I Remember Camp Wainwright This article was taken from a local newspsper, and is by Rikki Salmon, presumably Grant’s wife. A twelve year posting in one Army Base is unusual. Normally the postings are for two to three year periods. By that time the serviceman and his family are happy to move on. Our dozen years in Camp Wainwright was an unforgettable experience. I remember how impatiently we waited for the Married Quarters to be built. Most of us were living in cramped rooms provided by the Town of Wainwright residents. When construction was half completed one building caught fire and had to be rebuilt. More agonizing delay! The first batch of houses was ready for occupation just before Christmas 1955 and a few of us moved in. To some of us it was a new venture to live in close proximity to one another in row - type housing but most of us became too involved and busy to invade one another’s privacy. By the time the Camp school was in operation social organizations were being formed. The first PTA was initiated. A Sunday school commenced and there was never any shortage of teachers for the Sunday morning classes. The Protestant and RC Chapels were functioning. They stood back to back, siamese - twin fashion; the Protestants having the largest congregation, frequently drowned out the RC’s hymn singing. The sounds of the respective services often intruded upon one another through the thin partition walls. Scouting and cubbing got under way and the Camp became the focal point of scouting activity. The Battle River District Scout Council was formed. The Annual Scout and Cub Rally always held in Camp Wainwright, was a tremendous affair. Scouts, cubs, leaders and parents came in formidable numbers to enjoy the pre-rally bean supper. After stuffing themselves with beans the Troops and Packs provided colorful skits and entertainment in the Theatre. The dirt and gravel road leading out of Camp to town was a nightmare. Untiring efforts were made to get it paved and eventually persistency paid off. A paved road twixt Camp and town was built but one obstacle remained - the railway crossing. This nuisance often caused near tragedy for Camp residents. Pregnant wives and sick children frequently had to be rushed to the town hospital and cars were often held up by a seemingly unending freight train strung across the only road into town. Luckily no births occurred on the wrong side of the track. There was never a dull moment in Camp Wainwright. Living so close to one another was not without incident or humour. During one summer concentration of troops many of the residents were almost bounced out of bed by early dawn detonations of some explosive devices planted under the bedroom window of an officer’s PMQ by “enemy forces". The culprits were never exposed. Another young married serviceman consistently practised badminton shots on the interior wall of his living quarters. The repetitious slogging almost drove the adjoining occupants crazy. In the protected confines of the Camp, children were safe and free of molestation. Many activities were arranged for them; the annual Halloween parties in the Camp Theatre were a riot of fun. By the time the celebrations were over and the best costumes judged the small goblins and witches were too exhausted to make any further trips to trick or treat.