Howarth, Wilfred Henry (Oral history)

Canadian civilian member of Friends' Ambulance Unit in China and Finland, 1944-1947

REEL 1 Background in Canada, 1915-1939: family and childhood in Toronto area; religious upbringing; teacher and superintendent at Sunday School; lay teacher and lay preacher; employment as machinist; attitude to working on Bren Gun and change of employer; duties with church while unemployed; basis of pacifist beliefs. Aspects of period as conscientious objector in Canada and United States of America, 1939-1944: refusal to be conscripted for military service on outbreak of Second World War and attendance at Tribunal; reaction of Presbyterian Church to pacifist stance; effect on parents of decision to become conscientious objector; removal to a labour camp for conscientious objectors in Alberta, Canada; comparison of treatment of conscientious objectors in Canada and United States of America; reason for being given name Wilfred by parents; meeting other conscientious objectors on train journey to Alberta, Canada; description of camp and tented accommodation; work surveying and woodcutting; problems with cold; applying to join Quaker mission in China; preparatory work; learning about origins of Quakers; orientation programme run by Canadian Friends' Service Committee in Pendle Hill, United States of America; training; attitude to concept of society; training to repair field X-ray machines; story of meeting future wife Mary Barclay. Recollections of period with Friends' Ambulance Unit in China, 10/1944-12/1946: journey to China, 10/1944; initial impressions of Friends' Ambulance Unit; opinion of prior preparations at Pendle Hill, United States of America. REEL 2 Continues: differences of opinion within Friends' Ambulance Unit; opinion of Bob McClure; initial work including repair of X-ray machine; importance of X-ray machines in treating war wounded; making surgical instruments from wrecked Japanese aircraft; making wedding rings; attitude to working with Friends' Ambulance Unit in China; death of English Unit member; Bronson Clark's setting up medical team for Chinese communists in Yenan; reason for General George Marshall supporting aid for Chinese communists; role of Lewis Hoskins in organising air transport and supplies; problem of Chinese Kuomintang attempts to stop relief schemes; assembling medical instruments and X-ray machines; loan of trucks by British Red Cross; further comments on role of Lewis Hoskins. REEL 3 Continues: supply of textbooks to Chinese communists; story of assistance from Madame Sun Yat-sen; nature of Friends' Ambulance Unit work in Yenan; journey from China to Finland, 12/1946; reason for being sent to Finland; problem travelling on Trans-Siberian Railway. Aspects of period with Friends' Ambulance Unit in Finland, 1946-1947: relief situation; effects of German scorched earth policy during retreat; problem of not being allowed direct contact with Finnish groups; rebuilding of homes for war widows and invalids; creation of work camps; nature of work carried out by Relief for Finland organisation; role making and repairing tools; story of wife identifying locations of camps; Finnish building master in charge of projects; opinion of success of scheme. Reflections on period with Friends' Ambulance Unit: attitude to pacifist beliefs in modern world; story of attending Friends' Ambulance Unit reunions.