by William A. C. Rosenblath – November 2023
Figure 1 -The Armoury (mall) – Picton, ON
There is a display in “The Armoury” (mall) here in Picton Ontario that has a collection of items from the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment whose members fought in WWII. The Armoury was originally where the Military stored vehicles, weapons and Artillery in days gone by, but was later converted into a mall and in recent years has undergone further renovations under new ownership.
While strolling though the mall one day after some recent renovations (2021). I took time to view the display and was very surprised to find a picture of my Grandfather Allan Nutley as well as something I wouldn’t have thought could have survived all these years too; a Valentine’s day card my Grandfather sent to my Grandmother Lena Nutley while he was away during wartime service.
Figure 2 – Valentine from Allan Nutley to Lena Chapman 1945 – The Armoury Memorial Display
Figure 3- Allan Nutley The Armoury Memorial Display
Figure 4- Private Allan Nutley 1939
My grandfather, Allan Nutley served in the Hastings Prince Edward Regiment as a Medic and spent a lot of time in ambulances during the war. (He also did a stint with the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, sometimes called the PLDG ..Pretty Little Dancing Girls was what my Grandfather called the PLDG Regiment during our any talks when I was a teenager).
Figure 5 – Newspaper clipping circa 1940
My Grandfather was one of three brothers that enlisted from Prince Edward County in September of 1939. He was joined by his brothers CSM Charles Nutley and LC Reginald Nutley
My Great Uncle Reg, (LC Reginald Nutley) was injured badly and sent home home with an honorable discharge in 1943.
My Great Uncle Charlie. ( CSM Charles Nutley) was killed in action during the landing on the beaches of Sicily on July 10th, 1943. Charles was written about by Farley Mowat in his description of the landing in his book “And No Birds Sang”. CSM Nutley was shot through the neck by a sniper within an arms reach of Mr. Mowat.
Figure 6 – Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment Landing on the Beach in Sicily July 10, 1943
Charles was buried at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Italy
Figure 6- CSM Charles Nutley Tombstone in Agira Canadian War Cemetery – Italy
Near the end of the war, the ambulance my Grandfather Allan Nutley was in was blown up and he spent a couple months in England waiting to go back to the front.
While he was convalescing and preparing to return to the fight, the war ended, and he was sent home like so many others.
He spent 5 years over seas during WWII and was part of the Italian campaign.
After coming home my Grandfather received both hand written and typed letters of recommendation from his Regimental Medical Officer that could be used to seek a job in a medical field. He decided not to pursue work in the medical field because he had seen too much during the war.
Figure 7- Hand written letter of recommendation for Allan Nutley – 1947
Figure 8 – Typewritten letter of recommendation for Allan Nutley 1947
Figure 9 – Front of post card sent by my Grandfather from England to my Grandmother – Date unknown
Figure 10 – Back of postcard sent by my Grandfather from England to my Grandmother – Date Unknown
Figure 11 – Allan Nutley In field battle dress
Figure 12 – Allan Nutley Preparing for hike in rain in full gear.
Figure 13- Allan Nutley in dress uniform
Figure 14 – Allan Nutley’s Squad
Figure 15 – Allan Nutley – Wreath Ceremony at Hastings & Prince Edward Regimental Memorial – Belleville Ontario.
Later in the 1980’s my Grandfather was asked to take part in a memorial wreath placing service at the Hastings & Prince Edward Regimental Monument in Belleville Ontario.
I remember when I was in my teens, Poppa was having issues with his knee and surgeons removed shrapnel that had been in his knee since that time when he was “blown out of the ambulance”. (40 years later!)
My Father, William James Rosenblath joined the military after just turning 17.in 1958. His father signed the papers to allow entry under the age 18.
Figure 16 – William James Rosenblath – Royal Canadian Guard
He was assigned to the Canadian Guards.
After basic training he went to Germany for 3 years on his first deployment. Dad remarked on this once with wonder saying . “There I was 18 years old and walking down a street in Amsterdam.”
In 1962 Dad returned to Canada and was stationed at Camp Picton with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Guards.
For anyone unfamiliar with the Canadian Guards, they were known as the Queens Guard of Canada and fashioned after the Queens Guard in England. They were recognized for their sharp dress uniforms of red with those tall bearskin hats. Every possible surface that could be shined in their uniform had to be perfect, shoes, buttons, the brim of their hats etc.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, Join the navy and see the world.” Dad said jokingly with the guards it was “Join the guards and shine the world.”
Dad met my mom Deanna Rosenblath while stationed at Camp Picton.
Dad left for cypress 7 weeks after getting married and spent 6 months on peacekeeping duty with NATO helping with the conflict between the Greeks and the Turks.
Figure 17 – William James Rosenblath – NATO Peacekeeping Medals display
Figure 18 – William James Rosenblath – NATO Peacekeeping Medals
As a child I never thought much about it, but the older I get, more I realize how important it is that we take time to reflect every year. We would be nothing without the contributions made to ensure our freedom by those brave people that went before us. “Lest We Forget”…
William A. C. Rosenblath – November 2023
