Heatlie, N.

Neil Heatlie collects oddities of war in Italy

After spending nearly two years in training at Kingston, London and Owen Sound, he went to Nova Scotia, from where, after a brief stay, he went overseas.

Allan Hill of Oakwood was a fellow soldier in the convoy and Neil reports that they left Canada on the 23rd of the month and landed overseas on the 27th of the same month. Both considered that to be a fast trip.

Since Nov. 1943, Cfn. Heatlie has been attached to the British 8th Army in Italy as a mechanic and in his latest letter home writes that he is working days and driving nights.

However, a while back, Cfn. Heatlie got a furlough and while on leave he visited Rome, Pompeii and other Italian points of interest, which included another look at Cassino, whereat he was stationed throughout the whole siege.

While on his trip, he bumped into several boys from home among whom were Ross Irwin of Oakwood, Clarke Woolridge of Seagrave and Pte. Snooks of Manila.

Recently his parents received a parcel from him and to their surprise when they opened it they found it contained a host of souvenirs, which Neil had collected in Italy.

Of great interest was the collection of foreign money, which was made up of Egyptian, German, Italian and other nations’ coin and paper money.

Mrs. Heatlie is the proud possessor of a lovely silk luncheon set which was made in Italy.

A book of poems written by and about fellows in his unit is what he values most and sent it on for his parents to take care of until he gets back which he hopes won’t be long.

I, like other mothers, am anxious to have my boy home from the war but not before the Germans have been put in their place and we can be assured of a lasting peace. said Mrs. Heatlie, when relating the aforegoing story of her boy’s experiences to the Post. I have another boy who volunteered for active service also, but he was honourably discharged from the army six months after enlistment and I am equally proud of them both, she concluded.