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36 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2015 orm Caswell a 91-year-old veteran served his country in a unique way. He was the official driver for the musi- cians who played in a military band to entertain the troops and townsfolk. Most of their performances were at towns and cities in Holland and elgium. ot often rance. They also played at Leave Centres where soldiers would come for respite some decent food and a good sleep on a comfortable bed. Norm enjoyed entertaining eve- ry-one with a har- monica solo and he even serenaded this reporter with a lovely little tune on his 50-year-old German-made Koch Chromatic harmonica. He learned this instrument as an early teen before the government letter invited him to enlist in 1943 at the age of 19. He went over to England on the Isle de France the second biggest ship in the world at that time. It could carry 5000 troops accommo- dated in bunks three high. It was fast and safe says Norm. The call was for the Signal Corps and he was sup- posed to be trained as part of a communi- cations group. ut for some unknown reason that never happened. In fact Norm never got closer than 50 miles to the front line. A resident of West Shore Village in Port Perry for the past six years Norm has a clear recollection of his wartime years. Each of the all- Canadian bands represented an Artillery Regiment led by ritish bandmasters. He was responsible for transporting some 18 - 20 musicians who sat in the back of a truck with comfortable bench seats. Another driver transported the instruments. There were trumpets and trombones cornets a couple of violins and drums. The band performed everything from military marches to popular tunes and the crowds loved it. Things were rather nasty drastic and difficult for people during the war Norm commented. The mu- sic would make people happy. I was isolated from the war itself Norm recalls. I was lucky during the war and since the war ended. I cant complain. orms brothers had very differ- ent experiences. Ray oined the army with the Scottish Regiment lost an eye due to shrapnel while in Italy and was shipped home. Frank was in the Navy in Nova Scotia on cargo ships. He got married and made a new life there after the war. Following the German surrender Norm was sent to a little German town to make sure that the Germans followed the rules of surrender. He recalls There were really no worries. ack in Ontario orm paid a visit to his home- town of Coldwater near Orillia. Then he set off for The Sweet Sound of Music There was no sound of gunfire. No trenches. No bombs. Not in Norm Caswells war experience. Just ... sleep on a comfortable bed. Norm enjoyed entertaining eve- ry-one with a har- monica solo and he even serenaded this reporter with a lovely little tune on Corps and he was sup- posed to be trained as part of a communi- cations group. ut for some unknown reason that never happened. In fact Norm never got closer than 50 miles to the front line. and trombones cornets a couple of violins and drums. The band performed everything from military marches to popular tunes and the crowds loved it. Things were rather nasty drastic and difficult for people during the war Norm commented. The mu- sic would make people happy. I was isolated from the war itself Norm recalls. I was lucky during the war and since the war ended. I cant complain. orms brothers had very differ- ent experiences. Ray oined the army with the Scottish Regiment lost an eye due to shrapnel while in Italy and was shipped home. Frank was in the Navy in Nova Scotia on cargo ships. He got married and made a new life there after the war. Following the German surrender Norm was sent to a little German town to make sure that the Germans followed the rules