Trinity College School - Record Yearbook (Port Hope, Ontario Canada)

Page 28 text:

10 TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD SAME OLD S.M. He'll always be the S.M. to me. To-day, we call him Lieutenant Batt. It doesn't sound right. Every morning now, shortly after eight hours, fond recollections of the S.M. flood my mind. I am on the drill square of the Seaforth Highlanders' training grounds. Directly in front of me I see Mr. Batt's counterpart. He is patient, kindly. He is a P.T. instructor. His voice at times rises a trifle as his brogue cuts through the salty mist of this seaport in September. But I think of the S.M. And as these 29-year-old back muscles creak protestingly, and these palsied hands tremble at an inferior hips firm , I breathe a silent prayer of thanks for Mr. Batt, and his three-year contribution to my physique. We go through our paces spiritedly, methodically. Al- though these muscles which cut such fancy capers during school days now whine and creak, I'm not afraid. I look straight ahead at my instructor. Instructors, especially physical instructors. strike no terror in the heart of McPherson. For I have worked under Batt. That, to me, is like having an auto mechanic say he taught Henry Ford. I hope every student can grasp the portent of these words. Someday, and I clon't wish to be prophetic, a certain percentage of you boys will be on a drill ground. You'll be in the army. It will be all new. Except one thing. And that one thing will cause you to thank Mr. Batt just as fervently as I do now, even though I am 3000 miles away. The P.T. will be the same in the army. And, mark my words. if you have worked under Batt, your worries are over.

Page 27 text:

TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD 9 sides of the ship were painted, it was then impossible for any light to enter or go out. Light-traps were built at all doors leading to the open deck. Smoking or striking matches on deck was forbidden between dark and dawn. We had to carry lifebelts wherever we went, no matter where or when. The torpedoing of the Athenian came as a blow to almost everyone on board, as she had left Liverpool only two hours after us, and was following the same course. The passengers became suddenly apprehensive and con- scious of the danger which might be lurking nearby. That night some slept on deck, with their lifebelts on, and some slept not at all. That night and the next day were the most dangerous part of the voyage, as at any minute we might have been torpedoed. Since no chart was posted showing our position, we were at a loss as to where we were at any time. The course zigzagged to such an extent that on this westward voyage we were sometimes, as we could see when the sun came out, headed due east! We were overjoyed when we saw the Hshing boats of the Grand Banksg and four days later the familiar skyline of New York presented the most welcome picture the Weary passengers had seen for two weeks. It meant that we had emerged from the Valley of the Shadow. -M.L.A.P. ll x 1- f iiio xg 'I l-. , Qi sag nr

Page 29 text:

TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD 11 You'1l hear familiar words and you'll do familiar exercises. Why? Because, right now, you are under one of the finest instructors in Canada. Watch him work. Study him. Then, students, remember his teachings. After a few days, when the P.T. becomes like break- fast to you, wait until after dismissal, when some of your buddies lie gasping on their bunks, muttering impreca- tions against drill sergeants. That will be your moment. Then you can turn non- chalantly on your side, raise experienced eyebrows, and say with perfect truth: Not bad to-day. But Wait until I tell you about Working under a really tough S.M. He was at T.C.S. and his name was Batt. That ....... -Sandy McPherson V26-'28l x91- 5- ' Q. V E I, ' ' 7 ' H112-.Ei 1 .'?f'? 7' I - 93, 1Q . F 65-4944 Y . ,A f f-. -f - ' N' f Y 1 f E .- Lf., Pie M - - 1g 'f-E5-'ffE:,., , K .4'f-' f N.. 1 f -I 's-Q,-1. -- mjrrf ' -E f- M55 1:53 :gif .E'-Z...-f --ii' f ' ,Rf , ,, W- L , ,,q.,.:,.,: , g 7 . , , 1, ' A' ',7f,Aiigg 3-if--', f ' Q f -cw--','I.: 3 . 2. Y , , ex Q Y ', fs f .- V 'gtffjzg f'sUPERMAi11NE SPITFIRE I. H. Layne