Clair (10)
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Curt Rose and Clair
Curt, Rose and Clarence
Born 1st Jan. 1923, in Russell, Manitoba, Clarence was the first of six children (Curt, Rose, Lorn, Tim, and Joan).
His father, Ture M. Soderstrom, Immigrated to Canada in 1906, from Sweden, and married Agnes L. Anderson of Minnesota, U.S.A. in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, April 4th, 1922.
Clarence did not finish school, and in 1938 found employment in Manitoba, working on a dairy farm in Winnipeg, laborer at a boat livery, a pulp cutter in Rennie, and finally a Manitoba forest ranger at Fort Frances, Ontario. This was ideal as he loved fishing and was a stone's throw away from a lake, in Oct 1942 the season ended and he was laid off.
On the 19th Nov. 1942 Clarence enlisted in the RCAF, he completed Air-Gunnery school training in Canada 1st Oct. 1943, and arrived in England on 17th Oct. 1943. Curt his next youngest brother enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy the same year.
In early 1943, Clarence’s father; Ture moved out to the coast of British Columbia and was employed as a carpenter at Port Edwards located 12 miles from Prince Rupert. In late summer of 1943, the rest of the family moved out to Lulu Island (Queensborough) New Westminster B.C. Ture was now building the fish ladders on the Fraser River at "Hell's Gate".
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Clair, family and friends
Fall 1943, photo's of Clair, Curt and family and friends prior to The two brothers departing for the east coast.
Dear Alan,
...I do remember that it was a very happy, lively, and busy time for everybody. The teenagers at that time living under the knowledge of their possible death had parties, always laughter, singing, and jokes about each other, the world was at war and these were unusual times...
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Grand parents in dress-up
Ture and Agnes Soderstrom pictured on the left, dressed opposite clothes during a costume party.
...My parent’s let the younger people live in a great deal of joy, and I am not sure anybody could have stopped them from having these high-energy parties. Usually the whole street and all Clair, Curt and Rose' friends were involved...
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Family and Friends
Family and friend's
...The older people Clair, Curt and Rose and friends (probably 17 to 20 years old and in the service or working in factories) were having a party; laughter, dancing, singing and the music was on records 78 rpm, what a energetic time...
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Three youngest, Lorn, Joan and Tim. 1943
Lorn (10), Joan (5), Tim (8) Manitoba 1943
...Also at one of these parties Tim, Joan and myself and I believe one or two other neighborhood kids were in the kitchen playing a game. We had lined up all the kitchen chairs, and pretended we were, prisoners of war and were on a train going throught the countryside. The train stopped and we convinced ourselves (as only children can that this was our last chance to eat) we got off the chairs and ate almost everything in the icebox, both fresh and stale food. My mother came out and immediately made us clean up and go to bed, no spanking, no reprimand, just go to bed...
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My Grandparents, Ture and Agnes
Ture and Agnes Soderstrom, 1960's
...Later on when the men were overseas, every night my father would sit on a chair or the couch and spread the world map out on the small table, would turn the radio on for the war news and make marks on the map or talk to my mother about what was happening. Two of his sons were there right now and he was there right now with his map, radio, table and pencils of different colours and intensely involved in trying to figure out where his boys were and how the war was generally going. The war was in our front room...
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Rose Clair and cousin Iona
Rose, Clair and Cousin Iona
...We also saved everything that could be recycled, Rose and Mom put boxes together for the troops and for Clair and Curt. The boxes contained; candy, cookies, socks and other home stuff. You could get candy at the store only if you had someone overseas. Us younger children did not really understand. We really understood only at Wood Street when the infamous letter arrived telling us that Clair was missing in action...
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Ruurlo Cemetery 1990's, Lorn's visit
A solitary war grave in the center, photo taken mid 1990's on Lorn's last visit.
...I travelled to Ruurlo on three different occasions, and did visit Clair's grave grave site. Each time it was very emotional result, even though I had been very young when both Clair and Curt went off to war...
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Uncle Curt, Lorn's closing comments in letter
Curt - Remembrance Day 1991 (inset-Clair)
"A solemn Curt Soderstrom, Sgt. At Arms of Legion No #2 in New Westminster, salutes his fallen comrades on one the most miserable Remembrance Days in decades. Veterans made their annual parade to city hall Monday for the laying of the wreaths at the cenotaph despite the driving rain"
(“The Columbian” newspaper-New Westminster-1991)
...I continue to be saddened by the fact that these young men, just shy of being teenagers did so much and were willing to die for a cause of inhuman injustice by one group to another and world domination by a mad man. Clair was so young and died at the age of twenty-one. Both he and Curt were in the service….
…The primary function of living, I believe, is to make memories for other's that follow. Clair will always be twenty-one good looking happy and living an adventuresome life. He will always be a young bright eyed smiling and good person…
...Your article has really set my mind at ease, thanks for your time, your interest, and above all how well you did the job of research and writing. Writing like music lives forever while conversation last a very brief time. Excellent work on a very important part of living and for this piece of unforgettable family history. Thanks
Love Lorn