The Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-06-26, Page 20.
SA • c o . iCH SIGN4L-STAR, THITRSDAY, JUNE 26,1969
Marshall Earl Alexander of Tunis
BY G, MacLE
It has always seemed that
Field Marshal Earl Alexander hid
I - light to6 readily under a
bushel; Anyone who served
• under him was invariably lyrical
*about his contribution to
victory. Behind all the adulation
'accorded to his peers Arid his
• srtibordipates there was,
invariably, the admission that his
guiding hand had made more
than , a considerable
contribution.
• • . So far ,no one has spef out in
plain language exactly what his
self-effacing character did for
--� the profession of arms. His
"Memoirs,' as edited by John
North, do give some
enlightenment, but even then it
is necessary to read between the
lines. Perhaps it is only when me
examine the several tasks he was .
given between 1939 to 1945
that we begin to discover those
intangibles which made him such
a superb commander.
' - His military apprenticeship
began with the 1914-1918 war,
serving with the Irish Guards. He
was • wounded three times,
winning a Military Cronin 1915
, and the D.S.O, in 1916, with
five mentions • in despatches.
During 1919=20 he fought a
losing battle in lj,ussia against
the Bolsheviks. From 1928 to
1930 he commanded the Irish
Guards, after -.which' he appears
- in the Mohmand Operations on
`c'' the North West Frontier of -India
in 1935. All in all aboutas
diversified experience •as could
QP ROSS
be obtained over the ,period in
question.
When the secbnd World War
opened hp was commanding the
lst 'Division in France and was
one of the two last men to leave
Dunkirk, after scouring the pier
for any survivors. Actually he
arrived at Dunkirk on a push
bicycle and records 'with pride
that contrary to other regiments,
the • Foot Guards - reached
England with all their personal
weapons intact, "nor was it any
leg6nd that their trousers were
pressed."
In 1942 he was employed at a •
few hoiur's notice in Burma to
take over command of the army
there, arriving in Rangoon on
March 3rd. Here he soon, decided ,
that the most he could do
immediately was to save his
army, because the Japanese
forces were present, not so much
in overwhelming numbers, as
trained and equipped for jungle
warfare. Our troops were not.
Subsequently he had. to -deal
with our, "sometimes
impossible," Chinese allies, who
were under General`^ -Joseph
Stilwell, Chang Kai-shek's
representative. Neither the
Chinese nor Stilwell were easy to,
handle. Alexander admits "the
evacuation was a complete
military defeat."
His next assignment was
command of the 18th Army
Group in North Africa, after
Churchill had decided to
supplant Auchinleck. Here he
had Monty as a subordinate;
"not an easy iYian .to deal with."
He "wanted to have complete.
Independence of Command and
to do what he liked." Then came
"Torch," the allied landing in
North Africa, during which he
handled the green American
troops after their initial set -back
at Kasserine Pass with great
understanding and., diplomacy,'
Of Eisenhower at this juncture
he says: "he very wisely trusted
us to fight his, battles." "Patton
would have been a splendid
Marshal under Napoleon. Hewas
a thruster, prepared to take any
risks.". .Bradley "vias more
cautious; unwilling to commit
himself to active operations
unless he could see their
purpose." Of North e Africa
Alexander writes( "Nevem`-before
had a great army been so totally
Sicily was the first large scale
amphibious operation of the war
against enemy held beaches.
.Alexander was operational
commander, with the Americans
e--by-tial --by
Montgomery; an operation
which gave the 1st Canadian
Division • its first battle
experience. In the result the
island was overrun in 38 days.
destroyed." -
The battle for Italy brought
success modified by set backs
such as Salerno, Cassino and
Anzio. In the end, as we know,
,Churchill's desire , to save south
west Europe from the Russian
bear, via _the "soft underbelly,"
was never achieved because our
allies refused to • weaken the
attack on F6tress Europe.
Troops which might have helped
Alexander to effect; Churchill's
strategy were. used .instead for a
tactical • landing on •the south
coast of France which was of
dubious assistance to the major
effort to , the north. Thus was
Russian predominance in eastern
Europe assured.
Looking over his World War_ II.
assignments one cannot help
feeling that Alex was invariably
choses for the "forlorn hopes";
for the hopeless dawns so
familiar in British military
history'. It would be
presumptuous for this writer to
attempt a -summation of
Alexander's character,
nevertheless one is constrained
to suggest that he ' was a past
master of the art of providing
• the climate in which his
subordinate commanders could
achieve their maximum affect. A
most understanding, most
unassuming professional soldier
who always contrived to build a
team and to lead it. He was a
soldier's beau ideal of a soldier.
His association with Canada is
too well known to be enlarged -
upon. Once again le assimilated
to the Canadian .atmosphere and
became one .of its best loved
Governors General , and we
should not forget his tribute to
this country in that he took for
his second title: 'Baron Rideau of
Ottawa.
*The Alexander Memoirs.
1940-45. Edited by John North.
Cassell.,,„ ondon. 210 pages. 25/ -
OVERHEARD AT THE LOCAL
PUB.
`I'll tell you what I like about
Ted Heath. - (Leader of the
British Opposition) He's very
fair. I'1F give you an example: A
few weeks ago the landlord here
put out some beer. mats. They
had sayings by Harold Wilson on
one side and what Wilson had
actually done on the other.,, Ted
Heath came in one morning and
the landlord showed them to
him. He just looked at them; put
them down and said: • 'No,
they're in bad taste." He didn't
even smile."
fr
PLEASE- NOTE
MY STORE WILL BE CLOSED
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY
FOR ANNUAL VACATION.
OPEN AGAIN IN AUGUST TO HELI. YOU
WITH YOUR PROBLEMS AND SUPPLY
YOU WITH QUALITY PRODUCTS. -•
HUTCHIN:SON 'I'V
6c A-PPLIANCES
308 'HURON RD.
PHONE 524.7831
4
Dependable "Super -Right" Meats!
.s
Ready to serve
SMOKED, COOKED
h ' CANADA GRADE "A", EVISCERATED
YOUNG .
FRESH 6 -TO-1O LB
TURKEYS
SHANK -
PORTION
BUTT
PORTION.
FRESH TURKEY CUTS
WHOLE
LEGS
Ib
14 TO 16 POUND — NO FURTHER PROCESSING •
WHOLE H MS 16
WHOLE
BREASTS
TURKEY.
WINGS
639¢
BURNS, SX BRAND OR•FEARMAN'S
wiENERs1Ib
;Vacuum
Pack
59
ALLGOOD SMOKED, SLICED, RIND -LESS
SIDE BACON
2 -Ib 09
Vacuum
si
Pack
1.75 -LB PKC
Colborne Township Rifle Club,is now defunct, but 35 years ago it was agoing concern. This photo of
the club was taken after its members won the aiinual County Shoot Off at Point Farm. The rifles used
were Lee Enfield and were donated by the government. Left to right are, back row: James Bissett,
Charlie McNeil, Bill Symonds, Peter Bissett and Cliff McManus. Front row: Albert Goldthorpe, Bill
Chisholm, Chas Robertson, Gordon Bissett and John Chisholm. Peter Bissett is the only former
member of the club still living.
Bomdaiiiiounces teaching staff changes
BY RICI-(MOND ATKEY
Two new teachers were
appointed, and the resignations'
of seven were accepted with,,
regret by Huron County Board
of Education at its meeting in
Central , Huron Secondary
School, • Clinton, Monday
evening.
The new appointees- are: Mrs.
Darlene Castle, Lincoln County
• Board of Education, to Clinton
Public School and Miss ,Ann
Shaubel, St. Catharines
• -Teacher' College, to Hullett
Township School.
Those who resigned . were: --
Mrs. Alieda Murray from
Howick Central School, Mrs.
Mary Jean Beattie froth Central
Huron Secondary School, Ernest
Okell from Goderich District
Collegiate Institute, Mrs., Grace
Heeg from South Huron District
High School, M'rs. - Isobel
MacDonald, Neil J. Aberle and
Mrs. -Linda C: Bell all from F. E.
Madill Secondary School,'
Wingharn.
The board received a letter
from Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Allason,
btiSih of whom are presently
sponsored by the former
Huron -Bruce High School Board
School bus safe
report completed
Following discussion at recent
meetings and a minor incident
involving a school bus going to
Holmesville School, the Huron
County Board of Education
requested reports on the
qualifications of school bus
Walter Safety says,
"Keep air -inflated toys
out of the water. Play
With them on the beach
where they'belong,"
drivels and specifications for
school buses.
This information was returned
to the board at - Monday
evening's meeting .in Central
Huron Secondary School,
Clinton.
According ,to the manual for
school bus operations issued by
the Ontario Department of
Transport, a school bus driver
must: be 21' years of age 'or over;
pass a ,special driving test
conducted by the Department of
Transport in a school bus; file a
'•medicalk,7certificate of physical
fitness and pass a( more rigorous
vision test than is required for
the ordinary driver,
as teachers in Europe with the
Department or National Defence
on a two-year contract, with a
possible extension of a year or
two. They formerly taught . in
Lucknow- District High School.
The Allasons asked what the
new Huron County board's
policy would be on granting
extension to teachers in Europe,
but the board decided to take 'no
action until such time as a policy -
is adopted. Director of
Education D, J. 'Cochrane was
requested to write a letter '
explaining the matter.
A• letter was received -from 11.
Knip, Clandeboye, requesting
permission for his two children
to' attend South Huron District
High School, .Exeter. This Was
granted on motion that payment
of Education or the parents. '
Conditions were that the Arva
school is overcrowded, blot the
children's friends -- live in the
Exeter area, that the principal of
South . Huron District` high
School is willing .to accept these
pupils, and that transportation -
to Exeter is no problem.
Policy regarding admission to
kindergarten was defined "to
admit to kindergarten - in
September of any year only
those pupils who have attained •
. at least their fifth birthday.orror.—
before December 31 of the same
calendar year" "until a more
flexible method of determining a
child's readiness for school is
adopted."
OUuIity A&P Baked Goods
Jane Parker Reg. Price 55c — SAVE 10c
full 8 -inch 24 -oz size 45 c
APPLE PIE
Jane Parker, Orange, Lemon or Banana
Reg. --Price 65c —SAVE 6c
CHIFFON CAKE . 17 -Oz size 5 9c
Jane Parker, Daily Dated, Sliced Reg. loaf 29c — SAVE 9e
216 -oz loaves 49c
RAISIN BREAD
•
Custom- Ground A&P Coffees
Ann Page
KETCHUP
30$100
20 oz. R
VigorousII
Winey, Custom Ground • -
— }• 3 -lb• --BAG $2.19..,x:- -SAVE- 18c
BOKAR TOFFEE SAVE �i16�s75c
Mild & Mellow • 3 Ib BAG $1.89 SAVE 24c
H O'Clock Coffee SAVE 8c 1 -Ib bag 6 5c
South African, New Crop
Seedless, Navels, Large Size, N. 1 Grade
Westgate Brand
(3 Flavours)
ICE.
CREAM
Vanilla, Chocolate,
Butterscotch Ripple
'/2 -GAL
CTN
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Arizona, Salm'on Flesh, Jumbo Size
CANTALOUPES S'__2>,
Carolina, Freestone, Yellow Flesh, No, 1
PEACHES
Florid --a, Sweet Yellow, Full Cobs
CORN Fancy Grade
3 for' .00
Grade
quart 5 9i
5 for 4951
PUREX
TOILET
TISSUE
PKG OF 2 ROLLS
2,9
All prices shown in ftiis acf
guaranteed through Saturday,
June 28th, 1969.
4
Stokely's. Finest, Fancy Quality, Fro*en, .Honey Pod
SUGAR PEAS 2_Ib poly bag 3 9c
6 Varieties Reg. Price 3 jars $1.00 -- SAVE 11c;
PICKLESMcLAREN'S
Aluminum Foil
W RAP-
REYNOLDS
-Kraft Pal kay
MARGARINE
3 154l -oz jars 89c
Reg. Price 41c -- SAVE 4c
12" width 25' roll 3 7c
Reg, Price 73c --- SAVE ec
2 -Ib pkg 6.5 c
WE'RE BADLY IN NEED OF HARDTOPS AND COMPACT CARS -
WE HAVE BUYERS WAITING
A Good Selection Of NEW CARS
MEDIATE DELIVERY
BAIRD . _. OTORS
GODERICH LIMITED Open Evenings
Your Chevrolet -Oldsmobile Dealer- Huron Rd...Goderich-524-8311