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"A T&NO train pulled into Monteith, Ontario at
7:01 pm on Sunday July 14, 1940, carrying 501
prisoners guarded by 182 Canadian soldiers from
the Ontario Regiment. The prisoners had been arrested or
captured by the British in World War II and were being
kept in Canada at the request of Prime Minister Winston
Churchill’s wartime government...." |
| "The period from 1917 to 1930 saw considerable growth at
Monteith. Residents could boast of their Northern Academy
and government farm, at least two churches, community hall,
public school, blacksmith, abattoir, taxidermist [my
grandfather’s business], steam baths on Finn Alley...." |
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“Monteith was a young community. Barbed wire, guard towers and armed Ontario Regiment soldiers were somewhat comforting but what would happen if a prisoner escaped – worse, if many escaped? Canadian wartime propaganda was starting to portray the enemy as fanatical killers. People were naturally concerned....” |
| “The majority of Monteith prisoners had lived in Germany most of their lives. All were male and most young, between 20 and 30 years of age...There were also a few prisoners from countries conquered by the Nazis...." |
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"A guest book, started by my grandparents, Mike and Nellie
Miller, in 1940 and maintained until they both passed away in
the 1970s, is revealing. Over 250 different individuals, all
military men and women, signed the book and there were
undoubtedly dozens more who spent time with the Miller
family...." |
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