World War Wednesdays: Hiroshima Remembered, 70 Years On

     As this year of major First and Second World War anniversaries marches on, we find ourselves in solemn observance of the seventy years since the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima tomorrow, 6 August. In the time since this day quite literally shattered human history as we knew it, countless historians have weighed in on the numerous political, racial, ethical, and military issues it simultaneously presented. Having explored a few of these myself, I have decided that the post for this week will focus on real accounts and experiences rather than a discussion on the endless theories and arguments out of respect for those who still remember that day with horror. 

Part One: Background

     As the Second World War entered its sixth year, it saw the official surrender of Nazi Germany on 8 May following a lengthy and dramatic political and military downfall. This meant that the Allies' attention could be entirely focused on the theater of war which still raged on: the war in the Pacific against Japan. As a dangerous invasion of the Japanese mainland was being discussed, a massive firebombing campaign was directed against the people of Japan with no change in their refusal to surrender.  Together with the United Kingdom and China, the United States called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on 26 July, 1945; this was buttressed with the threat of "prompt and utter destruction". By August, the $2 billion Manhattan Project had yielded the successful detonation of an atomic device in the New Mexico desert. On 6 August, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped a uranium gun-type atomic bomb code-named "Little Boy" over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 2,000 feet above the city, in a blast equal to 12-15,000 tons of TNT, five square miles were completely destroyed. Around half of deaths occurred on the first day, but within the first two to four months the acute effects of the bomb killed 90,000-166,000 people. In the months that followed, large numbers of civilians continued to die from the effects of burns, radiation sickness, other injuries, illness, and malnutrition. 

The Enola Gay and her crew

A man sitting on a step was instantly vaporized by the blast

A child jumping was also vaporized

     Part Two: Resilience

     I recently came across a pretty unbelievable story related to the bombing of Hiroshima that I thought would be interesting to include, courtesy of Smithsonian.com:

     On August 6, 1945, at a quarter-past 8 a.m., bonsai master Masaru Yamaki was inside his home when glass fragments hurtled past him, cutting his skin, after a strong force blew out the windows of the house. The U.S. B-29 bomber called the “Enola Gay” had just dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over the city of Hiroshima, at a site just two miles from the Yamaki home. But besides some minor glass-related injuries, Yamaki and his family survived the blast, as did their prized bonsai trees, which were protected by a tall wall surrounding the outdoor nursery. 

     For 25 years, one of those trees sat near the entrance of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the United States National Arboretum in Washington D.C., its impressive life story largely unknown. When Yamaki donated the now 390-year-old white pine bonsai tree to be part of a 53 bonsais gifted by the Nippon Bonsai Association to the United States for its bicentennial celebration in 1976, all that was really known was the tree’s donor. Its secret would remain hidden until 2001, when two of Yamaki’s grandsons made an unannounced visit to the Arboretum in search of the tree they had heard about their entire lives. Through a Japanese translator, the grandsons told the story of their grandfather and the tree’s miraculous survival. 

     “After going through what the family had gone through, to even donate one was pretty special and to donate this one was even more special,” says Jack Sustic, curator of the Bonsai and Penjing museum. Yamaki’s donation of this tree, which had been in his family for at least six generations, is a symbol of the amicable relationship that emerged between the countries in the years following World War II.
     In all, this day should be observed with consideration for the legacy of immense loss and destruction caused by the events of 6 August, 1945. However, the story of the bonsai is a reminder of both the strength and resilience of the Japanese people and the changes made in regard to international relations since that day. Regardless of how you feel about the bombing of Hiroshima, it was a human experience and part of history that provides so much for us to learn from. 

Thanks for reading,

     Delany

World War Wednesdays: Elgin County and the Second World War

World War Wednesdays: Elgin County and the Second World War

    

     Last week, I discussed a topic that I had recently covered as part of a final research paper assignment for my second year Canadian History course. Now that it is a new semester, these assignments are beginning all over again and I am taking on some exciting new projects that I would love to try and incorporate into World War Wednesdays. This week, as part of the Second World War series, I would like to discuss my current focus which is for my third year Second World War course.

 

 

     Back when I was studying history in grade ten at West Elgin Secondary School, I received a book written by local historian Blair Ferguson about the No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School which was located in nearby Fingal, Ontario. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was fascinated by its material and connection to my hometown. Now that I have moved to Ottawa to study, I have an increased interest in local history from home thanks to some cherished personal connections and works like the Ferguson book. After having attempted, with surprising success, to conduct research on a highly accessible major historical topic, I have decided to challenge myself further and take on a local history project relying mainly on primary documents and records. My area of focus will be on the impact of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and consequently the No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, on the nearby communities during its operation, with specific interest in Port Stanley and Dutton and its surrounding rural areas.

 

 

     I have often heard that there are numerous areas around my hometown that were once host to far more than what currently exists. I've heard about the industry in Tyrconnell, the social gatherings and sporting events in Largie and Campbellton, the bustle of Rodney, and the numerous stores and schools which have now vanished. While this is incredibly unfortunate and significant loss for the area, there is still another major establishment which once made huge waves in our area but now seems to have vanished from our memory.

 

     The No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School was a unit of the British Commonwealth Air Training plan (BCATP), which was a central aspect of Prime Minister Mackenzie King's contributions to the Allied war effort during the Second World War. It was in operation from 25 November 1940, and yesterday, February 17, marked the 70th anniversary of its closure in 1945 (what better time to be focusing on it?) During that time, over 6,000 non-pilot air crew members graduated from the school. Its main station was at Fingal, covering the expanse of land which is now a nature reserve:



 

      The massive facility featured baseball diamonds and sports fields, which can be seen in this aerial photo. The school also was composed of bombing ranges in the nearby communities of Dutton, Melbourne, Frome, and Tempo, as well as a Marine Section in Port Stanley and a bombing and gunnery range on Lake Erie.

     There were also similar facilities located at the time in St. Thomas and Aylmer, Ontario.

 

 

    

     Being a component of not just a national but international Commonwealth operation, the Bombing and Gunnery School was host to men and women from as far away as Australia, as well as Americans who wanted a shot at fighting the Axis before the U.S. entered the war. As a result, these people found themselves in a small community environment which created a fascinating array of stories found in Ferguson's book, Southwold Remembers. Marriages were celebrated between locals and visiting air students, trainees and instructors found themselves interacting regularly with local farmers and community members, and local resources were accessed. What is historically significant about the school is its extensive records due to its own newsletter which was published monthly, The Fingal Observer. Through the examination of the school's own records, interviews, accounts, and local newspapers of the time, a major aspect of our community which has long been forgotten since it was torched to the ground seems to rise from its ashes.

 

     If anyone would happen to know of anyone from the area who has a recollection of events related to this topic (ie. bombing practice in rural Dutton, memories of the school itself), I would greatly appreciate some additional material. My goal is to cover as much as possible regarding this topic through this and other assignment projects in the hopes that this chapter of our local history may take up more of the book.

            As always, thanks for reading,

      Delany