THE ADVOCATE V O L . 8 0 P A R T 3 M A Y 2 0 2 2 329
ENTRE NOUS
P erusing copies of the Advocate from 1943 (its first year of pub-
lication) to 1945 (the year the Second World War ended), one is
struck by the almost matter-of-fact attitude towards the war. By
1943, the war was already in its fourth year and had become the
new norm. By then, many members of the B.C. bar had volunteered to go
overseas to fight (yes, volunteered). One of the functions of the Advocate in
its earliest days was to keep track of those who had taken this remarkable
step. This magazine reported on who was serving where and provided
updates about them from Europe.
Copies of the Advocate were sent to members of the bar serving overseas
and, in turn, those serving wrote letters back. One such letter from S.W. Taylor,
R.C.A.F. Station, Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, is dated December 14,
1943 and reads as follows:
Will you please convey to members of your Association my sincerest
thanks for the parcel I received from the Vancouver Bar Association the
other day.
Dave Sigler is at present stationed in Scotland. I saw him a month or so
ago when he was on a station at Croft. He is fine and likes it over here
very much. Bill Maitland, Pat’s boy, is back on operations. He expected to
pay a visit to his home before he went on his second tour, but I suppose
it is c’est la guerre.
Give my regards to Freddy Mather and all the boys under him when you
are in the Court House. I trust I will be seeing you in 1944, although I
think this show may not be over by then.
A photograph appearing on the same page shows Flying Officer W.J.
Maitland and notes that he has been “reported missing in operations over
Germany”. The Advocate reported at the time:
All members of the profession were deeply grieved at the news that Bill
Maitland was reported missing. The record of his gallantry and efficient,
eager service survives to inspire his successors in the Flying Service.
While hope persists that he will return the sympathy of the whole Bar
will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Maitland.