KANGAROO IMPROMPTU
Murray is one of those guys you can't help but love. He has this smile that makes you think he's either happy to see you, or up to something. It's usually both!
When we moved to Letete, Murray was the first one to "just appear" and welcome us into the church and community. He told us the practical things like where to get a good doctor, when the garbage was picked up, and so on. While his health was up to it, he would drop by the office at least once a week and ask my thoughts on one thing or another. He would then share some of his World War II stories. I, of course, was rapt. After all, it's not very often you get the chance to listen to history from the lips of those who made it. Murray is a walking, talking history book, whether you're talking about the war, or about the local history of Charlotte County. I guess this Whatcha is my humble attempt to preserve some of that history.
When Murray was eighteen or so, he took the bus from St. George to Saint John which was quite a journey back then. I believe it was his first time to visit the big city. He didn't go to visit the sites. He wasn't seeking his fortune. He went to join the army and serve his country. After his training, he ended up landing in Normandy about a month after the D-Day invasion. Shortly after his arrival, he was picked to be part of a new military strategy that was born on the bloody road from Caen to Falaise in the summer of 1944. The idea was the brainchild of a Lt. Gen. Guy Simonds, commander of the 2nd Canadian Corps.
At the time, he was planning a major attack south of Caen and dubbed it "Operation Totalize". The new feature about this attack was that the infantry would be carried to the front lines in armoured personnel carriers, along with the tanks, instead of following on foot behind the initial attack. This way the troops got to the front rested and alive!
The first 76 carriers were made by removing the 105 mm guns from the American-made self-propelled guns called "Priests". After removing the guns, armour plates were welded over the holes and, voil, instant armoured carriers! The refitting process made the tanks nine tons lighter and took three days to complete. At 11:30 pm, August 7, these new personnel carriers, code-named Kangaroos, went into battle and worked very well indeed! Murray was one of the drivers in that first attack. Later on, this Canadian innovation became the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment (KANGAROOS) of the 79th British Armoured Division. The picture at the top of this page is Murray at twenty years of age in front of a Canadian-made Ram tank that was refitted to replace the Priests. The picture was taken in May of 1945.
It was Murray's job to take fourteen fully outfitted men to the front lines and turn broadside to the enemy (something you just don't do normally) in order to protect the troops as they disembarked from the carrier. Then he would return, often with prisoners, through the remaining mop-up operations. Not the safest, or easiest job in the world, but Murray told me that he never lost a man before they were dropped off at the front. One of the tricks they did with night drops was to shine powerful search lights at ground level directly toward the enemy so that they couldn't see the tanks as they dropped the troops off. Interesting, staying in the light provided protection, it just had to be bright enough!
Murray continued in the Canadian Armed Forces until 1960, the year I was born. He spent some time in Germany, in Ontario, and out west in Alberta. Perhaps the funniest post-war story he ever told me was of a German soldier who had spent, I believe, seven years in Canadian jails for his part in the war. After that, he returned to Germany and got a job selling beer. One of the establishments he serviced was the Canadian base in Germany where Murray was stationed! Chronically ironic, don't you think?
When Murray left the Canadian Armed Forces, he went back to school in order to learn the construction trade. He then worked in various aspects of it until his retirement. During that time, I'm not sure exactly when, he came to know the Lord and became a servant in the Letete congregation by fixing, building and repairing. His simple faith and humble service continues to be a testimony, even though his heart has long since stopped him from being as active as he would like.
Ok, what do we learn from
Murray'sexperiences in the Army?
Murray signed up for war twice in his life. First, when he took the bus to Saint John, second, when he became a Christian. World War II is long since over, but the battle for the soul continues. Don't get me wrong, the outcome of the war is already determined because Jesus' death on the cross is V for victory. (John 12:30,31) But, the mopping up is still going on and there's no doubt that it's dangerous out there (1 Pet 5:8).
Interestingly enough, the key to a successful operation continues to be the protection we find behind armour, and the bright light! This time, since we fight not against flesh and blood, our armour is provided by God.(Eph 6:13) as is the light (John 8:12). Thing is, I wonder if the war is as obvious to us as it was to Murray? He had the thunder of guns and the image of exposed bodies to constantly remind him, but the death and destruction of our war is for the most part, unseen and internal, and, therefore, all the more dangerous. We need to be just as aware, just as ready, just as cautious in navigating our way through temptation as Murray was in navigating his way to the front. Casualness only breeds casualties! Our marching orders will remain in place until the return of our Commander: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (Jam. 4:7) Notice that you can't resist, until you first submit. It's in God's strength that we find the armour to not only protect us, but also equip us to fight. Are you protected? Are you fighting? Are you aware of the war? Maybe you're already a casualty? If so, take your wounds to the Great Physician and He will get you back into the battle!
