| Flt. Lt. Ian William Tweddell World War II P. O. W. Diary January 12, 1917 to June 19, 1975 |
| This is a copy of a rough draft of a letter, written in pencil on foolscap by Ian Tweddell, found in the notebook with the transcribed diary. This letter was never finished and never sent. It was probably written when the diary was transcribed - probably in 1974 or early 1975. Last January, when you were in Saskatoon, you made a remark to teh effect that I had never said much about the things that happened to me during the war years. You also questioned whether this was a natural reluctance on my part to discuss things which were distasteful to me. I think the reason I have said very little is due to my fear of boring people - and also because I have never felt that anything particularly noteworthy ever happened to me. After thinking about your remarks for a couple of weeks, I decided that in a way, they constituted a challenge to me. How much could I remember of those events of thirty years ago? What were my feelings and thoughts at that time? What effect did my life in the service have on my career as a civilian? I do have sources of material to reinforce and substantiate my memories because I did keep a summary of events and observations during the last few months of the war. I had not looked at those notes for almost 30 years but they have proved most helpful. Doris kept all the letters I wrote from Germany but because of the rigid censorship involved they are not as valuable as a source of information though they were helpful. I also have my flying log book which records all my flights and gives information as to places and dates. As you are probably aware, most of my reading is about the Second World War - not because I glorify war but because I want to understand the events of those years and am interested in the personalities both civilian and military who were prominent during that period. I also have to remember that, when I joined the R. C. A. F. in 1941, you were a 17 year old high school student and the 7 year difference in our ages really put us in different worlds. Four years later you were 21 years old and I was a very old 28. Today that difference no longer exists and you may find what I have to recall to be of interest. I'm sure you were not interested in the 1940's and theat you remember very little of the momentous world events of those years - all you remember today are the local events that affected you personally - and perhaps that is as it should be. Canadians were little touched by the war and have never had much understanding of what happened in those years. I saw destruction, violence, brutality, privation, and suffering and a needless waste of human and natural resources that I can never forget. Many of the men I served with represented the best brains and personalities of my generation and they died fighting for those things in which they believed - just as the best of my Father's generation died in and earlier and much bloodier war of attrition. I have memories of fine men who died under violent circumstances - and others who simply disappeared. Many others were disfigured or crippled either mentally or physically. These men were lost and our nation is the poorer for it. I suffered privation and, for all practical purposes, lost four years of my life, but I was one of the fortunate ones - I did return with my health relatively unimpaired. |
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