Back to Civvy Street: The Return of WWII Soldiers to London - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Covent Garden Market

On May 7th, 1945, “the greatest unplanned celebration in local history” swept through London in the wake of the news of victory in Europe. The London Free Press cheerfully reported numerous accounts of Londoners embracing “the carnival spirit”. In one instance, a policeman attempting to direct traffic at Dundas and Richmond was carried off on the shoulders of “four enthusiastic airmen.” The group then escaped into the crowds that swarmed the streets. The police officer was heard to remark “Its O.K. with me boys, just so long as you don’t drop me.” According to the reporter, the officer was last seen partaking in the celebration and enjoying himself.

2. VIA Rail Station

On June 22nd, 1945, London mayor W.J. Heaman announced the City’s plans to welcome returning overseas troops. With trains of soldiers arriving that afternoon and the following morning, Heaman urged London business owners to decorate their buildings to “show fine appreciation of what these men have done.” London’s Rehabilitation Committee, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon Ingram, planned for the mayor and band-playing members of the Canadian Legion to greet all arriving troop trains. With the City Hall and York Street station decorated in flags in anticipation of the arriving soldiers, Heaman announced that London would be prepared to give “any unit coming back the biggest welcome it could imagine.”

3. HMCS Provost in the Carling Block

From 1939 to 1957, the Carling Block, located where this drug store now stands, was the site of HMCS Provost; the London Division of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. During World War Two, 4,480 officers, men and Women's Royal Naval Service (also known as wrens) were enrolled here into the Canadian Navy and after the war, veterans were likely demobilized, or “rehabilitated” here as well. An individual up for discharge was given a complete medical examination and then interviewed to discuss employment, education and other options. Local army veterans attended the rehabilitation program at No. 1 District Depot, at Wolseley Barracks on Oxford Street, or at the Armouries at Dundas and Waterloo.

4. Talbot Street School

This high-rise condominium at the corner of Talbot and Central is the site of the former Talbot Street School. Initially constructed in 1858, it was upgraded in 1882 by a new two-storey brick building with four large classrooms. In 1892, it burned to the ground, but thankfully all 500 students present escaped with their lives and the school was again rebuilt. This school served a number of students from well-known London families and was home to London’s first kindergarten program, and London’s first Mothers’ Club. Many Talbot Street School students enlisted during both world wars while still in high school. To ease the problems of veterans readjusting to “civvy street”, the government arranged special classes for veterans and grants for paid vocational training.

5. Victoria Park Cenotaph

Although many servicemen and women returned to their homes, families, and lives in London after the Second World War, it is important to remember that many did not. The Victoria Park Cenotaph is where Londoners gather to honour those who gave their lives in service to Canadians during times of war. The cenotaph was first unveiled in 1934 due to a campaign by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire to build a monument commemorating those who died in the First World War, which was itself a deeply traumatic experience. Little did Londoners know that the cenotaph would need to be updated with an inscription honouring those who fell in another devastating war, just over a decade later. Even before the Second World War ended, veterans of the conflict began to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies to honour their fallen comrades.

6. London City Hall

London City Hall, located at 300 Dufferin Avenue, opened its doors on September 22nd, 1971. It consists of 12 storeys and replaced the old city hall location at Dundas and Wellington, which was built in 1928. The building houses numerous essential services and departments for the use and enjoyment of London residents, including housing London’s two volumes of the Book of Remembrance. Each day, both volumes are opened to a new page, to ensure that all those listed are honoured equally.

7. London Life Insurance Company

London Life Insurance Company was founded in 1874 in London, Ontario, then a thriving town of 20,000 people. A leader in the Canadian insurance industry, and today a part of the trio of insurance companies that includes Great West Life and Canada Life, London Life grew rapidly in the first decades of the 20th century, moving into its grand and iconic Neoclassical head office on Dufferin Avenue in 1927 - a London landmark ever since. During World War Two London Life was a major supporter of Canada's war effort, purchasing $11 million in Victory Bonds. Like many towns and cities in Canada during the war years, London formed a Citizens’ Auxiliary War Services Committee, and within London Life the company's Active Services Committee engaged its employees at home in continuous support of the 427 enlisted service men and women from London Life (of whom 11 died in service).

8. St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral may be magnificent, but it shares something in common with countless churches: it conducted many weddings during and after the Second World War. When soldiers returned home, many reunited with sweethearts and married. However, many more returned with their significant others rather than to them: with the troops came over 60,000 new Canadians, 47,768 wives they had married while overseas, and 21, 950 children resulting from these marriages. The majority came from Great Britain. As such, the denomination of this cathedral, the Anglican Church, or as these brides would know it, the Church of England, took a special interest in the new arrivals. They, and other charitable groups and government agencies were so concerned with the welfare and transition of these women into Canadian society because they were not “coming home again”; they were coming home for the first time.

9. Kingsmill’s Department Store

In 1865, Thomas Frazer Kingsmill opened a dry goods store on the main street of London, Ontario. From this same location at 130 Dundas Street, over the next 148 years, this store was a staple in downtown London. This includes during the Second World War when wartime production and industries had to change due to the demand of the war effort.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Back to Civvy Street: The Return of WWII Soldiers to London

Created by UWO Digital Public History 2019 on October 22nd 2019, 6:28:25 pm.

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Description

On May 7th, 1945, the streets of London, Ontario erupted in celebration upon hearing the news of Germany’s surrender to the Allies. With the celebrations, however, came a new hurdle: how would the estimated 80,000 men and women enlisted reintegrate back into their daily lives outside of service, or as they referred to it: “Civvy Street”? The following tour was created by the University of Western Ontario’s Digital Public History class of 2019 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe day. As you make your way around the streets of London, imagine you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with countless Londoners as you watch troops pour out from the train station to celebrate reuniting with their loved ones. The streets are flooded with people celebrating under storefronts decorated in flags and buntings and the cheering only grows louder as each train filled with returning servicemen and women arrive. A note on navigation: please pay attention to traffic signals when crossing the street and be careful around construction. As of October 2019, the road in front of the train station is under construction. To avoid accident and injury, remain outside of the fenced area and safely admire the site. Note on Audio: If the audio does not match the current stop, either refresh the page or close and reopen the headphone icon.

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