Letters from a soldier
Port Colborne resident sent many letters home to his wife
With Remembrance Day upon us, The Tribune is publishing excerpts from a series of letters from Port Colborne resident Anthony Dembisky, who served with the Canadian Fusiliers in A Company and D Company, that offer a glimpse into the life of a Second World War soldier.
The letters were purchased several years ago by Tribune reporter Dave Johnson from the Alphabet Bookshop in Port Colborne. The letters, sent to Dembisky’s wife Pat, are being printed as they were sent home to maintain the integrity of the soldier’s words and are in keeping with the time period in which they were written.
Upon reading them, one learns that Dembisky may have worked for Inco in Sudbury or Port Colborne. The letters sent home show addresses on Mitchell Street and Fraser Street in Port Colborne.
The letters have been shortened, and many cut completely due to space restrictions. For a look at all the letters in their entirety, check here: ndavidjohnsonphotography.wordpress.com /2017/11/10/letters-from-a-soldier/
Dembisky was part of a Canadian force sent to Kiska, Alaska to take on the Japanese army which occupied two of the islands in the Aleutian Islands chain from June 1942 until July 1943. In addition to Kiska, the Japanese held Attu Island. The occupation of the two islands were to protect the northern flank of the Japanese Empire. The Japanese fled the islands before American and Canadian forces launched their attack. Naniamo B.C. July 2/43
Wrote you some time ago and as yet have received no reply. I know mail has been all censored leaving this Island that may be one reason. I am not so sure whether you have received it or not. I am trying to work this one through somehow. First of all I am feeling fine. We are leaving Canada very shortly and it may be Alaska. We were all issued with American equipment the other day and it seems we will be under American Command there. I got rapped here for $42.00 for that drunk charge when I got back that conductor on that train laid the charges and sent them through the Provost Corps to my unit here. All I can say is wherever I am I will try and look after myself to the best of ability, so don’t worry your fool head off. I’ll be back better than ever.
July 20/43
Somewhere at sea and wish to inform you that I am feeling fine. Have been sailing for
some time, was subjected to a slight case of sea-sickness and am all over it now. Getting plenty to eat and can receive cigs for almost nothing. Unable to give you any details concerning my voyage due to our own safety. July 24/43
Arrived safely to my destination. Feeling fine and hope this reaches you all in the same state. Unable to state any details concerning my duties while her. Was informed that outgoing mail would be quite satisfactory but as for incoming it remained to be seen. My voyage here was adventerous and never did I have a dull moment. Well Pat, censorship is so strict here that I really don’t know what and how to express my feelings so I’ll have to wait for a later date when circumstances won’t be so.
July 30/43
Received your reply of the 13th and it was sure swell. A letter from home is like a God’s sent virtue these days and especially out here when a person has plenty of time to read. Would deeply appreciate a good set of snapshots as you know I haven’t any real good ones.
Sept. 3/43
Reached our main objective and everything went quite well and wish to express that I am safe as well, so don’t loose any more weight. We are stationed on an Island recently occupied by the Japs. Received all of your letters on one heap dated from July 22nd to Aug. 19th. This is my first opportunity I’ve had to write for a long time. Glad to hear that you are all well it makes things easier for me here. I am safe to say that we are not on no picnic but conditions could be much worse.
Sept. 7/43
Taking time to write and let you know that I am feeling fine. Conditions here are improving everyday and if winter finds us still on this island we should have a cozy little fox hole. For your information when we first occupied this island we lived for a short while on Japanese rations which were carelessly left behind the Niponese Army they weren’t what an average person could call good but they filled our hungry tummies. We took shelter in old broken down Jap huts upon arrival which was quite an experience. The weather varies from bad to better you will undoubtly have to use your imagination because weather conditions are so far ruled out by the censor who very seldom takes changes
Kiska Aleutian Ils.
Sept. 22/43
Haven’t heard from you since July 31st and have wrote several letters since. You may notice by the heading that we are permitted to give our location as it no longer remains a secret hence the Canadian News-papers must of been just fluttered with News from Kiska. For your information this island was the last of strong-holds in the Northern Pacific thus relieving the threat to the North American continent. The weather here is like what one can expect in the Northern waters. Living conditions could be much worse and the food is good. Standing shoulder to shoulder to our American allies and at all times exchange our warm affectionate greetings (swell bunch of lads). May be leaving for Canada shortly and from there is remains to be seen. Kiska Aleutian Ils.
Nov. 11/43
My biggest disappointment is that I will be unable to spend this coming xmas with you as I have in the past. Have not received your parcel as yet but living in hope that it reaches here in time for xmas or otherwise it will sure be not only a dry one but also a lonely one. I am unable to state my arrival back to Canada although I am informed ( a section of the letter was physically cut out at this point by a censor). As for my health I guess you know that I’d write and tell you I was feeling fine whether I was or not so we won’t bother our kids about that. Winter is on it ways up here have had our first snowfall on Nov. 1st. Well Pat what should I be expressing most of all is that I wish you a Merry xmas and may all of your coming days be merry and bright ones.