Nfld. Overseas Forestry Unit 1939-1945/46
Note:
Thomas Evoy served in this Unit during WW II.
.
What was its purpose? - What was the urgency
of it?
.
What most people did not know was that all British factories, such
as ammunition factories or, as the British would say, "munition factories",
and the like operated on coal. In order to take coal from
the mines, pit-props were essential. Britain used to import
most of the wood from
countries
like Sweden and Norway, but these countries were taken over
by the Germans, and all western Europe was now in the hands
of Hitler. Britain
now had
to rely on her own wood stands to supply her coal mines,
and that's where the Newfoundland lumberjacks came in. We
could cut more timber
in one
day than most other people, that I saw over there anyway,
could cut in a week.
That may be bragging, but that's ok. Without a rich supply
of coal, factories could not operate at full capacityy, which
would cause a
serious blow
to the war effort. By January 1940, a request had been made
for 2000 men.
2150 men were recruited and the recruiting operations were
concluded, but by June a request was made for another thousand
men, and by early
1941
we were close to four thousand strong. We built roads to
timber stands, built bridges, removed wood from very steep
terrain, trucked it to
railway stations and loaded it on railway cars for destinations.
We also shipped
wood by water from a town called Ullapool to different English
ports. During the winter and spring of 1945 the unit also sent several ship
loads of timber to the authorities responsible for supplying
the British and
Canadian forces in the low countries.
We also played a double role of home guard duty. We spent endless
hours training with machine guns, stenguns, grenades, rifle drill,
bayonet
practice, map reading, commando training. Most of this was done in
free time, week-ends,
several nights a week, special leave was granted on week-ends for
training like mock invasions, or another word for it was "sham battle",
obstacle courses, crawling through tunnels, you name it... rifle shooting,
testing accuracy skill to score. We made ourselves ready to defend the
Mother Country. If Hitler had invaded we would have been in the height
of it.
At the end of the war we were not recognized. The commission of Government,
at that time, said that they were only a care-taking government.
Joseph R. Smallwood, fighting for confederation, said he did not
have information
enough on the foresters to take it to Ottawa. Lt.Col.Jack Turner
went to Ottawa to negotiate with the Canadian Government, but he
died in
his hotel
room from a heart attack. It was the end of all things. Some time
later we did come under the Veteran's Independence Programme. Both the Commission of Government and the British knew where to find
us when they needed us.
From
a listing of the members of the NOFU, with their home towns and member
numbers as compiled by Tom Curran
for his
book "They Also
Served". - 0659 Evoy, Thomas J. - of O'Donnel's, SMB (The column
his name is in indicates that he was one of those that later joined
the Armed Forces in Britain, or entered the British Home Guard.
On November 17, 1939 the Commissioner for Natural Resources announced
by radio the need to recruit volunteer loggers to work in Great
Britain. The men would
be paid the sum of $2:00 / day or $12:00 / week. Accommodation, transport
and medical requirements would be supplied. All personal needs
such as clothing
were to be supplied by the men themselves. There would be a $1:00 / day
compulsory deduction from wages which was forwarded to the families
back in Newfoundland.
The Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit was a very important part of
the overall war effort, and it is felt by many that the men of the Unit
did not receive the recognition they deserved. The demand for local lumber
in Britain was extreme due to restrictions to off-shore supplies as a
result of the conflict, and many of the local able bodied men were away
in the armed forces. Unfortunately, there appears to be very little information
available today regarding their story. Many of the original records were
apparently destroyed by fire in Glovertown, B.B., a number of years ago.
Sample - Newfoundland Forestry Unit Form Of Engagement I,
.......................agree voluntarily to serve in the Newfoundland
Forestry Unit ( hereinafter called the "Unit)
in the United Kingdom, as a civilian woodsman,
on the following terms and conditions:
1. I shall work faithfully, industriously and efficiently in any work that
forms part of a logging or sawmill operation in the United Kingdom and obey
the orders of foremen, superintendents and other persons in charge of operations
and generally behave in an orderly and law-abiding manner.
2. I am to be provided with free transportation from my home in Newfoundland
to the United Kingdom.
3. The term of this engagement is for the duration of the present war: Provided
that if this engagement is not terminated for cause under Clause 5 hereof the
Chief Overseas Forestry Officer may at his option and upon one month's notice
terminate this agreement upon the expiration of one year from the date of my
arrival in the United Kingdom or at any time subsequent thereto.
4. I understand that during my period of engagement I will not be given permission
to transfer from the Unit to any other unit or to any of H.M. Armed Forces.
5. I understand and agree that if my work and conduct is unsatisfactory or
if I do not make my services available at all times as required by this agreement
I may be dismissed forthwith and that in such case I shall lose the right to
any benefits or privileges under this agreement including the right of free
repatriation to Newfoundland.
6. Subject to the provisions of Clause 7 of this agreement I am to be paid
at the rate of twelve dollars ($12.00) per week, which week shall consist of
48 working hours, and I agree to work not less than 48 hours per week or more
if required, such additional time being paid for at the rate of remuneration
of twenty-five (.25c) per working hour. Subject as aforesaid I am to be provided
with board, lodging, bedding, tools and medical services free of charge.
7. I agree:-
(i) That I will not be paid for hours lost due to weather conditions subject
to the understanding that so long as I am a member of the Unit in good standing
I will receive not less than $26.00 per month payable in Newfoundland in the
form of an allotment to such person as I have named in paragraph 9 of this
agreement.
(ii) That piece work rates may be substituted for weekly rates by the Chief
Overseas Forestry Officer if he is satisfied that such rates and conditions
of operation are reasonable.
(iii) That the Chief Overseas Forestry Officer may levy fines or pay cuts for
bad or indifferent work or for other just reasons.
(iv) That my earnings shall be subject to Newfoundland Income Tax legislation
if any tax is payable but that no other income tax legislation shall apply.
(v) That, if I am required by the Chief Overseas Forestry Officer to do so,
I shall contribute from wages paid to me in the United Kingdom, small weekly
amounts, which amounts shall be held by the Chief Overseas Forestry Officer
to the credit of my personal account: Provided that these amounts shall not
total more than $25.00. These amounts will be repaid to me on completion of
my period of engagement subject only to the condition that they may be retained
in part payment of the cost of my return passage to Newfoundland in the event
of my being dismissed under Clause 5 of this agreement.
(vi) That for time lost on account of illness or accident I am to be paid at
half my regular rate of wages.
(vii) That if I am dismissed under Clause 5 of this agreement my pay will cease
on the day on which I am dismissed and that I will receive no remuneration
for the time elapsing between the date of dismissal and my arrival back in
Newfoundland.
(viii) That in the event of my being incapacitated by illness or accident the
provisions of the United Kingdom Workmen's Compensation Act ( and not those
of the Newfoundland Workmen's Compensation Act) will apply provided that special
arrangements for compensation in the case of illness or accident be made.
(ix) That in the event of my being incapacitated by illness or accident to
the extent that I am unable to perform the duties required of me under this
agreement the Chief Overseas Forestry Officer may by one month's notice terminate
this agreement and in such event I am to be returned to my home in Newfoundland
free of charge to me.
8. My pay and my period of service will begin on the day on which I leave my
home in Newfoundland for the United Kingdom.
9 Subject to the provisions of Clauses 5, 6, and 7 of this agreement I am to
be provided with free transportation from the United Kingdom back to me home
in Newfoundland: Provided that if I do not proceed to my home in Newfoundland
forthwith in accordance with arrangements made my right to free repatriation
shall cease in three months and I shall be entitled in such case only to such
pay as I would have been due me if I proceeded to my home in Newfoundland forthwith
in accordance with such arrangements made.
10. I agree that an amount equal to one-half my normal rate of pay shall be
paid in Newfoundland in the form of an allotment and I hereby authorize the
Department of Natural resources to pay to......................................................my........................at
the following address......................................................the
sum of $.........per month and to deduct the same form my wages. I understand
and agree that this allotment may not exceed half my normal rate of pay but
that I will be permitted to transfer to my dependents in Newfoundland, through
he Chief Overseas Forestry Officer, savings I may accumulate out of that portion
of my wages paid to me in the United Kingdom: Provided that not less than $40.00
may be sent at one time.
11. I understand that, if required, the Department of Natural resources will
advance to me clothing to the value of $15.00 and that I may also obtain, if
I so require, an advance of $5.00 to be made at the last port which I leave
to proceed direct to the United Kingdom. In both cases I agree that these amounts
may be retained out of my wages payable in the United Kingdom.
12. I have read this contract and understand full the terms and conditions
of service.
13. If I am promoted to a higher grade my wages are to be increased to the
rate to be decided upon for the position to which I am promoted.
Signed...............................
Witness..............................
Signed on behalf of the Chief Overseas Forestry Officer
Signed...............................
Witness..............................
Date......................................
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