Vivid story of World War II mechanic Mert Massey comes to wonderful life at Killarney’s Legion Clubroom

BY KIM LANGEN

Through letters, poems, journals and photographs, the story of a remarkable Ninette man in wartime Italy has been brought to vivid and stunning life.

Writer Bill Massey has achieved the rare task of penning a biography for someone special, his late uncle Mert Massey, while also brilliantly writing in the first person in his uncle’s voice, as he endures often interminable and difficult days serving in World War II as a truck mechanic.

And author Bill Massey will be in Killarney on Thursday, May 8 at 4 p.m., at Killarney’s Legion Clubroom, to read from his new book, ‘Under Italian Skies.’ 

Accompanying him will be musician Rolly Gillies, who is going to perform sing-a-long wartime songs, such as The White Cliffs of Dover, to bring even more colour to this historical event. 

“It is also the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day,” said Tana Beaurivage, manager of the Legion Clubroom. “We will be offering cake and coffee after the book launch, and we are hoping to put up a display. It is also interesting to add that the photographs of Bill Massey’s grandfather and uncle are right here on our Memory Wall. Bill will be selling his book for $20, and $5 of each book sale will go towards our flooring project.”

This is Massey’s third book, and was printed earlier this year by Highnell Book Printing of Winnipeg, MB. His two previous books include ‘Poets and Pioneers,’ a book about his grandfather, plus a memoir: ‘Of Pork and Potatoes.’ 

“There are very few, if any, stories about the soldiers in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), and I think they are important stories to tell,” said Bill Massey. “I believe this narrative is timely, necessary, and important to be told. Readers will learn about the monotony and drudgery of the day-to-day work of keeping the trucks going under gruelling and dangerous conditions, as well as the aching yearning for home and loved ones. The letters Mert received were a lifeline to the past, and the future, and helped keep him sane in that world of insanity. He was determined to return home to his girl, his family, and his friends – as unaffected as possible.”

It is a well-written and exciting book, and places the reader right in the rattling cab of a used Bedford truck, built in the GM plant at Bedford, in England, and foisted on Canada’s C Company by the British, who had used the trucks harshly in the African desert campaign. 

It was Mert Massey’s job, with the help of a dozen incredible Prairie farm boys, to salvage what was left of these damaged vehicles, and then drive them 150 miles east across Italy in order to support troops fighting near Altamura.

The Italian campaign was brutal and difficult, and resulted in the death of 6,000 Canadians, and 20,000 wounded. Around 150,000 Italian civilians were killed, while 35,000 anti-fascist Italian resistance fighters also lost their lives.  

Massey, raised near Kelwood, Manitoba, is a writer, educator, and historian, and says he turned to storytelling to preserve and honour his family legacies. He and his wife raise livestock and grow food on their regenerative farm in Grosse Isle, MB.

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN EUROPE – Killarney’s Royal Canadian Legion #25 celebrated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe (VE Day) on Thursday, May 8, with a very special afternoon. It included readings from author Bill Massey, from his new wartime book: ‘Under Italian Skies;’ live wartime sing-alongs with musician Rollie Gillies; along with some tasty cake and coffee – and more.

WARTIME STORIES AND SONGS – Killarney’s Royal Canadian Legion #25 hosted a book launch event on May 8, VE Day, which featured musician Rollie Gillies (above), who played his Takamine 12-string guitar and sang wartime songs, which included Vera Lynn’s ‘Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover.’ And Kelwood, MB author Bill Massey (below) told the story and explained the history behind his new wartime book: ‘Under Italian Skies,’ which is based on the lives of soldiers Mert Massey (his uncle, an RCASC mechanic), and Lloyd ‘Red’ Oliver, who served together in Europe.