I am turning 91 one years old. I fought for Canada in WW2 in a Sherman tank, ran a chicken farm, and now I am an artist. AMAA!

Given the option, would you fight 100 duck sized horses or 1 horse sized duck?

I would pick the duck, it's a fairer fight.

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D-day, that's the big one. Then Caen. Once we got over that hurdle the trip through Belgium was easy. Germans retreated from Belgium without too much of a problem. The city of Brugge was tough. We gave the Germans 24 hours to retreat. Thankfully they got out of there. The waterway into Antwerp was dangerous.

As a Canadian Vetran, how do you feel about the initiative by some Vets this Remembrance Day to leave their service medals at home to protest the changes to the Vetran's Benefits for current/future vetrans?

Did you wear yours? Do you know anyone (perhaps your from your Legion) who choose to leave theirs at home?

I wear mine, I don't care what anyone else does.

I wear mine, I don't care what anyone else does.

What was the most chickens you owned at one time?

1200 I think.

Grandpa, how do you feel about all the new technology?

Good for the people who are here.

Who taught you how to internet?

My grandson is typing for me, the internet still scares me.

Did WW2 change your style of art after the war, or did you become an artist after the fact?

I didn't start painting until I was 61. I started making sculptures shortly thereafter. I took photos throughout the war but never really considered it art. Just documenting. I like using oil paint because if I make a mistake I can cover it up! (Answered from grandson's memory)

I don't suppose we can see some of those photos? ...Assuming they're readily available.

Sure thing! http://imgur.com/a/NfojV

Do you have a portfolio of your artwork?

No portfolio, just walls and closets. http://imgur.com/LxeKU

Any chance we could see some of these paintings in detail?

Yes. :) I will make a gallery when we get to grandpas

I would love it if he could pick out some of the pieces he's most proud of and tell us about them!

He is tired right now...Next time we come over I will do an art post and show you the hundred-some sculptures he's made

Thank you very much! Offhand, do you know if he keeps them all, or does he sell any of his art?

Keeps all his art and gives some to people he likes.

As an American tanker we always complain about how cramp it is in the Abrams in all our gear. How tight was the fit in the old Shermans? Edit picture of my fat girl when she broke down.

I"m a small guy, but it was tight.

Where do you live in Canada? Saskatchewan myself.

Winnipeg.

What is the thing that changed that upset you most in the last 50 years?

What is the one thing you would still like to accomplish?

The holocaust.

I would like to invent something cute and useful.

When did you learn about the holocaust? Was it common knowledge throughout the war, or something that was a secret until the allies started liberating camps?

Just at the end of the war is when we learned about it, as hostilities ceased.

Do you have any regrets? (profession, love interest, etc.) [Sorry might get awkward for Grandson OP]

No.

Happy Birthday!

What is the secret to your longevity? In your opinion, is physical health or mental health more important in determining the quality and length of one's life? Between eating poorly, sleeping poorly, being overweight, and not exercising, which would you say is the most unhealthy?

With an experience of so many years, what would you say is most important in life? We fret about unimportant stuff when we are young, like being unsure of ourselves, being shallow and valuing appearance, money, etc., so what would you say is really important in retrospect? What events in your life made you feel that your life was truly worth living?

If you are going to say family, that will just make me sad because I have poor relationships with my family. So if one's family bonds aren't strong, what can one do make one's life worthwhile and give it meaning?

Waiting for the wise words! Happy birthday again, and may you live till 100!

Never drank, never smoked, never did drugs, and loved a lot.

Again, finding the right girl and marrying her.

And how do you that (I am a woman so how to I find the right guy?)? Is it purely luck? You were quite handsome in your younger years, that might have helped?

If all else fails hang out at a bar that serves cheap tequila.

What led you to tanks, and what role did you serve as part of the tank crew?

As an intelligence historian, I'm fairly familiar with certain aspects of the part Canada played in WWII (things like SOE and Sir William Stephenson). I'm less familiar with the role of the armed forces themselves, and part of that may just be cultural bias as an American. For example, I had no idea Canadians were involved in D-Day until you said you were there. Can you recommend any good books on Canada in World War II?

Thanks for doing this, and happy birthday!

A WW1 Vet told me to stay out of infantry.

who are your top 3 of each musicians? movies? painters?

My son, I enjoy music but don't pick any particular miso . I'm not too fond of the modern bebop stuff.

Oh heck. Green tomatoes you know. Um....miss Davey. Driving miss daisy. There was one 28 downing street. English...do you know what I'm talking about something like 58 Charing cross road that was good.

Artists: van Gogh. Anyone on the group of seven is good.

1) What make/model Sherman was it (M4A4, VC Firefly, etc)? 2) What position (Commander, Gunner, Driver, etc) were you in your tank? 3) Did you give your tank a name? 4) What was the scariest moment you experienced during the war? 5) What were interactions with allied forces like? 6) How much did the tank affect your hearing (how loud was the main weapon?)?

Thanks!

1) What make/model Sherman was it (M4A4, VC Firefly, etc)

Wasn't a firefly, that was the good one. We were supposed to direct fire.

2) What position (Commander, Gunner, Driver, etc) were you in your tank? I was observation post, we were using the tank mostly for transport. 3) Did you give your tank a name

Calamity Jane

4) What was the scariest moment you experienced during the war?

We were the only survivor out of 17 tanks. Scary.

5) What were interactions with allied forces like?

Quite good.

6) How much did the tank affect your hearing (how loud was the main weapon?)?

What?

I hope this isn't too late, but my Grandfather is 91 years old and fought for Canada in WW2 in a Sherman tank.

I don`t know many details about his service as he doesnt like to talk about it. I know he went to Belgium and spent some time in a town called Bergen Op Zoom in the Netherlands.

I know it`s a long shot and that I dont have many details but is there any chance you and my grandfather met during the war?

I was in Bergen Op Zoom. Didn't meet him.

I was in Bergen Op Zoom. Didn't meet him.

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Elect the proper people onto government.

Did you have any confirmed kills? And if you did how did it affect you?

We dropped shells on people. We didn't see the end result. We knew bad things were happening.

What were your thoughts on the M4 Sherman tank?

What were your thoughts about your German counterparts during the war?

What did you think of going to war in Europe and how did they change as the war progressed and finally ended?

And finally, thank you for your service sir, can't thank you and you veterans enough for what you did all those years ago.

What were your thoughts on the M4 Sherman tank?

I don't know. That technical stuff is beyond me. They first came out with a 75 mm gun, then they pit a 17 pounder with q longer barrel. And that was nicer.

What were your thoughts about your German counterparts during the war?

They had an 88 which was far superior to anything we had. They were well trained.

What did you think of going to war in Europe and how did they change as the war progressed and finally ended?

Civilians were wonderful to us during and after the war. They saved us as much as we saved them.

And finally, thank you for your service sir, can't thank you and you veterans enough for what you did all those years ago.

What is something that took you the longest to findout about life?

That's a loaded question.

What is the key to living an old, happy, fulfilling life?

Find the right girl.

Have you ever ridden in a more modern tank? if so, how did it compare to the Sherman?

Just the Sherman, that was enough for ne.

What regiment did you serve with?

19th field regiment.

Was that Royal Artillery?

Yes, RCA

Was there a stigma against tankers being fat in the Canadian army? That's always an ongoing stereotype in the American army.

You couldn't be fat, you wouldn't fit 4 guys in there.

What was your most memorable experience from the war?

Getting home.

Getting home.

Just as a general question: What do you consider the single most important thing that has ever happened to you?

Also, what is one thing you wish more young people understood today?

Bring born I guess.

History.

What were your opinions of General Montgomery as a commander?

He was good.

Thanks for sharing, the Canadian contributions to WWI & II are too often overlooked. As a younger guy that has experienced combat, does it ever get easier to deal with? I would like to think it does, but afraid it does not.

It's always difficult.

Verification?

http://imgur.com/F0P3P Best I can do for now, be there in about 20 minutes.

Really weird request. Do you have any old pictures of yourself in uniform, I have just started colorising photos, an I want feedback from someone who is in it.

I will get some to you.