Percy Off To War! Click on the small pictures to view larger size.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Percy was 18 years old. On July 1, 1940, Percy and two friends, Floyd MacKenzie from Roachvale and George Myers from Cook's Cove, drove to Mulgrave and enlisted. After passing the Recruits Test and being fingerprinted, Private Percy A. Lumsden became Number F-45242 in the Pictou Highlanders (later the North Nova Scotia Highlanders) of the Canadian Army. Pictures of other young men around the area: Colman Gerrior Percy with George Myers George Myers Harold Taylor Ray Uloth Leland Williams

Another picture of Percy in uniform, taken in September, 1940.

Percy spent the next year training in Debert, N.S. Part of the training consisted of learning to ski. This smiling young man had no idea of what lay ahead. Several pictures taken around this same time: Picture 1 Picture 2

On July 18, 1941, The North Nova Scotia Highlanders embarked for England, arriving there on July 31st. They remained in England for another three years.

This picture was taken in Netherhaven, England, in 1943 while taking a "Six-Pounder" Anti-Tank Course With Percy are Andy Boyd and Charlie MacDonald

Regimental picture taken June 5, 1943, in England Percy is in the Second row from the top, Second on the Right

Once overseas in England, Percy sent letters home to friends and family. Letters from servicemen were sent on the blue pre-printed letter forms. He was always grateful for "care" packages received, such as gifts of candy or chocolates, warm socks, or cigarettes. During the war years, food was rationed for soldiers as well as the general public. When a soldier left the base, he was issued a ration card that he could use to buy food.

View another letter from Percy to home.

This is the only known picture of Percy with a moustache, and was taken in England in 1944.

A few pictures have survived of Percy with other North Nova Scotia Highlanders: View Picture 1 View Picture 2 This picture was in a local newspaper and shows Percy and James MacKinnon of Mulgrave. This ragged newspaper clipping from the Montreal Standard was one that Gertrude Lumsden saved for years. The front man in the picture looks "like Percy as I remember him".

The North Novies were specially trained to be an assault regiment on D-Day (June 6, 1944). This picture was taken in England, just before leaving for France. A picture taken in April, 1945, just before D-Day. On the night before they embarked for France, they were kept in a locked, guarded compound, and given this letter. The next morning they were herded onto troop ships, and headed into the hell that was D-Day. Percy was wounded by shrapnel in the leg, as well as suffering from exhaustion, and hospitalized for a short time, then sent back to the front lines for more combat.

Beside being overseas in England for several years, Percy fought in four other countries during the war - France, Germany, Belgium and Holland, and was in Holland for the liberation. He remembered that joyful occasion, and how grateful the people of Holland were to the Canadian soldiers. He often gave chocolate bars and rations of food to the children, who were near starving after years of German occupation. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in June, 1943, but requested to be reverted to Private, for personal reasons. He finished his service time as Acting Corporal.

The war was over, the army demobilized. Percy was discharged from the army on October 24, 1945, in Halifax. For him, the war was not yet over, only the circumstances had changed. He had nightmares for years, and suffered from what would now be known as post traumatic stress disorder. He was nervous and had trouble swallowing. He disliked being in crowded places his entire life, and shunned brighly lit, carnival atmospheres - fireworks especially brought back memories of D-Day. His heart pounded, he broke out into a sweat, and he got himself away from those places as soon as he could. For over 40 years, he never talked about the war to anyone, except for general comments or a few small reminiscences - except on those days of certain years, when he attended the Reunions of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders in Amherst. In the later years of his life, he began to talk more, and shared his experiences to a certain degree. When the soldiers were being prepared for their return to civilian life, they were told to go home and forget everything that happened to them (as if they could!). Percy spent five years and 116 days in the Canadian Army. He went in a teenager and came out a man who had seen more than he ever expected. From his service records we see that he behaved himself very well while enlisted - he only forfeited 2 days pay for being AWL once in May, 1941. At the final tally of monies owed him at demobilization, deducting his War Service Gratuity of $500.90, ($500 War Bond plus 90 cents interest) which he received in a lump sum, he received eleven monthly installments of $35.87 which would total $394.61.

Percy saved much of his army uniform and other parts of his kit. Click on the small pictures to view larger size, or other information.

The beret has a 10 ½ inch crown. The colour is khaki, and the tartan backing under the cap badge is the Murray of Atholl tartan. The cap badge is made of sterling silver, and the motto reads "Cos Cheum Nach Gabh Tilleadh" which means "Our footsteps will not allow us to go backwards". That motto formed the theme for the book "No Retreating Footsteps" - The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, which was written by Will R. Bird.

The Soldier's Pay Book contained details on rates of his pay, amounts deducted for draws and other items, and amounts of pay assigned to be sent home to the family. Percy sent home $20 a month at first, and by the end of the war he was contributing $28 to help out his family each month.

The Soldier's Service Book contained information on the soldier - all the important information - personal details, dental treatment, rank and appointments, courses taken, etc. The current Soldier's Pay Book also fit inside this booklet.

The Soldier's "Housewife" was a canvas container for sewing equipment. Percy used this after the war also, and used to sew his own buttons on shirts and perform other small repair jobs.

Percy's World War II Medals 1939-45 Star - Awarded for six months service on active operations for the Army and Navy and two months for active air-crew service. France And Germany Star - Awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 06 June 1944 (D-Day) and 08 May 1945. Defence Medal - Usually awarded to Canadians for six months service in Britain between 03 September 1939 and 08 May 1945. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal - Granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who have voluntarily served on Active Service. War Medal (1939-45)- Awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines for serving for 28 days between 03 September 1939 and 02 September 1945.