"Letter from Camp Borden" early WW2 film

[maple_leaf_eh]

I found this link and thought it would be a good one to share.

https://vimeo.com/user11477445

It is a grainy and strong contrast early WW2 Canadian publicity film. Footage of Vickers Light Tanks and US Ford M1917s, as well as CMPs. A cutaway driver trainer, and Roll Pitch Yaw Attitude simulator also appear. There are many scenes of Camp Borden, including a lame stab at mess hall food. There are plenty of fellows smoking cigarettes, and the film ends with men singing the song of the "Tank Corps" which closely resembles, "As the caissons go rolling along".

[Jordan Baker]

Great video.

Interesting for me was the RHLI soldier doing impressions. I'm glad they said his name asi was able to look him up. B-38017 Dyke, Cecil Harold. Took part in the Dieppe Raid and was wounded but returned safe to England.

First pic is a screen grab of him wearing a unit sweater under his battledress. The second is his after action report on the Dieppe Raid.

[Jordan Baker]

His after action report from what he did at Dieppe.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Having done training for many years at Borden, I keenly watched to see if I could recognize any landmarks.

The only scene that I could almost positively recognize was the DR riding solo up and down a sharply sloped hill.

I would say that hill was a rather famous one leading from the bullpen up to the crest of Blackdown Park.

I climbed that hill many times on my Triumph TRW and can empathize with the rider ditching his bike.

One other scene, with vehicles winding their way along, looked very much like present day Area F.

Good times!