322 Indian Rd. Cres.: A Brother’s Homecoming
Times were not easy with World War II going on. But our family of eight siblings was very close-knit, and everyone helped each other. We moved to 322 Indian Road Cres. in the Junction in 1939. This home became a major part of our lives.
My Big Brother Bob was sent overseas to Hong Kong, which fell on Christmas Day, 1941. Mom and Dad did not know at that time if he was still alive. We heard sometime later he was in a Japanese prison camp. He was a sergeant with the Royal Rifles of Canada. There was a write-up in the Toronto Daily Star about this story and a picture of him at that time.
My brother Ron and the third oldest enlisted in the army when he heard the news. The recruiter asked him why he wanted to go to the Pacific. Because, he said, I have a brother in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.
Bob came home in 1945. It was October, but it was like, well, Xmas at our home. The family along with the relatives, except for the younger ones, went down to greet him at Union station.
I can still see the colour sign on the front lawn: Welcome Home, Son. What a sight! The street was closed between Dundas and Annette. A Toronto Daily Star reporter was at our home that day to do a follow up story about Bob.
Mom and Dad did a lot of work, baking and cooking for everyone. My Dad was a tremendous baker. He made a terrific fruit cake at Xmas. It had three layers. I would say, for sure, it was the best in Toronto. My Mom was a great cook and baker, too.
What a homecoming!
Thanks to the Toronto Star and the Toronto Public Library for providing access to back issues of the newspaper. Above, from the Oct. 19, 1945 edition of the paper is an article about the soldiers at the reception area and below an Oct. 25, 1945 article about the celebration on Indian Rd. Cres.
