New book tells the story of North Bay soldier who escaped POW camp in Nazi Germany
A book written by a journalist and history lover tells the story of a Second World War air gunner named Jacques Bedard from North Bay.
The story begins when Bedard returned home after the war ended. He rarely spoke openly about his time in Europe.
After Jacques passed away, his granddaughter Leanne and his son Roger were looking over the endless pages of military documents they obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We always were kind of lost (about) what he went through,” said Roger.
Leanne wanted to learn more. During Christmas 2019, Leanne received a gift from her aunt: a box full of letters that were written by Jacques to his family back home while he was a prisoner of war (POW) in Nazi Germany.
“I thought this was a real treasure and it’s a real shame that we, even as his family, don’t know what he lived through during the war,” said Leanne.
So she decided to uncover the story of her grandfather and have it documented as a keepsake for the family.
Leanne got in contact with journalist and history lover Patricia Pearson in Trenton. Together, the two sifted through the letters and documents to piece together what happened to Jacques.
Pearson also did her own research to find out more. The book is called ‘The Courage of The Small Hours.’
Bedard enlisted with his brothers in the Canadian Armed Forces on Feb. 2, 1943, when he was just 18-years-old. He was dispatched to Edmonton, Hamilton and eventually Halifax for air training before being sent overseas to fight. His job was to bomb German cities. Jacques’ crew was assigned to the 424 Tiger Squadron flying in a Halifax bomber.
“He flew six to eight missions,” said Roger.
On March 18, 1944, his plane was shot down and Bedard was forced to parachute out of the plane. He broke his leg in the landing. All of his fellow crewmates survived the crash. Bedard remained in a German hospital for several months before being transported to a POW camp.
A book written by a journalist and history lover tells the story of a Second World War air gunner named Jacques Bedard from North Bay. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)
Squadron 424’s commanding officer wrote to Jacques’ parents in North Bay to break the news that he was either dead or taken prisoner. His personal effects were sent home by the Royal Canadian Air Force Central Depository.
Bedard, however, was still allowed to write letters home while in both the hospital and the camp. The letters in the book depict Jacques’ time and life at the prison camp.
“It was really, really fascinating to try and piece together the bits and pieces (Leanne) had and to find out what the larger picture was,” said Pearson.
The family learned Bedard was involved in what was called a 'death march.' These are forced marches to keep prisoners from falling into Allied hands. As the allies began to push the Nazis back on the Western Front during the early weeks of 1945, and the Russians pushing forward in the east, Bedard was part of a death march from Bankau to Luckenwalde.
It was a 550-kilometre journey.
“Of those 550 kilometres, he marched over half of that distance on foot,” said Leanne.
While at the POW camp in Luckenwalde, Bedard escaped the Nazi’s clutches. According to his log book, after writing a letter to his parents, he disguised himself in a German’s guard uniform and slipped away.
“Eventually he did make his way back to the U.K. and back to Canada in late summer of 1945,” said Leanne.
Bedard passed away on Remembrance Day in 1989. The book is being published for the family. The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa will receive a copy, and so will a few area libraries. The family hopes people can learn more about Jacques’ service for generations to come.
“This book really opened our eyes to everything that happened,” said Roger.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.