| Vol. 10 No. 3 | Winter, 2004/2005 |
Roots and branches |
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By Ship to Canada: Excerpts from the Diary of Henry Woelk translated by Mary Woelk On October 21, 1947, Henry Woelk filled out the official IRO eligibility form and started the process that would bring them to Canada . (They had received news that their names were registered in ETS Buchholz-Hannover with the number NN: 7047-7051 A in August.) A month later, after inquiring with Mr. Voth of MCC, he found that the original papers were lost. He refiled. November 24, the family left for Buchholz. A month of further processing followed: X-rays, blood work, immunization, police inquiries, visa approvals at the consulate, further physician check-ups. January 19, the family arrived at the port of Rotterdam and loaded their possessions aboard ship for the trip to Harwick, England.
22/01/48 The time was turned back one hour. Lots of rocking. Among the women sea sickness. 23/01/48 The time was turned back one hour. Much rocking and rolling of the boat. Fresh wind. Lots of whitecaps. Most are sea sick. Tina is lying down. Hedy and Mariechen came to eat, but ate little. Kaethe slept through dinner. I am healthy, have missed no meals, the food was exceptional. I ate double portions yesterday and today. The ship is wonderfully arranged. We are on Deck "D". Women and children on Deck "C' in big rooms. It is warm. Towards evening it became less rocky. In the shops there are many things to buy. 24/01/48 Tina is up and has walked on the deck. The dining room is more occupied. For breakfast we had apples. I still have lots of appetite. A cinema is also on the ship. The wind is becoming stronger. On "D" Deck the waves are crashing against the windows. They are big and close together. The time was turned back an hour. Towards evening the wind became stronger and gradually became a storm. Movies are being shown every day on the ship . A Deck is beautifully organized. Big rooms with upholstered furniture and carpets. The same on the other decks. The English are dressed plain but well dressed. We met a little steam boat that was rocking terribly. 25/01/48 35 degrees latitude. In the night the wind became fierce. Children are not allowed on deck without adult supervision. The waves are about 15 - 20 meters high. It looks beautiful from the back of the deck. Most passengers are healthy and are coming to eat. It looks very funny when people walk, sometimes up, sometimes down, then from one side to the other. We are sailing into the wind. Until now we have traveled this far:
In the Pantry I counted 13 butchered pigs. The food is wonderful. Breakfast:Roasted flakes (wheat) fried egg, bacon, half a grapefruit, real coffee, tea with milk and sugar as one likes, rolls, butter and marmalade Lunch: Soup, green beans, chicken with rice, mashed potatoes, dressing, raisin cake with cream, butter, coffee, rolls Dinner: Soup, baked potatoes, cooked potatoes, carrots, preserved plums with cream, coffee, butter, rolls. We get a little bit of everything. There are eight of us at table 24. The same every day. At 4 PM we can get a cup of coffee with biscuits. Most passengers are now coming to the dining room. 26/01/48 The storm has abated somewhat. At night it was very rocky. Now the rocking is more side to side. It seems as if the ship is traveling a little faster. We hope to be in Halifax the day after tomorrow. Would like to step on solid ground again. There are still a few sick passengers, but most of them are well. The tables are becoming fuller and everyone is eating a lot. For breakfast we had an orange. Every day we get "Supowichje". It has become colder outside, but otherwise it is nice and warm. We are almost at the colder Labrador Stream and out of the warm Gulf Stream. The money we received is also getting less. One would like to eat something sour after all the sweets. Am eating the meat with good mustard. Real pepper is also always available. Now we are sitting in the Salon on A Deck on soft couches with little tables.. There are lots of things to buy to drink. Wine, lemonade etc.
27/01/48. Slept well. The sea is quieter. It is cold, and snowing, ice on deck. At 4:30 we sighted land. Canada. Mountains along the coast covered in snow. At 5:50, pilot came aboard. Entered inlet to Halifax, the lights of the city visible. Landed at 6:00 AM. At 9:00 AM received $15 per person, and train ticket to Beechy. Slept on ship. 28/01/48. Breakfast at 7. At 8, beginning of the immigration Commission, where we appeared at 11. 11:30, cleared customs, baggage transferred to train. We boarded the train to Montreal. Bought provisions for the trip for $6--2 kilos sausages, 2 white breads, 5 apples, 10 oranges, 10 bottles lemonade. Have eaten our fill. On the train there are different things to buy. This is a special train that only stops at major stations. WE are supposed to arrive in Beechy on Saturday. We're accompanied by immigration officials. The train is heated, and we have hot and cold water. Lots of paper, and a mirror for shaving. The train rocks quite a bit. Train stations are simple. The countryside is hilly and wooded; no farms, but clear pastureland with many people. Much snow. 29/01/48…Arrived in Montreal. Greeted by MCC representative Mr. Warkentin. Went with him to town to buy provisions for 2 days: 5 white bread, one brown, sausage, butter, marmade, apples, oranges and bananas. Mary very tired. At 10 PM we boarded the train for Winnipeg, one extra car for 36 Mennonites. 31/01/48 Arrived in Winnipeg at 4:30, met by J. Wiebes (Hans Bergen's Mary)….Stayed in Winnipeg until Tuesday eve. 4/02/48. Arrived in Saskatoon….(The family was to stay in Beechy, but visited with friends and relatives in the area until February 28) The visiting was wonderful. Jake took us back March 2. It was cold and there was a snowstorm. On Mar. 3, Hedy went to work for Johann Braun. I'm am working for David at present. Mary started school March 1. She likes going to school. The trip cost us $1165. David has paid for us, and we gave him a receipt. On March 25, Kaethe started work at a caf? in Beechy. |
21/01/48 Customs
and luggage loaded onto Aquitania. Ate. Left at 5:30PM. Dinner.
Mennonites on the Ship