Submitted by Name: Shirley Anne Meeken nee Farewell From: Markdale ontario E-mail: mcmeekenj@gmail.com
Comments: I have lived in CFB Shilo twice in my life time. The first time just after WWII ended 1945-46 I was a little girl when my family moved into Hut B 3. It was right across from the Sick Bay which we now call a hospital. I had one brother Jimmy Farewell when we moved in here. We were the third family to receive a PMQ. My new address was 41 Frontenac Cres. Shilo... My dad was Albert Farewell he served in RCHA both first and second battalions for 32 years. My mom was Anne Farewell. We lived in Shilo till my dad left for Korea on the day King George died. When he returned from Korea we where posted to Prince Albert Sask. And then my new brother arrived in 1955 Rodney Farewell, who later also served in the Canadian Armed Forces. We then where posted Germany where I met my husband Jim McMeeken who was Canadian Solider and we married and had our first child there. And my second time living in Shilo was with my husband and two children. My second child was born in Brandon Manitoba. And then off to Base Borden we went and my third and last child was born in Collingwood ON. while waiting for our PMQ at Base Borden. So Shilo is what I consider my roots as an army brat and army wife...I have travelled the world but always been a prairie girl!
Added: November 22, 2014
Submitted by Name: Jim McMeeken From: Markdale ontario E-mail: mcmeekenj@gmail.com
Comments: Hello to Shilo Goldeyes from one of the founding members of the Goldeyes.I was the very first coach! I recently was contacted by Michael Allen one my first swimmers of the Goldeyes team. It was sure nice to hear him after more than 50years! HE also notified me that Lynn Davis (Jackson) lives in nothern Ontario. that is about 2hrs from were I live in Markdale Ontario. I hope to hear from any of the former swimmers that I had the privilege of coaching so many years ago. Best regards Jim McMeeken your first coach.
Comments: Great site it brings back a lot of good memories. I was in the class picture for O'Kelly grade 4 1991-92 that is on this site. I attended kindergarten through grade 6 at O'Kelly. Would love to come back and visit someday!!
Added: November 16, 2014
Submitted by Name: Ken Jenkins From: Courtenay, Vancouver Island E-mail: kenjenkins@shaw.ca
Comments: and this story is close to home...
For our grandparents, it was WW1, for our parents, it was WW2, and in the 60's it was the Vietnam War. We may have been the first generation of Canadians not to have to go to war somewhere, but some still did. When I was 13-15 years old in Shilo, my best friend was Paul Wolos and his brother Peter. Their dad was a civilian contractor, and when his term was up, they moved to Brandon and we lost touch. A few years later, on a Saturday shopping trip in Brandon we met by chance. Paul was home on Christmas leave having just gone through Marine boot camp, and preparing to go to Vietnam in March. Six months later, in Brandon, I saw Peter, who informed me Paul had been killed in action. The details of how were not known to the family for over 40 years, until this posting to a Vietnam Veterans web site.
First casualty Posted on 8/28/07 - by Joaquin Gracida Paul - You arrived in Vietnam on 3/31/67, and you were assigned to my platoon in K Co, 3d Bn, 5th Mar. When you checked in I had to advise you that as a Canadian citizen you could opt to be sent back to a unit not engaged in combat. You told me you were a Marine and would not want to leave your assigned duty. At the end of April we left in pursuit of the enemy and Operation Union I started. That night of 28 April we slept in an open field that was heavily boobie trapped. As we started taking casualties and evacuated two of our wounded you stepped on a bouncing betty and were mortally wounded. We tried to comfort and make you feel better but the corpsman could not do much for you. We put you in a helicopter that flew you back to the hospital in Chu Lai. We prayed that you would be saved, but your death was my first combat casualty and I never forgot you. We the members of K/3/5 think of you every year when we have our reunions. We all remember you and wish you would have survived. You were a very fine Marine. Semper Fidelis.
Comments: I will indeed keep you posted about my novel. I'd love to know who else is writing novels with roots in the military.
Added: November 10, 2014
Submitted by Name: Ken Jenkins From: Courtenay, Vancouver Island E-mail: kenjenkins@shaw.ca
Comments: When you go back through the Guestbook, each year at this time, there are stories posted about what our parents and grandparents did during those turbulent times. My grandfather lost his leg during WW1, my father spent his 16th birthday on the boat to Europe and returned when he was 21, lost youth, no education, then spent his life making sure his family had what he couldn't. We are probably the only generation (baby boomers) in Canadian history that hasn't had to go to war somewhere, and maybe the last. What do you remember ...
Comments: Bang on Bill this is a place to remember the good times and the GOOD FRIENDS and find some that you had forgotten over the past 50 years. Fifty years isn't that scarry!!!
Submitted by Name: Faye Helgason Linseman From: Ottawa, Ontario and Lakeland, Florida E-mail: fayeh51@yahoo.com
Comments: Kathie, you must keep us posted on the progress of your novel. You are the third SHILOBRAT author that I know of! and anyone who was raised in an army camp knows that there are stories!
Added: November 8, 2014
Submitted by Name: Kathie Sutherland (Knoll) From: Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta E-mail: kathiesutherland@shaw.ca
Comments: Just found this site today. Errol Bredin I remember you. and Patty. Grad 1968. Mrs. Sheehan, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Letain.
I was sorry to see that Dave Mulligan had passed away.
Nice little blast from the past on this site. Gave me a chuckle since I haven't thought of Shilo for a long time.
Just finished first draft of a novel with my army brat roots in the past.
Name: Shirley Anne Meeken nee Farewell
From: Markdale ontario
E-mail: mcmeekenj@gmail.com
I have lived in CFB Shilo twice in my life time. The first time just after WWII ended 1945-46 I was a little girl when my family moved into Hut B 3. It was right across from the Sick Bay which we now call a hospital. I had one brother Jimmy Farewell when we moved in here. We were the third family to receive a PMQ. My new address was 41 Frontenac Cres. Shilo... My dad was Albert Farewell he served in RCHA both first and second battalions for 32 years. My mom was Anne Farewell. We lived in Shilo till my dad left for Korea on the day King George died. When he returned from Korea we where posted to Prince Albert Sask. And then my new brother arrived in 1955 Rodney Farewell, who later also served in the Canadian Armed Forces. We then where posted Germany where I met my husband Jim McMeeken who was Canadian Solider and we married and had our first child there. And my second time living in Shilo was with my husband and two children. My second child was born in Brandon Manitoba. And then off to Base Borden we went and my third and last child was born in Collingwood ON. while waiting for our PMQ at Base Borden. So Shilo is what I consider my roots as an army brat and army wife...I have travelled the world but always been a prairie girl!