SALT, MERLE Reg. # B9885
Merle Salt was born June 27, 1924, the son of Gordon Richard and Edna Frances (Vankoughnett) Salt.
Robert Ferris convinced Merle to enlist even though the latter was underage, but a big enough boy. They went together to take their physicals at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital. The attending nurse, a nun, told them to strip – which they did. When she came back in there they were completely undressed. She looked at them and said – I meant your shirts.
Robert Ferris and Merle’s physical was in November 1941 and Merle was still 17.
In discussions with John Macfie, recorded in Tales From Another Time, pages 284 and 285, Merle indicated that “They took us down to the Exhibition Grounds in Toronto and put us in a stall in the Horse palace, and we were there three weeks before they gave us a pass.”
Merle’s stories of his and Bob Ferris’ adventures prior to deployment can be read in John Macfie’s book.
Merle was initially in ‘Communications’ before he was transferred to a fighting group - but arrived without having been supplied with a gun. So, he was given a bren gun.
As recorded by John Macfie, Merle fought in northwest Europe with the Hamilton Light Infantry.
Ron Whitmell recalls stories told by Merle .
Merle spoke of he and an officer in a small town where they had gone into a house and up to the upper level. A squad of German soldiers came into the town and started to search the homes. A soldier came into the home they were in and reached the bottom of stairs. The officer told Merle that if he started to climb, he would have to start shooting. Fortunately, just as the German soldier was about to ascend the stairs his commander called him back saying there was no one there. When Merle checked his gun, he found he only had one bullet in it. He said he carried that bullet with him for the duration.
In another situation, the troop Merle was with came upon a home at night and went into a trench rather than enter the home. When it became daylight, they saw a Canadian soldier march a German prisoner to the home – but they stayed put in their trench. As it turned out, the home was full of Germans and a moment later, the German came out with the Canadian as prisoner. When he got close to the trench, the tables were turned again. The Canadian, a fellow from Parry Sound, was rescued. Years later Merle and the Parry Sounder met at a social even in parry Sound.