466 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 80 PART 3 MAY 2022
Not that I think you can make a final decision before you get here. You
probably cannot. In any event there may be too many unknown factors.
Will Matilda feel she has waited long enough for you to get back and waltz
her down the aisle? Will Dad think it is time you forget about “schooling”
and took a hand in “learning the business”? These are only samples of the
cons, pros and question marks involved. For those of you who left your
courses uncompleted, I have no hesitation in advising you to be strongminded
about it. Let Matilda wait a wee while, poor girl—and Pop too. Don’t
be too selfish about it, but do get back and finish your education. The University
will welcome you and you will be surprised how many others of
your year will be there. Some even with English brides!
For those of you who have “finished up” but did not have time to become
established, I suggest you do a little serious thinking about it now, and leave
the actual decision until later if you must.
Find out to what gratuity, grants, credits, educational benefits and
allowances you will be entitled. The Padre or the Auxiliary Services Officer
or Rehabilitation Advisor can tell you almost anything you want to know if
you press him a bit.
Then lay the foundation of a tentative plan and two or three alternatives—
just as you do before you take off in operations.
When you arrive home, and have re-acquired the habit of taking real
cream in your coffee and grapefruit with your breakfast, appreciate the
local situation in the good old military manner but with a critical and introspective
recce.
Remember that re-establishment, or rehabilitation or what have you, is
largely a state of mind. And it is one of those states of mind which will not
be achieved without a struggle.
The best prospective subject for rehabilitation I have met yet was one of
my Bren Carrier Platoon Sergeants from Ontario. His name is Rynard Radcliffe.
He was wounded when he fought with us at Caen. When I saw him
in hospital in England he was blind. He told me then, “I’m going to be the
best damned blind man that ever went back to Canada.” He has now finished
his course at St. Dunstan’s and is on his way home to prove his statement.
He will.
If you achieve something of that state of mind you will then be almost
ready to take a decision, and your rehabilitation will be comparatively
simple.
One other thing to remember: there are back here a lot of fine old boys
and girls, who have kept everything intact for you these last five years.
They have fought valiant battles on this home front, and in addition every