HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1988-08-17, Page 3Rev. Peter Baldwin of Goderich officiated the dedicating of the new cairn at Port
Albert. The monument stands as the final reminder of the Mr Training Base which
stood at Port Albert during the years of the Second World War. Looking on behind is
Eugene McGee and Don Dickson, both instrumental in the construction of the cairn.
(Photo by Rob Bundy)
Preserving history
By Rob Bundy
.0 the corner of Drury Lane and
Highway 21 at Port Albert stands a newly
erected cairn. The monument, which was
officially unveiled and dedicated Sunday,
stands as a permanent reminder of the
Port Albert Number 31 School of Air
Navigation base w hich once dominated the
huge field directly across the highway
from the plaque
Approximately 60 people braved the
heat to listen as Rev. t Major Peter C.
Baldwin of Goderich officiated the dedica-
tion of the memorial. Many of those in at-
tendance were once stationed at the air
base which served as a navigational train-
ing school from 1940 until it was abandoned
in February of 1945.
"The purpose of gathering here today in,
the shadow of this monument is to
recognize the existence of the air base and
to immortalize the events and people who
participated in its operation," Rev.
Baldwin told the gathering.
Looking out across the field which once
housed barracks for 2,000 men, three run-
ways and various domestic buildings and
hangers during the Second World War, the
only reminder of the base which stood
there is the brick skeleton of an in-
cinerator. All else is gone, and now the on-
ly reminder is the cairn on Drury Lane.
Area Volunteers
The Number 31 School of Air Navigation
at Port Albert was an important part of the
British Commonwealth air training plan.
It was opened for use in October of 1940
and produced some 1,200 trained students.
One of the many names of former ser-
vicemen mentioned during the hour-long
ceremony was that of Cyril Brown. The
late Mr. Brown later moved to Lucknow
and opened the Lucknow Variety Market
here.
The base, which consisted of some 40&
acres of farmland bought from local
farmers at the start of the War, trained
navigators to be crew members of bomber
squadrons to fight against the Nazi oc-
cupation of Europe.
One of the parcels of land which would
later become the north-east corner of the
air field was owned by Albert McGee.
Albert's son, Eugene, who was a lad of ten
at the time, took a great interest in the
base and has kept a well documented
history of it over the years.
It was Eugene McGee who was the driv-
ing force behind the construction of the
cairn. Through his tireless efforts, enough
money was raised to construct the monu-
ment. He has also written a book,
available for sale at local outlets, which
tells the entire story of the Port Albert Air
Base.
Eugene McGee and Don Dickson
• We did this so that a part of history
. wouldn't be lost," Eugene said just prior to
the unveiling of the cairn he worked so
hard to bring about. "This belongs to all of
us: to all of Port Albert."
Another man who sold his property to
have it become part of the air base was
Melvin Dickson. The Dickson farm con-
sisted of 83 acres at the time and a
member of that family, Don, was on hand
Sunday to present Eugene with a cheque
for a further $2,000 towards the construc-
tion and upkeep of the cairn. Don is a resi-
dent of Port Albert and chairman of the
Port Albert Recreation Society.
"Eugene McGee is quite a guy," said
Don. '`We're really lucky to have a guy like
him in this community."
The ceremony which accompanied the
dedication of the cairn was made special
through the participation of many people.
Members of R.C.A.F. Number 31 took a
mordent to register prior to the ceremony,
and to share a moment with comrades.
Mrs. Roberta Lindskill provided organ
music from a portable organ and was ac-
companied by Miss Ann Coulter on the
trumpet. David Hamilton acted as lay
reader with Rev. Baldwin and a special
speech of remembrance was presented by
Bill Blackwell.
Following the official unveiling, those in
attendance were welcomed to the Christ
Church in Port Albert for refreshments
and a time of fellowship.
The Number 31 Air Navigation School at
Port Albert may be gone, but thanks to the
efforts of the community of Port Albert
and the dedication of men such as Eugene
McGee, its memory will live on forever.
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 17, 1988 -Page 3
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