Macaulay Morrison Family
The Past & Present
John Angus Macaulay
in World World II
John Angus Macaulay was born in Glasgow, in January 1909, the fourth child of Neil and Mary Macaulay. In 1924 his family emigrated to Canada where John Angus learned prairie farming through working as a hired hand on Red Deer farms. John Angus then worked with his brothers on the family farm in the Clandonald Colony from 1926 to 1940.
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By Donald Peter Macaulay
A Piper's Journey
John Angus’s time with the Canadian Army began on June 29, 1929, when he joined the 1st Alberta Mounted Rifles and served in the militia for three years. This cavalry and reconnaissance unit was part of the Non-permanent Active Militia of Canada - Canada’s part-time volunteer military force between World War I and World War II.
John Angus again joined the Canadian Army on August 5, 1940. This time he was not alone; his brother-in-law Donald MacPhee and Donald’s brother, Angus John, all joined at the same time. It seems the Saskatchewan Regiment, 16/22 Saskatchewan Horse, wanted a pipe band. The regiment reached across the provincial boundary and incorporated most of the St. Andrews pipe band from Clandonald, Alberta.
Mary Theresa MacPhee recalls that:
In July 1940, the St. Andrews pipe band were all told to join the 16/22 Saskatchewan Horse Regiment in Llyodminster. They wanted all of them, pipers and drummers and any boys from the area that wanted to learn to pipe or play drums.
Note 1
In a December 6, 1974 letter, John Chalmers, a band member, wrote about the history of the 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse pipe band during World War II.
Their commanding officer was Lt. Colonel Van Allen, although not a Piper himself, he was an ardent lover of the music of the Great Highland Bagpipes and of course it was him who was the great influence behind the forming of the Pipe Band.
As I have mentioned before they weren’t approved by the Canadian Armed Services and were strictly sponsored by the Regiment, and I would imagine with some outside help. We were in the Army records as buck Privates, not Pipers.
There were 15 Pipers and 7 Drummers, 9 of the Pipers were originally from the Hebrides, the Island of South Uist, one from the Island of Lewis, three from Mainland of Scotland - including myself, and two Canadians with a Scottish background…most of them were good Pipers and took Pride in their Pipes going like Bells or humming like Bees, as the saying goes.
We all used our own Pipes and wore regular Army Uniforms, until sometime in the summer of 1942, when we were issued with a brand new set of Pipes and Kilts of the MacDonnell Tartan. No one seemed to know who the donor was and we didn’t seem to care too much; we were all so happy at getting the Highland Dress…
I would like to mention that the caliber of Piping in 16/22 Band was as good as could have been found anywhere in Canada at that time, or for that matter, the present time…
We travelled extensively in Canada, being stationed in several different places from Vancouver Island to Cape Breton Island.
Note 2
Reminiscing about his life in the various army pipe bands, John Angus told his family that the band was always a problem for the army sergeant majors. They wanted all soldiers to be ramrod stiff and march smartly when on parade. However, with a skirl of their pipes and a flip of their kilts, the band “sashayed” down the main streets of Canada ahead of the rigidly marching troops.
The 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse Regiment pipe band wearing their army kilts, at a barracks in Saskatchewan, 1940
John Angus joined the 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse at Camp Dundurn, Saskatchewan, in August 1940. On September 8, 1940 he was examined by a medical board and placed in Category C1, which meant he was restricted to “Home service (Canada only)”. His medical condition was diagnosed as chronic rhinitis, inflammation of the inner lining of the nose, and chronic bronchitis, airways of the lungs became inflamed and caused coughing. With those health problems, it was surprising that John Angus was piper for most of his time in the Canadian Army. He was judged to be physically fit for medium manual labour, medium industrial work and full time sedentary work. As part of his enlistment, John Angus designated his mother, Mary Macaulay, as his Next of Kin. In order to help support his widowed mother, he had part of his monthly army salary sent to her. His younger brother, Neil, did the same thing when he joined the army in 1942.
For most of his career in the Canadian Army, John Angus was associated with army supply depots in Ottawa, Edmonton and Calgary, working first as a bandsman and later, a storeman. He was hospitalised from December 7-12, 1940 in Weyburn Saskatchewan, where the regiment was stationed.
On January 7, 1941 John Angus’s unit was sent from Weyburn to Vancouver, British Columbia. At that time his bother Donald and his family were living in Vancouver and John Angus probably visited them. Angus Macaulay had also moved his family to Vancouver in 1940. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 30, 1940 and was overseas in 1941. John Angus did spend time with Lillian Macaulay and her family, as well as Marion Macaulay, who was helping Lillian look after her growing family.
The 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse Regiment pipe band in Vancouver, 1941. John Angus Macaulay and Donald MacPhee are the last two pipers to the right in the back row. Kneeling in the centre of the front row is Angus John MacPhee and to his right are Christina (MacPhee) Lawrance, Flora Morrison, and Lillian Macaulay.
In an April, 1941 article in the Regina Leader Post, Lt. Col. Van Allen described the battalion’s stay in Vancouver in the following manner:
Lt. Col. Van Allen said the newspapers of Vancouver had been very kind to his men. When the famous pipe band signalled their arrival, the people were surprised at the battalion’s physique. “Their step is springier, their colour different, and they’re at least 10 percent bigger than the other troops there. It’s something you’ve got to see.”
Because his men are uniformly bigger, there was quite a problem fitting the pipe band with kilts. The army issue sizes - so many pair to each size - was not good enough for “my big boys.” Without going into details he confessed they had quite a job on their hands getting enough kilt to cover the 21 pipers and drummers.
Accompanied by three pipers and a couple of drummers, companies of the former calvary unit go on 20 and 25-mile route marches - and like it. Their health was excellent and, though the large coast city presented much opportunity, crime was at a minimum among these troops. “The best behaved lot at the coast,” the O.C. admitted.
The men, he disclosed, struck up an amazing friendship with the Westminster, who were also barracked in the Old Vancouver Hotel. They were “soldiers de luxe” in those days with tub and shower facilities and all the comforts of a metropolitan hotel. But the elevators ran only half the time, necessitating what amounted to virtual route marches to meals, down 12 flights of stairs, at times.
Note 3
The battalion travelled from Vancouver to a camp in Nanaimo on March 18, 1941, where they undertook basic training for one and a half months. On May 31, 1941 the battalion moved to Niagara on the Lake for advance training. While in the Niagara Falls area, the battalion provided security for the hydro electric power plants at Niagara Falls. On September 15, 1941 John Angus was Absent Without Leave for one day and four hours. There is no explanation of why he was A.W.L., but he forfeited two days pay and was transferred out of the regiment two weeks later.
On October 1, 1941 John Angus was transferred from the 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse to #12 A District Depot in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. While with the #12 A District Depot, he worked as part of the Camp Dundurn training area staff. John Angus applied for a transfer to Ontario in order to be near members of his family. His request was granted and he moved to the #3 District Depot at Landsdowne Park, Ottawa, Ontario on April 30, 1942.
In Ottawa, John Angus was posted to the Home War Establishment pipe band. As part of a Red Cross Campaign, the band toured the U.S.A. from June 9-14, 1942, and played in Boston and New York, where they were part of the United Nations Parade. John Angus was granted a furlough on August 29 to September 1, 1942. Again, he was A.W.L., this time for 2 days, 15 hours and 45 minutes. He was “admonished” and forfeited 3 days pay.
John Angus was stationed in Ottawa from April 1942 to May 1944. His mother, two sisters and a brother were also in Ontario during the same period. His mother, Mary Macaulay, was living with his sister, Marion Carey, and her family in Hamilton, Ontario. His other sister, Cathie, was living in a duplex at 22 Warden Street in Mimico, Ontario with her husband Donald MacPhee, who was still with the 16/22nd Saskatchewan Horse Regiment.
John Angus’s younger brother, Neil, joined the Canadian Army in March 19, 1942 in Winnipeg Manitoba. Neil transferred to the No. 102 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre in Fort William, Ontario and was there from April 10 to June 9, 1942. Following his basic training, Neil moved to the Canadian Signal Training Centre in Kingston Ontario and was there from June 10 to August 20. During his time in Kingston, Neil took a furlough to Ottawa to visit his brother, John Angus. At the time, John Angus would play for Scottish dances on weekends in the Ottawa area. At one of these dances, he introduced Neil to a pretty, young women, Inez McDermid, who was working for in the Navy War Office. They married when Neil returned from overseas in 1946.
Neil disembarked for the United Kingdom on August 21, 1942. Before going overseas, he was issued special leave on August 5, 1942 and met up with John Angus in Hamilton, Ontario, where his mother and sister Marion were living. He probably also visited his sister Cathie in Mimico, Ontario.
Neil Macaulay, Mary Macaulay, and John Angus Macaulay in Hamilton Ontario, August 1942
On April 14, 1943, John Angus was interviewed by a review board member, following another request for a transfer back to Alberta. He was refused and the reviewer recommended he remain as a bandsman in District Depot #3 in Ottawa. John Angus must have pleaded his case for transfer several times, following his initial refusal; because he was given a second interview on May 9, 1944, “on receipt of letters”.
This second interview resulted in two options:
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Transfer to No. 13 District Depot, for employment on Home War Establishment at General Duty - preferably of a clerical nature.
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If the above is not possible Discharge under CARO 1029 (12).
The Canadian Army chose option 1 and described his transfer as: Returned to #13 District Depot, C.A. Calgary at his own request 1 Aug. 44.
This is a good looking man of neat soldierly appearance. His deportment has been exemplary. He is well above average intelligence and is possessed of sufficient drive and initiative to convert it into useful service.
Pte. MaCauley has been employed as a piper in the Depot band at D.D. 3 since May, 42 but claims he has grown tired of this and would like a change. He feels the need of getting into a new learning situation and has requested Trade Training as a storeman. He appears to have the intelligence and will to learn requisite to readily absorb the required instruction.
Recommended: Trade Training, Storeman, Group “C”.
John Angus successfully transferred back to the #13 Ordnance Depot Company in Calgary. On November 30, 1944 he moved to a General Employment Company in Edmonton. John Angus again returned to the #13 Ordnance Depot on February 3, 1945. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on December 1, 1945 and qualified as Storeman (T&D) on December 21, 1945.
Army pipe band in the 1945 Calgary Stampede parade. John Angus is in the centre row of pipers, second from the front.
Early in 1945, John Angus’s mother also moved to Calgary, Alberta and her address was 531-13th Avenue East. It is unclear whether John Angus lived with his mother or in an army barracks.
1946 military ceremonies in Whitehouse, Yukon. John Angus is one of the four pipers between the British and American flag poles.
John Angus and a number of pipers were sent to Whitehorse, Yukon, from March 28 to April 8, 1946. They participated in ceremonies marking the transfer of the Yukon and British Columbia sections of the Alaska Highway from the US Army to the Canadian Army.
1946 wedding photo; left to right: Kennith and Jean (Helen’s sister); John Angus and Helen Macaulay; Malcolm Morrison (best man) and his wife
John Angus was “married without permission” to Miss Helen Margaret Bowie on July 21, 1946. He changed his Next of Kin status from his mother to Helen Macaulay, who was living at 531-13th Avenue East, Calgary. He was “Granted Permission Subsequent to Ceremony of Marriage to Miss Helen Bowie” on July 21, 1946.
John Angus was given 7 days pre-discharge leave from August 21-28, 1946 and a clothing allowance of $100. He was discharged from Canadian Army on September 5, 1946. His mailing address was also changed to 436 Byrne Road New Westminster, British Columbia, the home of his brother Angus and his family.
As part of his discharge, the Department of Veterans Affairs conducted an exit interview. The department’s counsellor used the following points as the basis for his recommendations:
Age 37 years.
On discharge, MACAULAY plans to join his wife in New Westminster and will seek employment there or in Vancouver.
His occupational background is mainly agricultural, as he was employed mainly on his mother’s farm. His physical condition precludes his return to this work, but he is interested in obtaining a Small Holding when he has secured employment.
MACAULAY was employed in the Army as a Piper, and as a Storeman. The latter qualification has given him a grounding in Q.M. Stores work, related to the type of employment he wishes to obtain.
ACTION RECOMMENDED:
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Class: Seek employment.
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V.L.A. - small holding.
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Recom: Look for work as warehouseman and apply for small holding when established.
Reunited in British Columbia, the Macaulay family moved to Steveston and rented a house on Moncton Street. John Angus’s plans, as given to the Department of Veterans Affairs counsellor, only partially worked out. His first job in British Columbia was working in a sawmill on the Fraser River. Before he bought a car, he cycled from Steveston to the sawmill on a bicycle. The three oldest children in the family learned how to cycle on that same old bike. John Angus was more successful in his plans to obtain a small holding. On March 11, 1947, he received the following letter: We are pleased to advise you that your application for assistance under the Veterans’ Land Act, has been approved in the following amounts and the matter placed in the hands of our Solicitor for completion: Purchase of Land $638.00 Permanent Improvements to be effected. $5,112.00 Household Equipment. $250.00 Total: $6000.00 Please understand that no purchases or commitments, should be made by you in respect of this loan, until our Field Supervisor has contacted you and received his approval to make expenditures.
John Angus and Joanne playing with their white dog, 1948
With that approval, John Angus purchased approximately four acres of land near Steveston at 460 Gary (changed to 4600 Garry later) Street. Joanne Macaulay was born on July 19, 1947. The property on Gary Street had a barn and chicken coop as well as a couple of cherry trees when he purchased the acerage. John Angus hired a Scottish carpenter, Mr. McLean, to build a house in 1948. Once the house was built and the property fenced; he purchased a black and white Holstein Friesian cow named “Bossy”, a bunch of Rhode Island Red chickens, and a few pigs. John Angus’s “small holding” was operational!
1947 air photograph of the Macaulay farm, showing a long, narrow property stretching from Gary Street to the railway tracks
Photo of barn and chicken coop in 1947
Note 1: Quote from the book, MacPhee Clan of Alberta 1888-1983.
Note 2: Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association website; John Chalmers - Letter 1.
Note 3: Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association website; Leader Post article - April 1941.