Uncle Babe

This is a Wellington bomber. This was used extensively by the Canadians in the European theatre to bomb the bejesus out of Germany in the Second World War. When I was growing up I heard many tales of my uncle Eldon Nielsen (nicknamed “Babe”) flying the “Wimpy” courageously into the face of enemy fire to sink a German troop ship and receiving a medal for the act. As I got older I started to consider the possibility that these were slightly exaggerated tales but I hadn’t really put a whole bunch of effort into finding out either way. Recently, after watching a few excellent documentaries on Canada at war, during the lead up to Remembrance day, I began to think about my own families history at war. I did a little googling (amazing how this has become a verb) and came up with this little tidbit.

NIELSON, F/O Elden Lloyd (J9647) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.458 Squadron - Award effective 21 October 1943 as per London Gazette dated 29 October 1943 and AFRO 2457/43 dated 26 November 1943. Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; home in Vancouver. Enlisted in Edmonton, 14 March 1941. Trained at No.2 ITS (graduated 14 August 1941), No.6 EFTS (graduated 4 October 1941) and No.4 SFTS (graduated 2 January 1943). Commissioned 1942. DHist card says that medal was forwarded, 7 June 1955 to Provincial Mental Hospital, Ponoka, Alberta, "for safekeeping"; appears he was a patient there.

This officer, as captain of aircraft, has completed one tour of operational duty. A capable and reliable pilot, he has always displayed exceptional keenness and devotion to duty. While on patrol in the Mediterranean he attacked a surfaced enemy submarine and obtained a hit causing the U-Boat to explode. On another occasion in July 1943 he sighted a large enemy merchant vessel. Despite intense and accurate fire from escorting vessels Flying Officer Nielson made a determined attack during which one of the escorting ships was sunk.

What I remember most about Uncle Babe was the stories my Dad would tell and that he was kinda scary and distant. He came back from the war missing a few synapses and connections upstairs. I'm sure that there are technical terms for what happened to him like post traumatic stress or battle fatigue. I think he flew a few too many missions and never really got out of that plane.

I have always personally felt that if called by my country I would go to war. I reasoned that I had been given a great gift in being born into this great country and I would do my duty protect its sovereignty and pay it back for my good fortune. Now that I am older and wiser I see war more for what it is. Politics by other means. I have no great desire to lay down my life in order to satisfy somebodies need for expansion or imperialism. I question the need for putting Canadian boys in harms way in places like Afghanistan for goals that I am not quite clear on. Now that I am father to a son, I am loathe to think of sending him off to war to get shot at by someone who probably couldn't find Edmonton on a map much less threaten its security. As I get older I am more sceptical about motives for war but more sympathetic for the warriors.

That being said, you will find no greater admirer of our troops than myself. Remembrance Day always brings a tear to my eye. I am so humbled by the sacrifice that so many young men and women made for us, for me and for my family. I got lucky by being born in a time frame in which no one asked me as a 18 year old to go to war. I probably would have thought it pretty cool at the time and thrown myself into some kind of dumbass situation that may have caused me to lose my life or a body part or two. I feel a great sense of pride and gratitude towards our troops who are out there right now and have served in the past. So, Uncle Babe, Grandpa Nielsen, Slim Cunningham, Roland Burt, George Burt, Darren and Tina Burt and others who have served and fought for our country, I am remembering you today.