Many veterans saddled with pain and trauma
The dead are at peace, but many of those who are living, still carry so much pain
Living close to Niagara Airport, my home is on a flight path. Planes flying overhead don’t bother me, unless it’s an old warplane flying from the Canadian Heritage Warplane Museum. Then I have to block my ears. How did people in Europe stand the noise of countless bombers during wartime? It must have been terrifying. The thundering roar of a bomber reminds me of my late father-in-law, Frederick Donald Middleton. He was a very special person, and I write this piece to honour him.
Don, as he chose to be called, left Canada to enlist in the RAF in 1937, before war was declared, because he believed as many did, that it was just a matter of time before war broke out, and he wanted to be ready to defend our country. He completed his training by the time war was declared in Sept. 1939. As an accomplished bomber pilot and navigator, he flew a Hampden bomber with 50 Squadron, taking part in bombing missions. Soon after the Nazis invaded Norway, Don was sent on a bombing mission which would be his last. On April 12, 1940 he was shot down over Norwegian waters and rescued by fishermen, who tried to help him escape. But they didn’t succeed, and Don was taken prisoner by the Nazis.
After being processed at an interrogation camp in Nazi Germany, he was transferred to Spangenberg Castle, a prison for officers. After an unsuccessful attempt to escape, he was taken to Colditz Castle, which was a higher security facility. While there he suffered severe depression, and attempted suicide numerous times. Following a stay in a POW mental hospital, he was well enough to be sent to Stalag Luft 3, which was located in what is now, present day Poland. In 1943, while Don was in Stalag Luft 3, a number of prisoners, intent on escaping, came up with a plan to dig an escape tunnel. Don helped, along with hundreds of others, and even though a few managed to escape without being killed, the tunnel was discovered before Don got his turn. A Hollywood version, (not totally accurate) depicted this mission in a movie called, ‘The Great Escape.’
Frederick Donald Middleton’s years in captivity took a terrible toll. In 1945, when he came home at last, he was a shadow of his former self. Weighing less than a hundred pounds and suffering severe post traumatic stress, which they called shell shock and battle fatigue back then, Don finally recovered physically and began to live a normal life to the best of his ability. But I don’t believe he ever truly regained his emotional health. And he adamantly refused to talk about his wartime experiences.
From outward appearances, he appeared normal. But there were behavioural traits that might indicate emotional unrest. Things like moving with his family, from place to place quite often, as well as changing jobs numerous times. He was very intelligent, a university graduate and wisely, he busied his mind with artistic pursuits. He took piano lessons, painted and learned pottery so well, that his work was part of a group exhibition at The Royal Ontario Museum. In my unprofessional, opinion, he did all those activities to distract his mind from memories that haunted him to his dying day. While in hospital, during his last days, patients in nearby beds told his wife that they would listen, as he vividly relived all of his horrible wartime experiences while in a semi-conscious state. Sadly, he never forgot one bit of it.
Too many men and women who have served in too many wars, past and present, are suffering from nightmares, just as my late father-in-law did. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is widely recognized now and during this month of Remembrance, we should remember and honour those who gave their lives, but just as important, we must honour those who are still with us, who gave their lives in a different way. The dead are at peace, but many of those who are living, still carry so much pain.
I hope and pray that they’re getting the recognition and help they need to heal and find peace in their hearts.