Great Women

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Will some of you women out there tell me if I am correct or not. Is this the buckle of the nurses medical corp. How I came to have it, here is the story. A fellow buddy of mine, while we were overseas with the 48th Highlanders was given this buckle which had a leather belt by his lady friend. When we were in Italy my old cloth braces gave up the ghost so he loaned me this buckle to use temporarily. I never got around to returning it and he has passed away many years ago. Please if anyone out there remembers giving a Canadian soldier this buckle with the belt and gives me his name I will be more than happy to send it to them. No strings. In closing I always had great admiration and respect for all those courageous women who made a contribution to the success of WW2

Hi Norm. How are you? You KNEW I'd spot this thread pretty quick didn't you?

I love your story about the belt-buckle, and it's incredible that you still have it! I wish I could help you, somehow, regards finding the owner of the belt-buckle. What an amazing day that would be to be able to return it to it's owner, or family!

All I can say to you is ....

Good Luck Norm.

"Karmen"

Hi Norm,

I was searching for posts about Women in the services and spotted this old post of yours. I'm wondering if you ever had any success in returning the buckle to it's owner or family?

I'm wondering if the family of your buddy who loaned it to you would have any ideas of who the buckle belongs to?



Karmen

I thought you might find this of interest ...

The Canadian War Museum
Military Nursing Archival Collection
http://www.civilization.ca/tresors/n.../nccol04e.html

Karmen

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Karman:
I apologize for not informing you of the successful ending of my search for the owner of that nurses belt buckle. It was the grandson of my friend who contacted me. He was in the process of writing a book on four brothers who served in WW2. He had contacted Art Johnson regarding his grandfather who served with the 48th. In turn Art gave him my e-mail address and he contacted me. He was amazed that I had saved this buckle all these years that his grandfather had loaned me. His name was Travis Shalla. I returned it to him by mail and at a family reunion he showed them the badge and told them the story behind it and he later told me there wasn't a dry eye in the house. This is one of the great miracles of the internet. Both my 48th buddy and his wife had long since passed on.

Originally posted by Norm Cromie
Karman:
I apologize for not informing you of the successful ending of my search for the owner of that nurses belt buckle. It was the grandson of my friend who contacted me. He was in the process of writing a book on four brothers who served in WW2. He had contacted Art Johnson regarding his grandfather who served with the 48th. In turn Art gave him my e-mail address and he contacted me. He was amazed that I had saved this buckle all these years that his grandfather had loaned me. His name was Travis Shalla. I returned it to him by mail and at a family reunion he showed them the badge and told them the story behind it and he later told me there wasn't a dry eye in the house. This is one of the great miracles of the internet. Both my 48th buddy and his wife had long since passed on.

Hello Norm,

Well, you certainly made my day, big time, by your news about the buckle successful return home!!! I also feel a nice lift knowing that Art Johnson played a role in this returning of the buckle to the family fold

3 Cheers to Travis Shalla for his research and writing of the soldiers and wouldn't it be bonus to be able to add this story to his writings ... anyone reading may be inspired to help personal effects get returned to their owners and families where they mean so much that words just can't express.

Your success ... I love it!

Karmen

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

First woman in command of a Canadian Naval Formation

QUEBEC, Nov. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Naval Reserve, one of the
three Canadian Naval Formations, greets a new Commander. The Change of Command
ceremony will be held in Quebec City at HMCS MONTCALM, 170 Dalhousie St., on
December 1, 2007, at 11 a.m.
Commodore Jennifer Bennett, who officially assumes command December 1st,
becomes the very first woman to command a Formation in the Canadian Navy.
Born in a family boasting a total of over a century of service in the
Naval Reserve (her father, a judge who died last year, was himself a retired
commodore, and her sister and brother are also active in the Naval Reserve),
Commodore Bennett joined the Naval Reserve in 1975. Her service within
Maritime Command has brought her, among others, to staff positions in the
following establishments: Naval Reserve Training Centre, Officer Training
Division, KATIMAVIK and Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters. She has also
been part of the directing staff of the Canadian Forces Staff College and
commanded HMCS MALAHAT, in Victoria, B.C., from 1995 to 1998. She has also
served as Director-Reserves at National Defence Headquarters, in Ottawa, as
member of the staff of the Canadian Defence Academy, and as Coordinator for
the Laurentian and Pacific Regions of the Naval Reserve.
And so, after three years as Commander of the Naval Reserve, Commodore
Robert Blakely will transfer the helm to Commodore Jennifer Bennett next
December 1st. The Change of Command ceremony will be presided over by the
Chief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson.



For further information: Lt(N) Jocelyn Laroche, (418) 694-5560,
extension 5392, (418) 575-0567; It is requested that the media be at HMCS
MONTCALM by 10:30 a.m.; The two commanders will be available for interviews