2017

Released 6 yrs ago (11/12/2017 UTC) at Cenotaph in Stratford, Ontario Canada

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

My husband and I passed through Stratford this afternoon and stopped by the cenotaph to pay our respects as I have a relative named on it. As this book relates to World War Two, I left it at the back of the cenotaph by the World War II plaque.

If you've found this book, thanks for picking it up and checking out its journal! If you're new to bookcrossing, welcome. We'd love it if you'd stick around with us a while. I really hope that you enjoy both this book and the whole bookcrossing experience!

This book was released as part of the 2017 "52 Towns in 52 Weeks" Release Challenge. I finished my 52 in August but I've kept on going-- Stratford was Town #65 for me!

Journal Entry 4 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Stratford, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, January 2, 2018
On November 12, 2017, while on my morning walk I took an extra route and passed by and behind the cenotaph in downtown Stratford. Admiring the beauty of the cenotaph design I noticed and picked up a book lying in the snow at the back of the cenotaph. I was intrigued because it was about the Battle of the Atlantic and convoys of WW2. The picture on the cover was the harbour of Halifax filled with naval vessels. I already was familiar with that photo as my father served during WW2, having joined up at the age of 19, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Dad served in communications aboard the corvette Galt, the destroyers Assiniboine & Skeena and the frigates Wentworth and Sea Cliffe (mentioned in this book). He traversed the north Atlantic on the famous Newfie to Derry run. Later in life he expanded on his war time diary to self publish "A Sparker's War" , a copy of which is n the National Archives in Ottawa.
My father (96) died on September 11, two months before I found this book. I just had to pick it up and read it. It helped spread an extra light on his experience as I read of other men's stories. WW2 certainly left a profound and everlasting effect on my father.
Over New Year's weekend 2017 I travelled to Meaford Ontario where I left the book at the cenotaph downtown. Enjoy.
Kerry

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