Alcide and Phyllis Comeau

Alcide Comeau, circa 1940

On May 21, 1940, Gunner A.J. Comeau enlisted in the army in Richibucto at the Kent Memorial Hall. Alcide was sent to Woodstock, New Brunswick for three weeks training, then had a weekend leave. After that he proceeded to Aldershot, Nova Scotia.

 While on his way to Aldershot camp, he wrote his address inside a matchbook and tossed it out the window of the train while going through Aylesford, Nova Scotia. Story has it, that many of the men were using this tactic to get the girls to write them, while they were in training, and preparing for the war.

Louise Hudson found the matchbook, but it was her sister Phyllis who "pinched" the young gunnar. Phyllis starting writing to Alcide while he was in training.

A note written by Alcide explains it all "I dropped my address at Aylesford while on the train to Aldershot camp. Phyl wrote to me and we corresponded to each other. I met her in person on the 14th of July 1940. We were engaged on June the 14, 1941, and married on the 16th of Feb. 1942."

Alcide and Phyllis' wedding photo, 1942

Following three months in Aldershot, he was sent to Berriefield, Ontario on a wireless course for four months and came back to Aldershot for six months. Other camps/stations that he trained at were Fort Connaught, Fort York, Fort MC Naba, Bellford Rouge, Wysemen, Newfoundland, Phillips Head, Newfoundland, and Megantic, Quebec.