On the 18th October, we were taken by ferry across to Oakland where we boarded a luxurious train. In the evening we started our journey across America. It took four days through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the great plains, Salt Lake City, and on to Detroit where we crossed by tunnel into Canada. We skirted the St. Lawrence and eventually ended up in Nova Scotia, at a place called Debert. The train would stop twice a day to change crews etc., and we could get off for about an hour each time. The stations we stopped at were both big and small, but the hospitality in each, by the local population, was wonderful. We were about the first ex-POWs from the Far East they had seen. The word must have gone before us that our train was on its way. Some of the people had even made a birthday cake in case it was someone’s birthday. Tables had been set up at the stations loaded with refreshments.
We were quickly brought back to reality on arrival at Debert. We were taken to a large Army transit camp with a British staff. We were quickly reminded of this as a Camp Sergeant Major paraded us and orders given. Our smart American uniforms were taken from us and unshapely British Battledress issued. We also received an advance of pay and brought up-todate on military rules and regulations. However, in the evenings we were allowed to leave the camp and go to the nearest town. Again, we were shown overwhelming hospitality and kindness. The weather was bitterly cold with snow showers, but the accommodation warm and food was good and plentiful.