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Another River to Cross

by Robert G. Sawdon

178 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); b & w illustrations; catalogue #04-1908; ISBN 1-4120-4101-5; US$17.60, C$21.50, EUR14.30, £10.50

"Drumming-Out" Ceremony. Torpedo Bomber Attack. Malaria Fever & Dysentery Episodes. Appalling Sights at Hitler Line. Breakthrough near Pontecorvo. Heavy Shell-Fire Incidents. Close Encounter with a V1 Buzz Bomb.

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about the book      about the author      excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book There are 96 narratives in Another River to Cross. I decided that the "Field of Honour" deserved to be the first story in the book. It is about my visit to my brother's grave site in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetary in Normandy. He was with the Royal Canadian Engineers and was killed, on June 6th, 1944, as he began his task of clearing obstacles from Juno Beach. There are humorous stories, sad stories, action stories, and some are of events that took place on the periphery. Some accounts are descriptions of happenings that are one of a kind and probably would not be read elsewhere. My experiences are not exceptional and are probably the same as other front line soldiers and certainly not as intense as those of the Infantry fighters. However I did have a few close calls and certain actions will never leave my memory. I can still smell the acrid odour of burning cordite from the shells exploding very close to me. it was a time to pray for protection from above. I still think back to the time a V1 rocket (Buzz Bomb) landed, very close to me, many miles short of its intended target. It exploded with a tremendous blast shaking the very foundations of buildings along the street and left me bleeding from superficial cuts from flying glass. Read about "Washing Machine Charlie" (also known as "the Mad Major"), the lone nightly visitor, a German pilot, harassing our area. A friend bought a copy of "Another River to Cross" and passed it on to his son who was a member of the crew of HMCS Frigate St. John's of the Royal Canadian Navy. The book was read by him and other crew members while they were cruising in the Caribbean and then it was placed in the ship's library. In June, 2004 high school students from the Durham Region in Ontario took part in the 60th anniversary of D-Day at Juno Beach in Normandy. A student of Port Perry High School "adopted" my brother, James Sawdon, who lost his life on Juno Beach, June 6th, 1944 and was buried in Beny-sur Mer Canadian War Cemetery. "Mementos", one based on my story "The Field of Honour", were placed by the students in a time capsule at the Juno Beach Memorial site. It was a noble gesture by the youth of our country in remembering and respecting soldiers who fell in battle. Feedback from readers: "You are a fantastic writer and should be very proud of these accomplishments. Remember when you had doubts about starting to compile your stories into a book? Now you will be so pleased that you have persisted through it all". Bill & Ann Peckham. "I find the stories very interesting. I could only imagine what it would have been like to live through a war but with your descriptive detail it's like being part of your stories." Kim Hurst, Oshawa, ON "He has taken the book out of the library and was so impressed that he wants one for himself and one for his brother." Jack Yuill, Glbert Plains, MB "I really enjoyed reading your book...I found your recall to be amazing so many facts and so many memories. It must have been quite an achievement to have your book in print. It was an unbelievable time in history and your contribution along with all of the other men and women who served will never be forgotten." Pauline Clarke, Reference Assistant, Adult Services, Pickering Public Library, Pickering, ON "I've read a lot of war books over the years, but yours was the first to really give me the appreciation of the general situation facing the Canadian enlisted man. Your experiences were interesting and I could picture you enduring them. Too many of the other books deal with exaggerated feats of heroism and extreme situations. Much of your book dealt with the everyday experiences and the unusual little incidents you remembered, and that made it so unique and enjoyable. I actually found some of your recollections very funny, despite the fact that they came through the tragic medium of war". Aug. 20th, 2005, R. Moyle, Pickering, Ontario. "I met you at the recent Customs Retirees Lunch. I purchased your book which you were kind enough to autograph. A most interesting book. Being a Korean Vet, I was trying to compare your experiences to mine and came to the realization that the Korean War was a static war, actually more like WW I. You were able to depict the "in rank" experience extremely well. My daughter is a High School English Teacher. I let her read it and she wants to incorporate some of your experiences into some of her class studies. Again Bob, thanks for another view of your war as you saw it." Fred Jenkins, Ex R.C.R. War Amps of Canada have produced a documentary on the Sicilan and Italian Campaigns of Canadian Troops in WWII.It is called "A War of Their Own". Some events in this documentary probably have not been seen beforeThis can be ordered on-line at www.waramps.ca or call toll-free: 1-800-250-3030. The cost-recovery price is $14.00 Canadian (including taxes and shipping). People are also welcome to borrow it on loan free of charge from War Amps. Dear Mr. Sawdon, I wanted to let you know that we had placed an order for your book through the Web site and I am pleased to say that a copy has arrived at our office. Another River to Cross is a fascinating account of what it was like to serve in an infantry regiment. This book is a fine tribute to the men with whom you served. The War Amps is honoured to have your book as part of our military heritage resource library and museum which is located in our National Headquarters here in Ottawa. Another River to Cross will be a valuable resource for members of Operation Legacy, whereby older members of our Child Amputee Program learn about war from those who were there so they can pass on these first-hand accounts to younger generations. The War Amps is committed to preserving Canada's military history and, through our documentaries, Web site and the various projects within Operation Legacy, we will continue to tell the stories of the Canadians who served our country. On behalf of Mr. Chadderton, I would like to extend to you our sincere appreciation for your support. Sincerely, Lorraine Cornelius Director, Audiovisual Production The War Amps lorraine.cornelius@waramps.ca

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About the Author Robert G. Sawdon was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on February 24, 1925. Because of his father's health (he had lost a leg in WWI in the second battle of the Somme in 1916), the family moved to Gilbert Plains, Manitoba in 1931. Bob took most of his schooling at Brickburn School in Gilbert Plains. He joined the army on September 29, 1942 at the age of seventeen. He stated that he was nineteen, which was the age for active duty, and covered up the last figure of his registration card with one edge of its holder. After training in Winnipeg, and Camp Shilo, Manitoba, and Kingston, Ontario, Bob sailed for Scotland aboard the Queen Elizabeth Liner with 18, 000 service men arriving in Greenrock, Scotland July 1943. After being transferred to England for three months' stay, Bob sailed in October 1943 for Algeria arriving at the No. 1 Canadian Reinforcement Base at Philippeville, on November 7, 1943. With his Unit, Bob moved through Italy fighting briefly at the Florence Front and then over to the Gothic Line and into the Po Valley. They left leghorn, Italy, arriving in Marseilles, France, in March 1945. they travelled through Lyon, Cambrai and into Belgium, then into Germany where Bob saw some washing hung on a rope at what was once the Siegfried Line. They were in Holland, near Amersfoot, when the war ended in 1945. In 1945, Bob met a beautiful English girl, Patricia Barton, in London and they were married in Canada in 1950. Bob and Pat have three sons, Douglas, Robert, and Edward, and one daughter, Lynda, and three grandsons, Michael, Sergio and Jamil. In 1948 Bob joined the Post Office and in February of 1952, he transferred to the Customs Department. Bob was a customs inspector when he retired in 1981, and now resides in Pickering, Ontario with his wife, Pat. Before and after retirement he worked part-time selling gardening supplies for a nursery in Pickering. Please check out web site www.cdnheroes.ca. A Tribute To Those Who Have Put Their Lives On The Line To Keep Our Country The True North Strong And Free. Please read my stories, No's 29, 30 and 31.

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Excerpts

In Barriefield, Ontario: "The sound of beating drums reverberated across the parade square...His beret was snatched from his head, vigorously thrown to the tarmac and heavily trampled upon by the officiating officers using their hobnailed boots." page 27

In the Mediterranean: "It was like watching a grand fireworks display backed up by an orchestra of a thousand guns." page 43

In Philippeville, Algeria: "He had expired...Soon his bed was taken away, his body draped with the Union Jack. His war was over." page 49

At the Hitler Line: "We dismounted from the trucks while breathing in a sickly sweet odour, an awful aroma that permeated our uniforms..." page 81

In Italy: "There was another river to cross. It would be one more step on the long road to victory, a time when people would live in peace again." page 98

In Holland: "Soon a carrier rushed back carrying wounded and bleeding men. A German soldier crawled out of his foxhole..." page 152

In Holland: "The war had ended. What a change this was, no more front lines, no more artillery barrages. It was a shock in some ways to be able to relax and enjoy ourselves." page 158

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A Note From the Author

Regarding the story, "The Black Lanyard of the Saskatoon Light Infantry", on page 62 of my book "Another River to Cross", I took information from a source which stated that the Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG) was the only regiment in the Canadian Army allowed to wear a back lanyard as part of their uniform accoutrements. This information was wrong. In fact all the Rifle Regiments wore a black lanyard except the Regina Rifles, which, I believe, wore a green lanyard.

However, the Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG) was the only regiment that was given permission to wear the black lanyard which included four "hangman" knots and these were worn by officers and senior NCO's. of the Regiment

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Re: Mobile Raid, pg. 150

Award of: The Military Medal

To: L-7237 Corporal Philip BURTON

Canadian Infantry Corps

During the afternoon of 20 April 1945, a carrier reconnaissance force of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which includes a machine gun platoon of the Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun), were moving South West from Barneveld towards Walderveen, Corporal Burton, Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun) was in command of a carrier mounting a medium machine gun.

As they approached the blown bridge this force came under intense small arms and faustpatronen fire from nearby enemy positions. A faustpatronen bomb which burst in the trees above Corporal Burton's carrier wounded every member of the crew and blew Corporal Burton himself out of the carrier into the ditch. Although seriously wounded and under heavy enemy fire from close range Corporal Burton, without hesitation, crawled back into his carrier, and with great difficulty got his damaged gun into action. Showing utter contempt for the enemy fire, although he had to expose the upper part of his body, Corporal Burton continued to man his gun until he overcame the enemy fire and compelled them to abandon their position. Corporal Burton was so weak by this time that he was scarcely able to move but not until the enemy withdrew did he give the slightest thought to his own wounds.

Corporal Burton's bravery under fire was an inspiration to all the men of the reconnaissance force. By his aggressive action in engaging and dispersing the enemy he prevented their exploiting the surprise of the ambush and enabled his own forces to proceed on its mission with a minimum delay or casualties.

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Catalogue Information

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