Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

Page 31 text:

Brentwood College Magazine I was destined to endure the Blitz for only three weeks in London — though I can ' t say I enjoyed even that short period, especially after an objec- tionable Hun dropped a small bomb fifteen yards from where I was attempting to play bridge (probably started by someone who suggested a quiet rubber) — as I was offered the post of R.M.O. in charge of this hospital. I came here in October, 1940, and though we have had some noisy nights and some pretty close bombs it has been nothing like those hectic nights in London. Now, of course, only the coastal districts and 3 -Star Baedeker cities are getting it. Here I am in charge of the medical (as opposed to surgical) side of the hospital, and am also responsible for the administration of the place, a job which entails a good deal of office routine; in fact I am beginning to look upon myself as little more than a filler-up of forms. However, that criti- cism applies to many jobs these day s, particularly in the fighting services. We have 186 beds in use with a certain number of additional beds kept in reserve in case we receive casualties at short notice, and we draw our patients from two London hospitals and from nearby military units chiefly. As a result we are kept fairly busy and seldom have less than 150 patients in the hospital at a time. Sometimes I get very fed up with treating ordinary civilian sick, but there are compensations in that we do have quite a number of service patients so that one does feel that one is doing something in the war; never- theless I am sometimes very tempted to resign and go into one of the services even though I get more medicine here than I would in the services. And what of Brentwood? It is a long time since I saw anyone who has any up-to-date news of the School or of any Old Boys, and I am looking forward to receiving the magazine and learning of the latest activities. I understand that there are several Old Boys over here now — Rocke Robertson, John Calland, Ballachey and others, though I have not seen them. I saw Julius Griffiths the other day — he is acting as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. Then, of course, I frequently hear the voice of Gerry Wilmot announcing the Canadian programmes on the B.B.C., but so far I haven ' t seen him. In fact, I have practically no news of Old Boys. I was very sorry to hear that Bruce Hanbury was killed while on active service with the R.A.F. though; it is only when one hears of distressing news like that that one realises the costly price and sacrifices which are being made in this ghastly struggle. Many of my colleagues at the hospital have been killed or are prisoners of war, and it is very difficult to decide which is the best roa,d to take in one ' s own sphere to avenge their sacrifice, I am rapidly becoming morbid in my utterances, and so it is high time I stopped. If any Old Boys you hear of are coming over to this country do let them know that I would be very glad to see them, for although I have been over here for nearly twelve years I still cherish the hope that I shall return to Canada some day and am always only too pleased to see any Canadians but particularly fellows from the School. With kindest regards and the very best of wishes to yourself and all at the School, past and present, Yours sincerely, MAURICE D. YOUNG. [Page Twenty-ni