Daily Routine Orders (DROs) for No.34 Operational Training Unit (O.T.U.) were issued each day in two parts, Part I for Administration and Part II for Personnel. These documents cover the entire history of the Royal Air Force (RAF!) Unit from 16 April 1942 until 19 May 1942, broken down as follows: No.34 O.T.U., Yarmouth, NS (16 April 1942-26 May 1942 (humble beginnings)); R.A.F. Station, Yarmouth, NS (27 May 1942-31 May 1942 (movement to Pennfield Ridge)) and No.34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge (01 June 1942-19 May 1944 (RAF Training Unit)).
PART 1
Part I identifies personnel for daily tasks such as Orderly Officer, Orderly Sergeant, Orderly Corporal, Duty Clerk and Duty Equipment Assistants. Part I was also used to identify any matters of importance and interest to all officers and other ranks.
DROs No.26, 16-May-1942 (page 1) remarks “All N.C.O’s. and airmen of the Pennfield Advance party will parade outside the Dining Hall at 09.00 hrs on Sunday, 17.5.42.” As noted in our previous column “Arrival”, The move from Yarmouth to Pennfield Ridge was not without its own trial & tribulations as No.2 Air Navigation School, with strength of over 1,300 airmen, was still in full operation with its last course graduating May 25th and the station officially closing May 30th.
DROs No.38, 01-June-1942 (Page 1) (first one issued by No.34 O.T.U. Pennfield Ridge), for example, contains the following notation: “Boots and shoes for repair are to be handed in to the clothing store by 1600 hours Tuesday, 2nd June.”
DROs No.45, 08-June-1942 (Page 1): A Court of Inquiry…will assemble in the Pupils’ Lounge in the Airmen’s Mess at 10:00 hours on Wednesday, 10th June, 1942, to enquire into the cause of, the fire in Barrack Block No. 2 on 27th April, 1942.”. This Barrack fire was one of the items recalled by WOII John “David” Stuart (22066A) (Ret.) during our interview 15/16-March-2008 at his residence in Ottawa. Ironically, one of the items given to me by Mr. Stuart was an RCAF pamphlet entitled “NOTES ON THE PREPARATION OF DAILY ROUTINE ORDERS” that he acquired during his time here. So, by cultivating these DROs, it’s like coming full circle and at the same time greatly enlarging our database of names. The database is then sent out to the four corners of the earth chasing/seeking the ever elusive “dash” then, once acquired, it’s shared to our FB Page. At times information drips in like a leaky faucet whereas other times it rushes in like Moncton’s tidal bore.
PART II
Part II was used to identify any changes within the status of Unit personnel which would affect their individual rank and pay. This would include movements to and from the Unit, promotions, detention, hospitalization, deaths, marriages, births and honours and awards. Copies of Part II would be sent to the higher formations and/or headquarters. A copy was also sent to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa, where it was used to update the personnel files of the individuals listed in the order.
DROs No.7, 24-April-1942 (Page 2) shows AC1 R. [Reginald] Birt (GB1045776) was “Admitted to RCAF Hospital, Yarmouth 20.4.42.”, 7 days after arriving in Canada. In June of 2017 AC Birt’s nephew, in sharing memories of his uncle, remarked “…[he] brought back two things from Canada which never changed. A liking for maple syrup and ice skating. He always had maple syrup on pancakes especially on Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) and he taught my brother and I to ice skate at the Silverblades Ice Rink in Birmingham.”
DROs No.13 01-May-1942 (Pages 2-15) shows RAF personnel that came to Canada aboard the M/S Batory being posted to No.34 O.T.U., Yarmouth effective 17-April-1942. However, due to limited space at Yarmouth, DROs No.14, 02-May-1942 (Pages 3-4) sees 87 personal attached to No.31 O.T.U., Debert, NS effective 01-May-1942. Further DROs (No.14 through No.38) show the movement of the Unit from Yarmouth & Debert to Pennfield Ridge.
DROs No.43, 06-June-1942 (Pages 3-6) lists the arrival of students for Course No.29 (by commencement of said course it was changed to Course No.1). The first student listed was P/O E.C. [Ernest Charles] Shaffer (R/95584) [J/11606] who arrived from No.4 B&GS, Fingal, ON at 1300 hours on 31-May-1942. On 11-November-2017 I was contacted by Ernie’s daughter Barb as the family prepared to celebrate his 100th birthday on the 25th of November. My wife Sheri & myself, along with our 4-year-old daughter, sent him a birthday card. We were also able to have three children of airmen who served/trained at the Ridge” send best wishes as well, one of whose father was in the same course as Ernie. As a thank-you, Ernie crocheted our family 3 toques (one of the hundreds he had made over the years). Then after the milestone celebration settled down, we continue to assist Barb in putting together a second album regarding her father’s time in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) – completed 03-February-2018. Afterwards, we continued to celebrate special occasions with Ernie until he took his final flight 16-Janury-2019 after a long life lived well.
RESTRICTIONS AND REDACATION
DROs are restricted by law due to them containing personal information. However, a request under “Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)” allows me to acquire them with minor redactions – birthdates of children, punishment for minor infraction and/or Court Martials, etc. Otherwise, current ranks, given name initials, surnames and Service Numbers are all listed. Also, occasionally a spouse’s name or next-of-kin are sometimes listed as well.
DROs No.40, 03-June-1942 (Page 5): Severely reprimanded by W/Cdr C.F.C. Coaker at 34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge on 30.5.42 for W.O.A.S. “Being absent from the 08.25 hrs working parade on 30.5.42” (name redacted) OR Severely reprimanded by S/Ldr B.Le B. Musgrave at 34 O.T.U., Pennfield Ridge on 1.6.42 for W.O.A.S. “Being drunk in Barrack Block 7A at 23.00 hrs on 29.5.42” (name redacted).
DROs No.43, 06-June-1942 (Page 5): Regarding Sgt. H.J. WOOD (R/107583) it says “Next-of-Kin changed to Mrs J.K. Wood (Wife), Pennfield Ridge, Charlotte County, N.B.”. Sgt. Wood and his wife Ailda Kathleen Berry were united in marriage 11-May-1942 at Central Butte, SK by the Rev. J.E. Ambler, one of the four young couples to wed before coming onto No.34 O.T.U. to complete their training before being posted overseas.
DROs No.58, 21-June-1942 (Page 1): AC1 T.F. Sergeant (GB1125256) “Absent without leave from 0001 hours on 19.6.42.” In August of 1942 AC1 Sergeant was part of the 250 (or so) personal returned to Yarmouth to form No.34 O.T.U. Detachment, Yarmouth (armament training wing). Subsequently he was killed in the crash of Ventura AE932 4 miles north-east of Caledonia, NS 20-November-1942.
CLOSING
An often-overlooked part of the Air Station’s history is the roll civilians played in the Air Station’s history. For example, in June 1942 the following civilians were Taken On Strength upon the closure of No.2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge: F.C. Armstrong, R.G. Armstrong, E.B. Bartlett, R. Hawkins, J.C. Hilll, W.H. Irish, H.R. Justason, R. Kelson, R.J. Mahar, M.L. Mathews, W. McCabe, R.L. McDowell, F. Pickard, J.B. Scullin, M.J. Scullin, E. Spinney and H.L. Sullivan. These civilians need to be recognized as well and have their memories stand alongside those service personal who served/trained here.
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
