Week 21 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Prompt - Military

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 21 – Prompt Military

Jacob Peters Army Portrait circa 1942

My father, Jake Peters was an enlisted man in the second World War. This was somewhat surprising considering that he was born to a Mennonite family. Mennonites believe in non violence or pacifism, In Canada during WW ll many Mennonites worked in non combatant service work camps. So why did dad decide to go to war. I got the answer while reading my mother's diary from that time.

My mother,Vivian Peters kept a diary sporadically for the years of 1941 and 1942. These years were very poor years for them and unemployment was a continual problem for Jake. His jobs in the beginning of their young married life were odd jobs gotten through friends. He would get farm eggs from the family farm in Hague and would ride his bike into Saskatoon and sell them for a profit. I believe Hague is about 48 kilometers from Saskatoon. 

Blurry Photo of Jake on His Bicycle

 

Jake's Attestation papers (more about this later) wrote up his employment as working at Hamp's Cycle Shop overhauling bicycles and on occasion, Jake also drove delivery trucks.

After reading mom's diary I had questions.

On May 2nd, 1988 I had a conversation with my sister, Bonnie about this matter of Jake's fine and prison and then joining the army.

I wrote this from our conversation; 

" She informed me that dad drove trucks for a company without proper registration. The police stopped him, ticketed him and he went to court over it. He was found guilty and given a fine to pay. Of course mom and dad could not pay. They asked both of their parents for a loan but were not given any, so dad went to jail from December 30th, 1941 to January 5,1942."

It was this jail sentence that got him involved with the army. He would be given a choice of more jail time or sign up in the Army.  He chose the latter.

As mentioned above,It was hard for Jake to find work in Saskatoon. According to Vivian's diary dated December 2,1941, Dad worked odd jobs such as "sawing", "unloading coal " and at "Pete's”. He also worked at a trucking company occasionally.

Her December 5,1941 entry states; "worked to -day with Subing [?] coal and wood."

And on December 8,1941, she writes this statement; "Jake received summons & old folks came and helped me home with B." The old folks are Jake's parents and B is Betty.

December 9,1941 she writes; "Jake still working".

December 11,1941 her entry reads; "Jake went to court. We B & I went to Ma's this afternoon. Jake got suspended fine. They didn't want him they want money. Also at old folks."

December 18,1941 she writes in part; "Jake worked for a few hours to -day & then came home." So he was working off and on again.

On December 20,1941 her entry is quite intriguing. " ...Then Jake came home. Cleaned up. Over at Mac's. [meaning Vivian's parents] Jake went down town..." Again with the downtown does that mean to work or to deal with the courts?

December 26,1941; "Jake went out and I went over to Mac's for the evening."

December 29,1941; "Down at Jake's folks today."

December 30,1941; "Jake's gone to prison to-day & ma here for supper& did Betty's wash. Am I mad."

January 5,1942; "Down to Ma's. Seen Betty & was I tickled. Missed her. Jake came home. didn't take Betty home yet. Will tomorrow."

January 28,1942; "Jake sworn into the army today. Oh God why did it have to be."

This date is off by one day given on Jake's Attestation papers.

Joining the army was not so much a choice for him as it was ordered by the judicial system.

In the next blog I will continue with information of Jake's military service. I ordered his attestation papers and his war diaries. Both give extreme details of his military life. 

Wendy