Low Down Articles
The Way We Were
Article 23 of 95
The column titled "The Way We Were" first appeared in "The Low Down to Hull and Back News".
on August 23, 2006. The Low Down's editor introduced this feature as an opportunity for long-time locals to tell their tales about what gives these Hills their particular colour. The Low Down also invited readers to write in their own anecdotes, memories or flashbacks that give a picture of what Gatineau Hills life was all about back in the day. We hope all readers, new and old, enjoy.
Anyone who knows of an interesting Gatineau Valley subject for a future "The Way We Were" column is encouraged to contact Louise Schwartz at info@gvhs.ca or to submit a proposed article of 500 words (with a historic photo) directly to the Low Down News at general@lowdownonline.com.
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Cyril off to war with RCAF
by Preston Wilson
The following is the tenth and last in a series about life in early 20th century Meech Creek Valley as seen through the eyes of Gladys Cross Payne. Chelsea resident Preston Wilson scoured about 3,000 entries from her journal, started in 1932 at age 15 to create this piece that first appeared in Up the Gatineau!
Cyril enlisted in the RCAF. On Sept 2, 1940. "Cyril reported in this morning and has to go down to leave for Brandon, Manitoba this evening. He doesn't get his suit till he gets there." On October 20, 1940, "he had a 48-hour leave." He passed his final exams and got a raise in pay but was moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, "which is very disappointing."
"Cyril landed in this evening all the way from Nova Scotia, for 14 days leave. He bought me a box of Hunt's chocolates." On April 28, 1942, Cyril was home on leave, and "went to town and got my engagement ring. It is grand, with five diamonds."
He was promoted and then sent overseas. On July 16, 1942, she "got a letter from Cyril. He is a Corporal." He had embarketion leave from March 20 to 30 (1943), and then Gladys wrote, "Last letter I had before he went over was on April 8th. Heard on the radio they arrived April 19th."
There was sudden tragedy at home. "Mother died on April 1st." Mary Kennedy Cross was 65 years old. "She had been sick for only two days. Funeral was on Sunday, April 4th at 1:30 and was very large."
Gladys' journal ends in April 1943. These were the last entries.
Gladys and her dad lived alone on the farm, after her mother's death and while Cyril was overseas. Cyril returned from the War, and Gladys and Cyril were married on May 11, 1946. They Stayed on the farm until 1948, when the three of them moved into their new house across the field. The little red books were put in an attic while Cyril and Gladys raised three children. Cyril died on Nov. 24, 1998, aged 83. Gladys was 86 when she died on Dec. 13, 2003. The little red books, her journals, were among the memorabilia she had kept all this time.
Gladys gave us glimpses of events in her life for a decade, more than 60 years ago. A simple story written by a kind, sweet, hard-working lady. But what was she thinking about as she washed out the cream separator? She was wondering if that goodlooking fellow who smiled at her at the dance last Saturday would be there again this week. Her mother, busy plucking chickens, was picturing how to decorate the church for the Thanksgiving service, and how beautiful it was going to be. Doing the fall plowing, following the furrows hour after hour, her father was reliving how he had come second at the last card party, and how he would win at the next one. Cyril sat on the train, heading off to look for another job, and thought of the next letter he'd write to Gladys and the gift he would bring back for her.
As Gladys wrote at the end of many of her daily entries: "It was a good time."
Linda Payne Bardell, Gladys' daughter, kindly allowed me access to her mother's journal, and assisted me in putting this article together.