Elmer tries to get into the army

During World War II Bertha's husband, Elmer tried to enlist in the armed forces, but poor eyesight and a bad leg prevented him from being accepted.

"They wouldn't have him," says Bertha.

"He wanted to go.

"He started to give away all his gear and I said 'don't give it away, you mightn't get in the army', I knew damn well he wouldn't.

"So he went off to join up and he came back with his tail between his legs.

"They would have only given him a grade four pass, and that was to be a cook or do these jobs in the camp, not to go and fight.

"So he told them to shove it."

As a consolation he became a member of the Volunteer Defence Corps.

Elmer Skjonnemand c1930

(image: Bertha Skjonnemand's personal collection)