Bits and Pieces A road move took place in May, 1944 as Convoy #3 travelled from Nanaimo, B. C. to Wainwright. An account of their journey tells of the nine day trek. They found the roads poor, the trip from Edmonton to Park Farm at Wainwright taking eleven hours at an average of twelve and a half miles per hour. Their reward was that supper was kept hot for them that night and they had reached thier destination. “Bones” was the camp mascot, presumably a dog. It was noted in the War Diary that Bones had broken a leg when he jumped from a moving vehicle in pursuit of a gopher. The Nazi salute was definitely abolished in this camp June 13, 1945. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April 1945 succeeded by Harry S. Truman. Prisoners had red patches stitched to the back of their uniforms for easier identification. August 6 and August 9, 1945 were dates that U.S.A. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively. The United Nation Charter was signed rendering the League of Nations defunct. Jim Currier remembers around 1946 at the Hero Cafe it was possible to receive a filling meal for forty cents. A steak dinner was a wee bit more, at sixty five cents. This included beverage and dessert. The townspeople accepted the fact that prisoners of war were housed so near their homes. They were confident that if an escape occurred it was very unlikely the freedom seekers would stay in the vicinity. When the successful escape of two prisoners took place in 1945, their departure was unknowingly expediated by a local farmer who gave them a lift for a few miles down the highway. Ralph Patterson remembers haying on Park Farm after the Park had been closed. Some of the surrounding farmers such as Dick Hissett, Charlie Stewart, Curriers, Tattersalls and Pattersons welcomed the opportunity to hay this productive meadow, using a John Deere D with a Farmhand to stack. Once Jerry Young was precariously positioned on the tongue of the dump rake while driving the team of horses. One minute he was there and the next he was gone! While Ralph watched, the rake lifted over the bulk of its fallen driver leaving him unscathed. The rake on the other hand, was not so lucky, as the team without their driver headed for who knows where… home probably… the rake dismantling on the run, and strewn all over the field. It has not been determined who laughed and who didn’t in this particular situation. Gravel began to replace cinders on many roads within the area during 1946. This must have been much easier on vehicles; tires and undercarriages. William Carsell Jr. remembers how anything metal that was in contact with the ash rusted rather quickly. reg King of Fabyan area was responsible for the removal of wet garbage from the Camp kitchens during the time of the POW camp and for many years thereafter. It was usually morning when reg arrived for the daily pickup. Clark Steele remembers as a young boy, waiting at the gates while the truck was inside the enclosure. Upon departure, guards checked the contents of the load at random by spearing it with metal rods to ensure no escapees were hidden within. Strong in reg’s mind is his impression of the German prisoners, notably proud to be soldiers in impeccable uniforms and stature. With the daily visits they became well known to reg and offered him gifts on occasion. After the war, when many Germans emigrated to Canada, the Kings welcomed several as farm workers each devoted to learning the English language and tradition.