Merton’s WW2 Diary

August 26, 1943 – Merton’s War Diary

1 Comment

Aug 26, 1943
Gave eskimo woman a suit of long underwear and two cakes of soap to do my laundry.

An Inuit family (1917) – “AN ESKIMO FAMILY. Tenderness and responsibility in their treatment of children is a virtue of the Eskimo which binds them closer to the brotherhood of civilized peoples.” [1]National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 (1917), page 564 – Wikipedia Link

In reading this entry of Merton’s journal, I could only picture the poor woman leaning over into the frozen river with a washboard.  Probably a far cry from the truth but good for those ‘cold wash only’ items.

This is an interesting case in how learning about the past brings an ‘Ah Ha’ moment to the present.  There are a few ‘chores’ that if I could avoid them, laundry would indeed be one of them, though I believe that my wife would think that I would choose to avoid ALL of them.  Perhaps two chocolate cakes might do the trick.

The flip side to this argument however, is that my Mother loves to do laundry… and ironing.  I guess I take after my Grandfather more than Mom.

 

 

 

Notes   [ + ]

1. ￪ National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 (1917), page 564 – Wikipedia Link

August 13, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

Leave a comment

August 13, 1943
Started first building on mountain for weather station.

Weather stations on the East Coast of Greenland were very important installations.  This was the day before Doplar and Satellites.  The weather fronts from Greenland would routinely make their way on to Northern Europe and these stations could report and forecast so that the troops stood a better chance on the front.

The weather station Knospe in operation during World War II. (Image: Svalbard Museum)

It seems as if the German’s also had stations on Greenland and there were numerous expeditions to find and secure them.

This fascinating short documentary on ‘The Sledge Patrol’ by Sandra Skibsted can shed more light on the subject and is the tale of Greenland’s first ‘Army’

If you are at all interested in the current weather in Kulusuk Greenland, follow this [Link] to The Weather Underground.  This year on August 13 it was a balmy 47 °F (8 °C).

In 1943 and 1944,  my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next Entry – Aug 16, 1943

August 5, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

Leave a comment

August 5, 1943

Arrived at #2, met Capt. Shriffin who was stationed in Hyannis for long time.

Bluie East Two was a minor United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) airfield at Ikateq, East Greenland. It was operational from 1942 to 1947. ¹

I would be curious to find out who Capt Shriffin is.  Did Merton know him ahead of time or was the simple fact they were both in Hyannis the common denominator.  When researching Merton’s history on the cape, be it newspapers or other items, I will keep a look out for the Captain.

In 1943 and 1944,  my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next entry – Aug 10 ²

¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluie_East_Two

² Note – I will catch up soon – I promise

July 31, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

Leave a comment

July 31, 1943
Went into #7, loaded coal, saw more Eskimos, and a man being taken off a ship in a strait jacket.

#7 was the base at Kangilinnguit, right near Ivigtut.  Merton last mentioned that he was awaiting transfer to #7 on June 6th.  It surprises me that it took this long.  Perhaps it took the other man even longer which is why he ended up in the strait jacket.

In 1943 and 1944,  my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next Entry – Aug 3, 1943

July 30, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

Leave a comment

July 30, 1943
Arrived at bay near Ivictut

Ivictut aka Ivigtut which is now known as Ivittuut, is located on the western side of Greenland.  I’ve written about it before way back on June 3rd [Link]

I found a video on YouTube by user ‘cputb1’ of his father’s days in Ivigtut Greenland during the late 1940’s.  The photographs encompass work, life and play and show a great cross section of what conditions must have been like.  I hope you enjoy.

In 1943 and 1944,  my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company.  He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next Entry – July 31, 1943

July 21, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

Leave a comment

July 21, 1943
Went fishing in fjord with 2 soldiers. One of them caught a big codfish that had a hook in with a line, rod and reel attached!!

What a fish story indeed!  With Merton being from Cape Cod, it did make me wonder if the Cape was indeed named after the Cod Fish.

Iceland is Close to Greenland - Sigfús Eymundsson (1837 - 1911) - Scanned from "Þór Magnússon (1976). Ljósmyndir Sigfúsar Eymundssonar Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík." page 73

Iceland is Close to Greenland – Sigfús Eymundsson (1837 – 1911) – Scanned from “Þór Magnússon (1976). Ljósmyndir Sigfúsar Eymundssonar Almenna bókafélagið, Reykjavík.” page 73

Continue reading →

A Hamilton Railway Special

1 Comment

After reading the July 8th entry of Merton’s War Journal [Link], my Mother commented something to the effect that ‘I don’t Listen to the family stories very well‘ and that the pocket watch did indeed come from within the family. She believes it did belong to my 2nd Great Grandfather – Leonard Ivy Young born in 1843 and died in 1924.

Railroad pocket watch believed to have belonged to Leonard Ivy Young b.1843 d.1924

Railroad pocket watch believed to have belonged to Leonard Ivy Young b.1843 d.1924

My Mother was kind enough to snap a quick photo of it to share.

This seems to be a Hamilton Railway Special – Probably made around 1912.  The Hamilton website has a similar model though the there are some distinct differences.  The earlier models seem to have a different logo treatment, as do some of the later.

Superbly designed and splendidly constructed, this watch achieved that high pinnacle of perfection. More than 200,000 pieces of the 940 movement were produced from 1900 to 1928. 18 size, 21 jewels.¹

Perhaps in another blog post we will talk about the glasses and diary in the background.

¹ From www.hamilton-museum.com/museum

July 8, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

2 Comments

July 8, 1943
Went back to work with tools

The entries this month are much shorter and further apart.  I hope this means that Merton is keeping busy.

At least now though it seems that he is doing something in his profession.  Speaking of which – looking at the 1940 US Census records we can see Merton’s profession is listed as Carpenter in the Building / Construction Industry

[Image Extract – 1940 Census Merton]

Looking back to the 1930 US Census he is listed as a Carpenter as well.

In the 1920 US Census however he is only 16 years old.  Looking up to his father Louis Ivy Young, look what we can see…

[Image Extract – 1920 Census – Louis]

Yup – it runs in the family… though I have a hard time cutting a straight line.¹

In 1943 and 1944, my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next Entry – July 16, 1943

¹My father was an engineer and pretty handy with tools as well.  Looking at the census record’s for Louis’s father reveals that he was a mariner in his earlier days and a Railroad Station Agent in the later.  I know within the family heirlooms we have a railroad pocket watch and in researching for this blog post I immediately wonder if this belonged to him.  I will keep you all posted on this as I find anything out.

July 2, 1943 – Merton's War Diary

2 Comments

July 2, 1943

Went to work in mess hall and had to shave off beard.

It has been almost a month since Merton’s last entry and I have to imagine that nothing important happened.  I believe that I read that the U Boat patrols have decreased due to the high number of Allied patrols searching for them so I believe the waters to be safer.

We all picture soldiers peeling piles of potato’s but what were they really eating?  While not Greenland specific – this short and informative video about the WW2 Mess hall produced by the U.S. Army Heritage Education Center gives an idea of what it may have been like.

In 1943 and 1944, my Grandfather Merton Young traveled to Greenland while working for the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Company. He wrote a brief diary of his journey and this is a piece of that story.

Next Entry – July 8, 1943