Letters Home

Four Months in the Life of

James Healy Cavanagh

Preface

On 1 September 1939 German forces invaded Poland.

On 3 September 1939 Britain and France declared war on Germany.

On 5 September 1939, two RAF Pupil Pilots, a Canadian and an Englishman, were killed in a traffic accident during a blackout.

That young Canadian was James Healy Cavanagh, 22, son of Frank and Agnes Cavanagh of Thessalon, Ontario.

Materials saved by Jim’s brothers and sister were organized into a book documenting his last 4 months of life and the story of the aftermath of his death. The book was privately published in 2014.

The book contains transcripts of letters and postcards written to family back home. You would enjoy his comments on life in pre-war England, his reflections on English food, cars, entertainment and character as well as tales of his hard work and trials with officialdom. Also included are official letters, newspaper articles and letters from friends and others in England reflecting on his life and untimely death.

Where possible, original letters and documents have been copied. Jim wrote most of his letters in a mixture of ink and pencil on “onion-skin” airmail paper. Scanning proved too challenging for most of them, so we transcribed all his letters for readability. Many thanks to Anne Cavanagh Kasch for her efforts in that task.

This is a short excerpt of some relevant portions of the full book.

James M. (Jim) Cavanagh

London, Ontario, Canada

October 2016

The Sault Daily Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

June 13, 1939

Royal Send-off for Jim Cavanagh

By: Small Town Gal

THESSALON, June 12 – Leaving the old town Wednesday by motor were Jim Kinch, Jim Cavanagh and Lloyd Thomson who are holidaying in Detroit, Mich., Barrie and Ottawa. They will then journey on to Montreal where on June 16 our famous Eagle player will embark on the S.S. Antonio for England where he will join the Royal Air Force. Before Jim’s departure his fellow members of the Eagles hockey team and other friends feted him at Phillip’s tea room at Basswood Lake.

The boys did full justice to the excellent chicken dinner prepared by Mrs. Phillips and staff. The tables were artistically decorated with toy airplanes with a miniature bomber in the centre.

The tea room was converted into a regular “Fairy Land”, everything possible being done to give Jim a royal send-off. Colored balloons were suspended from the lights and the name J.I.M. was printed in large letters of red, white and blue on the wall. It was an occasion that will long be remembered by our mighty Defenseman and his pals.

Manager Jim St. John spoke of Cavanagh’s departure, and of the gap it would leave in the team. He said Jim’s friendly smile would be missed by all. President Herb Jackson gave a short talk also expressing regret at Jim’s departure, and on behalf of the guests presented him with a smart Gladstone bag.

The guest of honor replied nicely thanking everyone present for the gift and good wishes. He spoke highly of the comradeship he enjoyed while a member of the Eagles.

Those present were: President Herb Jackson; Manager Jim St. John; Coach Bill Phillips; Assistant Goalie Ed Piche; Mascot Red Russ; Lloyd Beveridge, Don Thomson; Jerry Somers; Jack Cavanagh; Red Piche; Earl St. John; Morris Driver; Clifford Boyer; “Pokey” Giguere; Eager Boyer; Ken Mills; Lloyd Thomson; Wilfred St. John; Leslie Foster and Jim Cavanagh.

As one of the fans, we would also like to express best wishes to Jim for “happy landings.” We will never forget the thrills we had during the past season watching “Chub” swooping down to organize his famous power plays, and to say he will be missed is indeed putting it very mildly. However, Jim is a real airman in every sense of the word and we take great pleasure in expressing very best wishes for success in his chosen profession.

“Altmore”, White Waltham

June 26^th 1939, 10 p.m.

Dear Folks:

Well we finally got here. We got off the boat at Liverpool – took a train for London and then one from there to Maidenhead – from where we got a taxi to bring us out here. It’s about 3 miles from Maidenhead – and a nice little place – more or less just a suburb you know.

I am staying at the main lodge “Altmore” with 4 other Canadians. There are also about ten or fifteen Englishmen enrolled in the course and also staying at this House. Personally I can’t say I’m particularly fond of Englishmen although some of them are alright. The rest of our gang are billeted out to private houses – which I wish I had been as there aren’t many facilities for studying here and it’s really a hard course – by the looks of the books – Navigation, Armaments etc. We were given our books, flying suits etc. today and learned how to fit on a parachute etc. (I just ran out of ink – so I’ll do the rest in pencil). Tomorrow morning we start flying instructions. The class is divided into two squadrons “A” and “B” and I’m in “A”. We had another medical today – but I got thru alright, although my eyes are not as good as might be – but I believe they’re just tired from all the travelling – at least the doctor said they just needed to be rested.

The newspapers over here are very uninteresting so if you can get ahold of a Soo Star or Advocate sometime I’d be glad to get them.

We only get 7 or 8 dollars a week for the first couple of months – but they keep some back or something.

I went in to Maidenhead – with several of the other fellows last nite and looked around. The Thames River runs thru the middle of the town and the scenery hereabouts is really nice. They have practically all American movies over here – they call them cinemas.

I think I’ll find the course interesting although very hard – as it is the course which was formerly spread out over 6 months and one has to cover a lot of ground.

We get up at 7 o’clock starting tomorrow, have a little run and then report at the airdrome (about 200 yds. up the road) at 9 a.m. – Dinner 12 – 1:30 – tea – 4:30 and lunch at 7. There are no rules about staying in at nite or anything but by the looks of the things we have to study I don’t believe we’ll get much time to be going out.

The airdrome is quite a large place and they are building on a very large addition. I’ll send some pictures later on.

Love to all, Jim

Flying School Class

Jim in 2nd Row, 3rd from Left

September 4, 1939

Dear Mother, Dad and all:

Got your air-mail letter yesterday and another letter that had been written some time ago along with a bunch of papers. Thanks a lot. It’s certainly great to get decent papers to read. By the way I got quite a few other bunches of papers so I guess I got all you sent.

Well we are finally at war. I knew a week ago that it couldn’t be anything else and now that it has come I think everyone feels a bit relieved here. The suspense was dragging everybody down.

I’m trying to write this in my room but the lights have all been blacked out so effectively that I can hardly see it myself much less a German bomber at 10,000 ft.

God knows the people and government here did everything they could to avert it but apparently Hitler is a madman and doesn’t want to have anything to do with peace. I pity the poor German people – it is they who will have to suffer for his folly – they have been on rations for some time and imagine what it will be like when our naval blockade starts to take effect. Nothing much has happened here in England since the Premier declared war yesterday. To look out the window tonite at the quiet countryside around here one couldn’t for the life of him imagine there was a war on.

It is at night that the realization strikes home – all the towns are absolutely black – not a light anywhere and $500 fine if one does show. The cars travel in either darkness except for a 1 inch slit in their parking lights – and the people wait, wait eternally wait. I honestly admire the English for the way they are standing up to the strain. They joke about it and act as if hardly anything had happened which they hadn’t expected.

In regards to myself I don’t know just what they’ll do with us. We will be here for at least 5 weeks and maybe more and then probably to Flying Training School for advanced training. However don’t worry about me because it will be quite a while before I see any action – if I do see any at all. Right now for the next 5 weeks we are in one of the most isolated spots in England so we don’t worry much here. We get our uniforms tomorrow or this week sometime and from now on not being flying officers yet we will be known as Gentlemen Air Cadets (quite a fancy title eh?)

I suppose if Kinch tried now he could get in easy enough (if he wanted to which I doubt). I expect several of the boys from home will be over – so tell Humphries or any of the rest who come – to leave a message for me at Canada House as to where they’ll be and I’ll try to arrange to meet them. Tell Jack to keep out of this for a good long while.

I am going in to mass and communion on Wed. morning – as we work all day Sunday. I’ve really had to work hard since I came here – but I have done well in my exams – those which we have had. I got 81% in Engines today and you know how much I used to know about engines.

We have to fly within 15 miles of the aerdrome now as there is so much of England prohibited to flying except for active Service planes.

I think I’ll close now and do a little work on Rigging – one of my pet hates. Don’t forget to keep Jack home and above all things don’t worry about me because we’re as safe right here as the well known bug in the rug.

Lots of love

Jim

P.S. It’s hard to say how Italy Spain Japan will go – if Russia goes in with Germany they’ll come in with us – but if Russia stays out I don’t know what they’ll do – I don’t trust Russians at all and don’t care an awful lot which way they go.

Telegraph received by Frank at the Pharmacy, Sept 6, 1939.

The Sault Daily Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

THESSALON BOY WITH ROYAL AIR FORCE KILLED

Jas. Cavanagh, 22, Killed in England; Details Not Known

THESSALON, Sept 6 - Word was received here this morning that Jas. Cavanagh, 22 was accidentally killed in England, where he was a member of the Royal Air Force. No details were given but it is presumed the accident occurred near Bristol where the local boy was training at Bristol Flying School.

The Sault Daily Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

(Date unknown, week of Sept. 18-23)

JAS. CAVANAGH WIDELY MOURNED

By J. F. M.

The new Great War had its repercussions in the Star’s News of Algoma columns last week.

At the beginning of the week a Requiem High Mass was sung in St. Ambrose Church at Thessalon for James Cavanagh, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Cavanagh, whose death in England came as such a shock to Algoma and Sault people.

The Thessalon church was filled by people of all creeds who came to join in the service. And not only did people come from Thessalon but there were relatives from the Sault and other parts of the country as well as friends from many parts of Algoma.

Jim Cavanagh’s death brought home with striking emphasis the fact that Canada is at war. Jim was a clean young fellow of the highest type. His adventurous spirit led him to enlist in the Royal Air Force and he left for England earlier this year to enter training.

He became more widely known last winter as a result of his exploits with the Thessalon Eagles hockey team. His team mates did not forget him and at the request of his fellow players who attend Zion United Church in Thessalon he was remembered in a special way at the morning service in that church last Sunday.

Many tributes to his memory were expressed in the News of Algoma columns last week. Bruce Miner, who used up reams of copy paper last winter to toss scorn at the Eagles, was among the first to tender sympathy. And there were many others including a touching tribute from Mollie Malone Saturday.

Jim Cavanagh was a typical Algoma boy and the whole district is the poorer for his passing. This writer joins with the rest of the district in expressing the deepest sympathy to his bereaved family.

The Bristol Flying School.

Yatesbury, Calne Wilts.

Tel: Calne 194.

September 19, 1939

Dear Mr. Cavanagh,

On behalf of the School and myself, I am writing to convey to you deepest sympathy in the tragic loss you have sustained in the death of your son, James Healy.

By his death the School and the Services have lost a promising pupil. He enjoyed the popularity of all the other members of the mess and the tragedy came as a profound shock to all.

The accident occurred when the private car in which your son was a passenger, crashed into the back of a lorry during blackout conditions. The car was completely wrecked and I feel sure that it will console you greatly in your sorrow to know that your dear son did not have one moment of pain or suffering. The driver of the car, J. W. Hadley, a fellow pupil and great friend was also killed. His next of kin is his mother Mrs. E. N. Hadley, 14 King Edwards Road, Ruislip, Middlesex. The third occupant of the car, E. J. Lamb, who was in the back seat was seriously injured but is now expected to recover. His father’s address is 179 Hendon Broadway, West Hendon, London N.W.9.

Owing to the war time conditions now prevailing in the country we were deeply sorry that we were unable to fulfill the request contained in your cable. I know you will understand that we made every possible effort to carry out your wish, but without avail.

The internment took place at the Holy Trinity Church, Calne at 2:30 p.m. on Friday 8th in the same grave as his friend J. W. Hadley. The service was conducted by Father Hudson of Trowbridge, Wilts.

Would you please be good enough to let me know at your convenience what you would like me to do as regards your poor boy’s personal effects, clothing etc.

Please accept our sincere condolences in your sad bereavement.

Yours sincerely,

W. Campbell,

Chief Instructor

Bristol Flying School

Yatesbury Calne, Wiltshire

11th October 1939

Dear Mr. Cavanagh,

We have today dispatched your son’s effects off to you and also a registered letter containing other details. With present day conditions it is difficult to forecast when you will eventually receive them so we have not attempted any suggestion in this respect.

I have had personal charge of your son’s property since his tragic death and was also his flying instructor and I feel that perhaps a few lines from me would be appreciated by you.

Firstly I would like to say that he was a delightful boy to teach in flying – always keen and ready and he appeared to be very happy during his stay here and with his fellow pupils.

The conditions under which he lost his life were no fault of his own and I know it will be a comfort for you to know that he was caused no suffering at all.

Since war started of course we have had what is termed a “black-out” every night and the roads become extremely dangerous to all who are on them whether driving or walking. In fact the deaths increased so alarmingly that the authorities have found it necessary to allow cars to increase their lighting.

However in time of war with the possibility of night air raids these drastic restrictions are I suppose necessary.

The funeral was held on a lovely autumn day and in a very pretty, rather old-fashioned church which dates back several hundred years. The atmosphere was peaceful and one of contentment and one left the surroundings grudgingly to come back into a world of feverish activity.

Amidst the peaceful surroundings of that church in the heart of the country as we are here, it is very unlikely that his resting place will ever be disturbed by the horrors of modern warfare.

I feel sure he would have made a great success of his service career and although he was taken before he had been in very long his name will be cherished with all those before him who have given their lives for this God and country and the cause of Christianity.

I do not think I can give you any further news which would be of interest so I will close with extending my deepest sympathy to you all in your great loss.

Believe me,

Yours sincerely,

W. Graham Stevenson

Original Grave Marker

Holy Trinity Churchyard

Calne, Wiltshire

Memorial Cenotaph

Thessalon, Ontario